What is the most probable cause if a healthy adult *A. semanni* suddenly stops accepting food?
Answer
Impending ecdysis (molting)
Fasting, or refusing sustenance, is a common behavior observed in terrestrial tarantulas like the *A. semanni*, and when an adult abruptly ceases eating, the most likely underlying reason is an approaching molt, or ecdysis. Tarantulas deliberately abstain from food for an extended period, sometimes weeks, preceding this vulnerable process. This behavior is driven by the need to conserve energy resources and, crucially, to avoid the metabolic stress and physical complications associated with having a distended stomach during the molting procedure. If the spider is otherwise exhibiting stable environmental conditions, pre-molt fasting is the primary assumption.
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