Cellar Spider playing dead.

[demicav]

This morning there was a Pholcus phalangioide in the bath, a very large one, huge abdomen. Anyway nothing unusual about that, I find them all over the place. I moved it out of the bath and placed it on some ladders that are in the bathroom. It's still there and doing a very good job of playing dead. In fact for several hours I did think it was departed as it was hanging on a thread and was completely lifeless. I was worried at first as it half fell down the plug hole when I was rescuing it and I thought it had inhaled some water however on closer examination I discovered it was moving its legs slightly so I know it's alive but it's been hanging there now for a good 10 hours.

Just wanted to add on I haven't bothered about a photo as it's against a white background so probably would burn out a bit.

[Paul mabbott]

Just resting .... if I spent a lot of time in a cellar, I would probably need to rest a lot too ... Have you checked up on your wine stocks?

[demicav]

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

Just resting .... if I spent a lot of time in a cellar, I would probably need to rest a lot too ... Have you checked up on your wine stocks?

That explains it then.

[Venger]

Has it been in your bathroom for a long time?
Resting, gravid, or pre-moult - keep an eye on her and see.

[demicav]

Originally Posted by Venger

Has it been in your bathroom for a long time?
Resting, gravid, or pre-moult - keep an eye on her and see.

There are quite a few around at the moment but this one's bigger than the others and I'm pretty sure it was in our bedroom last week, obviously it was wandering at that point. I've just checked and it's still there in the same position. Do they give birth to live young ? Just in case it's pregnant. We go away tomorrow for 4 days and my other half is panicking about all the little ones that could be on the wander when we return.

[mrs fish]

Spiders go still and quiet when moulting, if it is moulting it will be even bigger when you get back

[Venger]

No, spiders don't give birth to live young.
She'll create a large ball of eggs which she will carry around, held with her jaws.
But yes, my first thought was that she was pre-moult.

[demicav]

Here she is,

[Venger]

Then again, she could just be dying!

[demicav]

I'm sad to say she was dying. I returned today from my trip and she's still there and definately dead now. I feel a little upset because she seemed fine in the bath although you never really know and she may have inhaled water accidently during the rescue.