2nd molt I've encountered.

[newscorpionowner]

So as the title says this is my 2nd experience with a molt, my Avic molted a few weeks back and of course kept it, it came as a surprise in the first place so that was cool, I believe male but still too small, but I could be wrong. My question is how long should I wait before pulling this molt out from my juvie vagan who was on its back last night and finished up somewhere through the night. The only reason I'm wanting to pull it now is so it doesn't ruin it walking around it or sucking it dry wanting some moisture. Also figured I'd introduce a water dish as it doesnt have one. Thanks in advance, I know it's a small question, but partially an update from my Ts I got from the expo I went to this past weekend.

 

[vancwa]

I would wait several days. Molts are stressful. You can always rehydrate molts. The T will not be roaming around and will be stretching and other strange contortions while it hardens. Pull the molt when you add the water dish. You should ALWAYS have a fresh water dish available.

 

[Ungoliant]

My question is how long should I wait before pulling this molt out

You can remove the molt any time you can get to it without poking the spider.

 

[Gaherp]

I agree with Ungoliant. As long as your not going to have to actually touch or move your freshly molted vagans the molt can be removed. I try to get them asap alot of times so I can sex them. If your not really too worried about it though it can just stay in until it either breaks down or when you are spot cleaning the cage.

 

[Brachyfan]

Some tarantulas use their molts as a defense. Especially burrowing species. They rip them up and spread them around the burrow so the urticating setae would deter anything that wanders into their burrow. My juvie albopilosum used to do this. They are also fairly clean animals and will usually bring the molt to the surface and leave it when they don't want it there. My albo has brought a pile of legs and a half eaten mealworm and left the pile by it's water dish for me to clean up

For terrestrial species I usually just leave the molts in the enclosure unless the t gives a sign that they want it gone. Usually they put the molt in the water dish. Can't speak of arboreal tarantulas as I don't keep them.

Molts won't mold or cause harm to the tarantula.

 

[Feral]

I tend to pull molts after the animal has recovered any moisture it wants from the molt, has already hardened, and only if I can reach it without disturbing any burrows/structures/etc. I think giving them the chance to suck the moisture from the molts is important! I also dislike unnecessarily disturbing them during a stressful time. That's my policy. As noted, you can always rehydrate the molts later yourself.

Also, on an unserious side note...
For some entirely illogical reason, pieces of old molts permanently left in an enclosure are slightly unsettling to me. Like... Psychologically. I know it's totally illogical. But there's just something about legs scattered around that is... a little eerie? Like a little Hanibal Lector who doesn't tidy up after himself, just leaves his victims' gruesome leftover body parts strewn about. It looks like a crime scene!

Do not like.
But it's strange because it's so illogical, but yet I still feel it. Anyone else a little creeped out by old molt pieces know what I'm saying?