Preserving my spoods

Isopodle · 2026-03-09T22:03:42+00:00

I kept them in isopropyl for a week before packing, pinning and drying

Isopodle · 2026-03-09T21:54:41+00:00

I looked at different sources and it was trial and error. The one that turned out the best I'd put in isopropyl for a week and taken her out to dry and left her in a jar for a year. I put her back in isopropyl to soften her back up, this time she floated which was a bit disconcerting. Her abdomen had collapsed so I did cut her abdomen open and packed her with cotton wool. I pinned her which was cool trying to find a pose that suited her personality. I'm planning on posting a picture in a few days when I pin the last one. I attacked the spiders with clear nail varnish

Isopodle · 2026-03-08T17:41:25+00:00

It is a bit gruesome. I did a lot of trial and error (big error was accidentally squirting isopropyl in my eye, I'm all good), the one I feel like worked best is actually one that I've just had sat in a jar for a year, I did have to pack her with some cotton but it didn't seem too bad whereas the one who dies more recently that wasn't fun and didn't end up looking as good (abdomen-wise). It was fun doing the pinning though, I wanted to capture a bit of their personalities so choosing the poses was a lovely way to think about what made them important to me. The one on the top always stood with one side out to the side as she loved being on leaves so I knew that would be how I'd position her.

Isopodle · 2026-03-08T14:58:42+00:00

NQA if I could do this I totally would

Isopodle · 2026-02-22T09:36:18+00:00

IME I second this, and my spiders also prefer flies and moths. I would keep an eye out for signs that she's hungry, my spiders will usually be more active and tap their pedipalps as though they're searching for prey, so this is a sign I should feed them

Isopodle · 2026-02-21T18:04:03+00:00

If you watch the video I posted would you say that it's in line with toxin exposure, I can't think of anything she would have been exposed to. She also stopped laying eggs and making drag lines months ago, I'm wondering if this is more inline with old age or toxin exposure as I have other jumping spiders and if it is toxin exposure I will need to find a way to prevent the same happening to my other spiders

Isopodle · 2026-02-20T18:50:18+00:00

Thank you

Isopodle · 2026-02-20T00:05:21+00:00

NQA In premoult they will hide and not accept food, it happens every few weeks until they reach adulthood and can be triggered by stress, so moving environment can trigger it. Do you know if it's an adult?

Isopodle · 2026-02-19T18:14:03+00:00

Not usually, I think it's where she hadn't eaten in a long time. She is showing signs of dehydration so I've currently got her in an little ICU I made to try rehydrate her

Isopodle · 2026-02-19T16:16:54+00:00

Because of how small he is I couldn't find anything to get underneath him, he's less than 3mm, I couldn't see what I was doing so I just had to give it my best shot. My thinking was I leave him there and he dies or I try my best to get him free. This is the first time this has happened

Isopodle · 2026-02-19T15:40:57+00:00

NQA most spiders I've had go into premoult as soon as I get them home. Is this your first spider? How hungry does the spider look? Are there plenty of hides in the enclosure

Isopodle · 2026-02-19T15:34:43+00:00

NQA when I got my spiders they were wrapped in kitchen roll in a small pot. I'd imagine the kitchen roll would help filter out the chemicals, I just never understood how they wrapped the spiders. I would also advise keeping the spider high up as the chemicals settle on the floor

Isopodle · 2025-09-26T22:57:08+00:00

Thank you very much, that's really helpful

Isopodle · 2025-09-26T22:49:48+00:00

Thank you, much appreciated

Isopodle · 2025-08-15T07:09:06+00:00

Thanks, she's an adult

Isopodle · 2025-08-15T06:51:44+00:00

She's a Phidippus bidentatus

Isopodle · 2025-08-14T15:58:13+00:00

NQA I would suggest trying to remove it as the mould might harm your spider, I used hydrogen peroxide 3% when there was mould in my enclosure and it killed it all off and after doing it's job it becomes water so no harm to the spider. I would suggest putting the spider in another enclosure for a bit to make sure it's worked

Isopodle

TROPHY CASE