daveemory
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decapitating a too-large cricket?Has anyone else seen anything like this?
I accidentally dropped a 2-week-old cricket into the enclosure with my Ephebopus cyanognathus sling, which is about 1". The cricket was probably about the size of the spider's carapace and abdomen.
The spider grabbed it and spent a long time with its fangs buried in the cricket's head.
Hours later I discovered the cricket across the enclosure, still occasionally pulsating with life, with no head! Woke up this morning, and it's probably dead, but in any case, it is uneaten.
I've never had a spider not finish food. Is it possible that the spider killed it as a defense mechanism and never intended to try to eat something so big? Anyone ever have experiences of this kind?
- Peter
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Bonobo
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What you just described is absolutely fascinating . i do not have the scope of experiance to comment on your question and i cant wait to read the replies . All i know is that the paradox of Primitive Savvy that is The Spider is a privilege to witness . Holy Moly these animals are fun to keep
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Bonobo
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Could it be that the head of the cricket simply fell off becuz of breakdown affect of digestive juices + vigor of the attacking lings initial damage ? I kinda hope im wrong and that he did it on purpose tho .
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BayLee
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Is the T near a molt? They sometimes kill the pray right before.
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daveemory
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| BayLee wrote: | | Is the T near a molt? They sometimes kill the pray right before. |
I am wondering if this is the case, Lony. I've only had this Ephebopus for a few weeks, since the SJ show, and it's eaten plenty of tiny crickets. Its abdomen doesn't look large, however, so I feel I lack clues as to whether it may be pre-molt. (By the way, I don't think you were trying to harsh some Christian mellow with your spelling of "prey"  )
And today, lo and behold, it did it again. It grabbed and killed the cricket and left its broken body in the same spot in the jar where it left the last one. Its hard to tell if any has been eaten, or if it's just fang-smashed.
Lony, are you suggesting this behavior might relate to this particular species? Because none of my other 7 spiders do anything but kick the food away when they're in pre-molt.
PC
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BayLee
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LOL, I got my own language you know.
Gosh, someone give me some lashings with a wet noodle. Anyone?
I don't think that that specific species does it, I have seen this type of behavior in a lot of my T's.
I would say not feed for a few days and let it rest. It may not be hungry but agitated by the prey, hence why the killing, but not eating of the prey is happening.
And lets pray that will fix it.
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