Keeper guide

Why Is My Skeleton Leg Tarantula Not Eating? — Ephebopus murinus

A Skeleton Leg Tarantula refusing food is often normal. Ephebopus murinus 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
French Guiana, Suriname and Brazil
Lifestyle
Fossorial
UK hobby rarity
Uncommon
Maximum size
About 12–15 cm (4.5–6 in)
Growth rate
Moderate
Male lifespan
Around 3–4 years
Female lifespan
Often 10–15 years
Temperament
Fast, reclusive and defensive when exposed; usually retreats into the burrow
Venom
Venomous, but bites are not generally considered medically significant; urticating hairs are an important contact hazard
Temperature
22–26°C
Moisture / humidity
Moisture-dependent fossorial setup with damp lower substrate, a drying surface, water and strong cross-ventilation
CITES
Not CITES-listed

The first thing to check

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

Make sure a Skeleton Leg Tarantula has access to fresh water and that the enclosure is within the normal temperature range of 22–26°C.

Premoult fasting

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

If Ephebopus murinus 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 Skeleton Leg Tarantula may ignore food while it establishes a retreat. Give Ephebopus murinus time to settle instead of treating the first refusal as a husbandry emergency.

With Ephebopus murinus, 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 Ephebopus murinus 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 Skeleton Leg Tarantula. 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 Ephebopus murinus again. The exact interval depends on size and life stage, but there is no need to replace an ignored feeder immediately.

When a Skeleton Leg Tarantula 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 Ephebopus murinus 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 Skeleton Leg Tarantulas. Use the spider's overall condition, recent moults and normal behaviour to decide whether the fast is unusual for Ephebopus murinus.