B hamorii sling in premolt forever!

[TeddyBearTarantula]

Hi guys,

I know this question is an age old staple on here, but I’m worrying, so I’m hoping someone can put my mind at ease, a little.

I’ve a B hamorii sling 1cm that has been in premolt literally six weeks which is all the time I’ve owned it so it could have possibly been longer. At first, it literally nibbled on a few dead cricket pieces but never really ate like the other slings, but now food is completely untouched or so it seems.
I say this because before the cricket would have been moved to a different area in the enclosure or webbed up. However over the last couple weeks feeding, the crickets are always left exactly where I placed them and no webbing, as though it’s oblivious to the crickets presence.

The sling has also been nestled nicely under a leaf for the last couple of weeks, in a little pit it’s dug. I’m assuming this is because molt is imminent (I’m practically answering my own concerns, I know!)

The issue I have is, she looks as though she’s going to pop, like her abdomen is so big compared to her carapace, she barely looks able to carry her big bottom around. I’m trying not to disturb her other than topping up moister when needed but I’m worried she isn’t happy with something and is trying to delay it, but then again all seems fine with the enclosure, temp/humidity/sizing. I’m prob just being paranoid. I would attach a pic but she’s under her leaf and I don’t want to bother her. I have had a sneak peak before and I thought she looked so cosy that’s where I’d make a home if I was a baby spider. I know it’s tempting to dig her out but I know she knows what she’s doing and I have no intention of intervening.

I’m just concerned in a spider mother way, that maybe I’m missing something, being new to the hobby.

Anyway, any thoughts and opinions are always welcome.

Thanks
Nicola

 

[miamc12321]

Edit: listen to any advice, hon. There are many people here who can help you!

 

[MKNoiL]

What is the temperature in the enclosure?

Brachypelma spiecies can be in premolt like "forever"...
My tiny sling 0.3" Brachypelma Albiceps was in premolt for like 10 weeks... other slings molted twice at that time...

 

[TeddyBearTarantula]

What is the temperature in the enclosure?

Brachypelma spiecies can be in premolt like "forever"...
My tiny sling 0.3" Brachypelma Albiceps was in premolt for like 10 weeks... other slings molted twice at that time...

It’s sitting around 21.9 to 22.5 - I caught a peak of her a moment ago, she sticks her legs out of the leaf to drink from the enclosure walls! Her abdomen is so dark!

 

[SIM]

I’m worried she isn’t happy with something and is trying to delay it

It is physiologically impossible for your tarantula to "choose not to" molt. It happens when it has to happen. Obvi, things can go wrong with molts but they can't just "put it off" so don't worry about that.

Keep us updated but I think your baby will be just fine.

*Also if it's stopped touching the food you give it, don't even give it food until it molts or its abdomen starts shrinking

 

[MKNoiL]

So the temperature are totally fine. Mayby u could try to raise it a bit for like 24*C so it could speed up process a bit.

Anyway I think U have no need to worry about anything. Waiting could be a bit frustrating but sooner or later she gonna molt

 

[TeddyBearTarantula]

It is physiologically impossible for your tarantula to "choose not to" molt. It happens when it has to happen. Obvi, things can go wrong with molts but they can't just "put it off" so don't worry about that.

Keep us updated but I think your baby will be just fine.

*Also if it's stopped touching the food you give it, don't even give it food until it molts or its abdomen starts shrinking

Thank you. Yeah I have stopped feeding it now. The last couple of feeds I left it out. Thanks for the advice.

 

[TeddyBearTarantula]

So the temperature are totally fine. Mayby u could try to raise it a bit for like 24*C so it could speed up process a bit.

Anyway I think U have no need to worry about anything. Waiting could be a bit frustrating but sooner or later she gonna molt

Thank you. I’m just going to sit it out. As long as she stays plump I’m not going to feed her until she molts. Once she does I’ll post pics!

 

[Paul1126]

Op I hope my image puts your mind at ease.

 

[MKNoiL]

Op I hope my image puts your mind at ease.

Are you using some kind of application to do this kind of statistics? Looks nice.

 

[Ant]

A.genic - 84 days
B.albo - 134 days
B.hamorii - 168 days
C.versi - 81 days
N.colorato - 49 days

These are just 5 of my slings, so a very small sample size, but as you can see, time between molts can vary massively with some Brachypelma taking FOREVER! Just wait it out, keep the sub ever so slightly moist and it'll happen eventually.

 

[The Grym Reaper]

Are you using some kind of application to do this kind of statistics? Looks nice.

This android app (sorry iOS users ), it's great.

 

[The Grym Reaper]

I say this because before the cricket would have been moved to a different area in the enclosure or webbed up.

I have absolutely no idea where I read it but I did read that if the prey item has been moved then you should assume that the tarantula has eaten, it doesn't take much to fill a sling so it stands to reason that it could've had a nibble and discarded the rest.

However over the last couple weeks feeding, the crickets are always left exactly where I placed them and no webbing, as though it’s oblivious to the crickets presence.

This would be when I assume they are actually refusing food so pre-moult would've actually been a couple of weeks (give or take) so far which is fairly normal for a Brachypelma sling IME, I've had some stop eating for nearly a month before moulting.

The issue I have is, she looks as though she’s going to pop, like her abdomen is so big compared to her carapace, she barely looks able to carry her big bottom around. I’m trying not to disturb her other than topping up moister when needed but I’m worried she isn’t happy with something

All sounds pretty normal at this point, just keep doing what you're doing (leaving it alone other than to top up moisture) and it'll moult eventually.

I'd say try not to worry but I still get impatient waiting for Ts to moult and I've been at this for nearly 2 years lol.

 

[MKNoiL]

This android app (sorry iOS users ), it's great.

Noooooo......


Too bad... Still won't get an android phone anyway...;p

 

[Raymond Price]

I got B.hamorii sling of similar size and is taking forever to moult also, they're just really really slow growing. Nothing to worry about

 

[TeddyBearTarantula]

Op I hope my image puts your mind at ease.

Haha yes it definitely does! That’s how Tiki looks! Yours looks as though a tiny nudge might explode it! Thank you for uploading those, what a gorgeous baby you have.

 

[TeddyBearTarantula]

I have absolutely no idea where I read it but I did read that if the prey item has been moved then you should assume that the tarantula has eaten, it doesn't take much to fill a sling of it stands to reason that it could've had a nibble and discarded the rest.



This would be when I assume they are actually refusing food so pre-moult would've actually been a couple of weeks (give or take) so far which is fairly normal for a Brachypelma sling IME, I've had some stop eating for nearly a month before moulting.



All sounds pretty normal at this point, just keep doing what you're doing (leaving it alone other than to top up moisture) and it'll moult eventually.

I'd say try not to worry but I still get impatient waiting for Ts to moult and I've been at this for nearly 2 years lol.

Thank you, I am starting to feel a little more relaxed now, thanks to all you lovely, kind people. I know I’m being impatient but I haven’t had a moult yet from any of my T’s which isn’t abnormal I’ve not had them that long but I’m so excited to see one progress, plus it’s one stage nearer to the T being slightly more hardy.
It would be amazing if I actually saw it happen, but it’s not likely with her being so small and doing her secret squirrel stuff, all of the time

 

[TeddyBearTarantula]

I managed to catch a small pic of her earlier! My phone camera could zoom into the crack between the sub and leaf! It’s not very clear but it captures the essence of her size!

 

[TeddyBearTarantula]

Just added this one because it’s cute imo!

 

[cold blood]

Op, I had a 1/2" B. albiceps go 177 days fasting before finally molting...it will happen when it happens....some individuals just take their sweet time with growth.