Just had a quick look - it's abdomen has darkened considerably since this morning, from being slightly dark nearest the carapace to black al over, now that was fast.
I would not be concerned then. Especially because the abdomen is plenty plump. Let it do its thing and be prepared for the Post molt apocalyptic appetite
The abdomen is starting to get shiny now, that's 12 hours since I noticed a slight darkening of the abdomen and now it looks like it may molt in the next 24 hours, maybe longer, but it's definitely imminent. Thanks @The Grym Reaper
Post some pictures. Gray=premolt, purpleish=super heavy premolt.
They usually make a moulting mat 24hrs before flipping over, it'll probably be within the next week or so
A molt mat is usually made very shortly before flipping. Sometimes the genic will actually flip immediately after finishing the mat, as in this video
Well, speaking from experience, they usually make the mat 24-48hrs in advance, they might add some finishing touches like an extra layer of silk followed by kicking off any remaining urticating setae shortly before actually flipping over to moult.
I don't want disturb her as she's heavy into her pre-molt, I'll post pics once she's molted, wouldn't want to disturb the process, it's draining enough already for the spider, but yeah once she's finished I'll certainly show her off, with her new clothes,(I'm saying her, but I'll know for sure after this molt I would assume.)
Correction: don't disturb a molting tarantula. Or, if you meant pre-molt: don't put LIVE food in an enclosure with a spider in heavy pre-molt.
Agreed, since the A. geniculata started it's heavy pre-molt, the only times I've disturbed it was to replenish water supplies, other than that I always leave well alone, of course checking regularly as with all my T's, but not over anxious as some keepers are, they do know what they're doing after all, far better than we do!Correction: don't disturb a molting tarantula. Or, if you meant pre-molt: don't put LIVE food in an enclosure with a spider in heavy pre-molt.
Stay focussed, young padawan...
Yeah, they put on a lot of size with each molt. My sling molted last night and im fairly certain she doubled. You can probably expect anywhere between half an inch to one inch growth
That's what I thought with such a fast growing species, great news, like a big monster eating machine, I miss my LP from years back, he was the true demon, attacked everything, largest locusts were his favourite, looking forward to this big guy/gal becoming an eating legend.
Maybe half inch to an inch, not sure at that size, my female was a little over 4" when I got her, first exuvia was 5", second was 6"