Keeper guide

Why Is My Guatemalan Tiger Rump Not Eating? — Davus pentaloris

A Guatemalan Tiger Rump refusing food is often normal. Davus pentaloris may fast before a moult, after rehousing, at maturity or simply during a period of lower appetite.

At a glance

Quick facts

World
New World
Origin
Guatemala and Mexico
Lifestyle
Terrestrial
UK hobby rarity
Common
Maximum size
About 10–12 cm (4–4.75 in)
Growth rate
Fast
Male lifespan
Roughly 3–4 years
Female lifespan
Often 8–12 years
Temperament
Fast and skittish but usually more interested in retreating than confronting
Venom
Venomous, but bites are not generally regarded as medically significant
Temperature
21–26°C
Moisture / humidity
Water dish plus a modest moisture gradient; avoid saturated substrate
CITES
Check current CITES rules before cross-border trade

The first thing to check

Look at the whole situation before worrying about a missed meal from Davus pentaloris. Check whether the abdomen is already well filled, whether the spider is hiding more and whether a moult may be approaching.

Make sure a Guatemalan Tiger Rump has access to fresh water and that the enclosure is within the normal temperature range of 21–26°C.

Premoult fasting

Premoult is one of the most common reasons Guatemalan Tiger Rumps stop eating. Heavier webbing, a closed retreat and changes to the exposed abdomen can support that explanation.

If Davus pentaloris appears to be in premoult, remove live prey and stop offering more until after the moult and hardening period.

After rehousing or disturbance

A recently moved Guatemalan Tiger Rump may ignore food while it establishes a retreat. Give Davus pentaloris time to settle instead of treating the first refusal as a husbandry emergency.

With Davus pentaloris, repeatedly opening the enclosure, moving the hide or offering prey every day can prolong disturbance. Keep water available and try again later.

Adults and mature males

Adult Davus pentaloris often eat less frequently than fast-growing juveniles. Mature males may become more active around the enclosure and less interested in food after the ultimate moult.

Do not try to force-feed a Guatemalan Tiger Rump. Offer suitable prey occasionally and remove it if the spider is not interested.

When to offer food again

After a normal refusal, wait before trying Davus pentaloris again. The exact interval depends on size and life stage, but there is no need to replace an ignored feeder immediately.

When a Guatemalan Tiger Rump resumes normal activity after a moult or fasting period, start with a sensible meal rather than several feeders at once.

When to look beyond appetite

Food refusal in Davus pentaloris matters more when it appears alongside other problems such as obvious loss of body condition, difficulty moving or an enclosure issue that could limit access to water.

Appetite alone is a poor measure of health in Guatemalan Tiger Rumps. Use the spider's overall condition, recent moults and normal behaviour to decide whether the fast is unusual for Davus pentaloris.