I have a couple of Ts that burrow, or did as slings. I always knew they were alive as their burrows were well maintained, i.e. the entrance was always neat, and it looked as if someone was home and well. So I never bothered my Ts at all.

This weekend I did something I vowed I would never do. I have 2 H Incei in a communal set up - there were 4, but 2 disappeared. I never saw them, but their burrows looked fine, and all crics I would put intheir disappeared regularly.

In the last month or so I noticed no maintenance on any of the burrow entrances, they were open but it really looked as if there were no Ts living there. The crics dies of old age, and not from falling prey to any beasts. So, I dug up the burrows.

I know, I know, I shouldn't have.

And what did I find? 2 rediculously fat, gorgeous Spiders, alive and well!

I should have left them. If one was mid-molt, I could have killed it. I am also not suggesting that this should be done at all, and I won't do this in a hurry again.

Thank you all for the feed back.

So I basically just leave them alone, and hope for the best that they will be ok? The last thing I want to do is disturb them.

@Karin, what T is that on your avatar?

Has anyone here tried those artificial burrows? You cut a piece of white PVC pipe in half length-wise and glue it to the side of the enclosure at an angle, then put the substrate in up to the level of the entrance. You then apparently(using that word a lot tonight) cover the burrow from the outside by putting a piece of dark cardboard or something over it(with Prestik). You can then remove the cardboard to check up on your T.

They say that if you cover it with the cardboard and it is thus dark enough inside the T will accept this as their burrow and presto... a secret window to observe your T.

Sorry if this is old news to you guys, just haven't seen it on here...

Should work, Nero If the T' accepts the artificial burrow, which it should do with great probablility.

Sounds like a good idea, will give it a try later. thanx Nero

Anthrax wrote:

@Karin, what T is that on your avatar?

Avicularia Purpurea Sling