Broken fang during moult.

Spidershe

Arachnopeon
Joined
Jun 17, 2023
Messages
12
New here. Not quite sure how this works. But anyway, my p. Machala broke a fang somehow during a moult? I dug the shard out the old exoskeleton. This is a thing? How do I prevent this? I began this hobby last year and I've got nine T's I absolutely adore. How do I prevent the moult from going bad? Any suggestions?
 

viper69

ArachnoGod
Old Timer
Joined
Dec 8, 2006
Messages
18,622
Sometimes they lose both as mine did and died of starvation

You can’t. One isn’t a death sentence
 

NMTs

Spider Wrangler
Arachnosupporter +
Joined
Jan 22, 2022
Messages
1,488
Generally speaking, molting issues are thought to be most common when a T has not adequately hydrated itself leading up to the molt. In other words, it didn't have access to enough fresh water to drink. That's not the only cause of a bad molt, though, and many of them are beyond our control. Your T should regenerate the fang next time it molts, and it should be able to eat well enough with just one fang. You should probably start by offering prekilled prey items when it's ready to eat again, at least until you're confident it can hunt without issue.
 

Spidershe

Arachnopeon
Joined
Jun 17, 2023
Messages
12
Unnecessary.



What gave you this conclusion?
Well, I looked at her when she was done, but not flipped back over, and one fang was intact, while the other looked like half a fang. So I looked at the old exoskeleton, saw something I thought (but prayed) was part of a fang. So to quell the anxiety I was feeling, I pulled it out (unnecessary, I know) to confirm. It was.
 

Spidershe

Arachnopeon
Joined
Jun 17, 2023
Messages
12
Generally speaking, molting issues are thought to be most common when a T has not adequately hydrated itself leading up to the molt. In other words, it didn't have access to enough fresh water to drink. That's not the only cause of a bad molt, though, and many of them are beyond our control. Your T should regenerate the fang next time it molts, and it should be able to eat well enough with just one fang. You should probably start by offering prekilled prey items when it's ready to eat again, at least until you're confident it can hunt without issue.
Plenty of fresh water. I'm hoping this won't affect her hunting, as she won't take pre-killed. I can try again if there's issues. I just found this site and (well, got excited bc nobody understands my obsession, I don't even understand it.) and was like "cool, like minded ppl" and it's a tad comforting knowing I can ask questions and there will be ppl who might know the answer. Thanx!!
 

NMTs

Spider Wrangler
Arachnosupporter +
Joined
Jan 22, 2022
Messages
1,488
Plenty of fresh water. I'm hoping this won't affect her hunting, as she won't take pre-killed. I can try again if there's issues. I just found this site and (well, got excited bc nobody understands my obsession, I don't even understand it.) and was like "cool, like minded ppl" and it's a tad comforting knowing I can ask questions and there will be ppl who might know the answer. Thanx!!
You can maim a feeder (roach or cricket) by squishing the head just enough to immobilize them but still have them wiggling around to trigger a feeding response.
 

MariaLewisia

Arachnoknight
Joined
Aug 28, 2022
Messages
185
If she still has one fang I wouldn't worry at all. Give her an easier time with her prey items (maim them slightly beforehand so they can't escape as easily) and she'll be fine.

To prevent bad moults, or at least do what you can to prevent them, you need to provide the T with fresh clean water at all time during their moult cycle, not just the last pre-moult period. When the new exo develops, a layer of fluid is slowly and gradually pumped in between the old and new exo. This acts as protection against friction and a lubricant allowing the T to slip out easily during the moulting itself. Too little fluid and it might evaporate too quickly during moulting causing the T to become stuck, or cause tears due to friction between the new very delicate skin and the old. Having a moist corner for the T to moult in can help during the moult (more humidity in the air = less evaporation) but this only helps during the moulting, not the entire cycle. The T being internally hydrated is key.
 

Spidershe

Arachnopeon
Joined
Jun 17, 2023
Messages
12
If she still has one fang I wouldn't worry at all. Give her an easier time with her prey items (maim them slightly beforehand so they can't escape as easily) and she'll be fine.

To prevent bad moults, or at least do what you can to prevent them, you need to provide the T with fresh clean water at all time during their moult cycle, not just the last pre-moult period. When the new exo develops, a layer of fluid is slowly and gradually pumped in between the old and new exo. This acts as protection against friction and a lubricant allowing the T to slip out easily during the moulting itself. Too little fluid and it might evaporate too quickly during moulting causing the T to become stuck, or cause tears due to friction between the new very delicate skin and the old. Having a moist corner for the T to moult in can help during the moult (more humidity in the air = less evaporation) but this only helps during the moulting, not the entire cycle. The T being internally hydrated is key.
Thank you! I try to keep them hydrated at all times. But it's not easy- I'm a nurse and work long hours. Which is another reason that makes them a desirable pet. I enjoy the webbing they construct. They're beautiful, little resilient creatures. I don't understand when ppl are like "why get a pet you can't hold?" (I hold only if necessary.) Do ppl pet/hold thier fish? Anyway. I try to check their water every day. My Dilochothele had to have help out of her/his last molt. I've learned not to over hydrate. But at the same time give them the H2O they need. I like the moist corner idea. That's something I haven't tried. Videos tell you "if you're not-sure moist half the enclosure." Thank you!
 

darkness975

Latrodectus
Arachnosupporter +
Joined
Aug 31, 2012
Messages
6,045
Still having one fang intact is okay.

I had a sling die recently from a bad (wet) molt. That is a lot more devastating.

The missing fang on yours will regenerate with subsequent molts.
 

MariaLewisia

Arachnoknight
Joined
Aug 28, 2022
Messages
185
Thank you! I try to keep them hydrated at all times. But it's not easy- I'm a nurse and work long hours. Which is another reason that makes them a desirable pet. I enjoy the webbing they construct. They're beautiful, little resilient creatures. I don't understand when ppl are like "why get a pet you can't hold?" (I hold only if necessary.) Do ppl pet/hold thier fish? Anyway. I try to check their water every day. My Dilochothele had to have help out of her/his last molt. I've learned not to over hydrate. But at the same time give them the H2O they need. I like the moist corner idea. That's something I haven't tried. Videos tell you "if you're not-sure moist half the enclosure." Thank you!
No problem! Don't fret with the fresh water thing too much though! Checking and refilling a couple times a week is more than enough, you don't need to hover over the enclosure replenishing every single evaporated molecule lol. But making it a habit of checking if their water bowl is full and clean every now and again is good, as well as keeping in mind that they need to have access to water not only when in pre-moult, is what I'm trying to say. 😊

PS. I'm also a nurse, but in vet med, so I know about those long hours... yes, we have them, too. Kudos to you for being able to deal with humans though, I don't think I'd ever be able to do that and remain sane at the same time haha.
 

MariaLewisia

Arachnoknight
Joined
Aug 28, 2022
Messages
185
I had a sling die recently from a bad (wet) molt. That is a lot more devastating.
The first spider loss I had was due to a wet moult. It was a large juvenile I had grown from a little L1 sling. It had already passed when I found it but man, I was gutted. Not a nice sight at all. Sorry for your loss. ❤
 

Ultum4Spiderz

ArachnoGod
Old Timer
Joined
Oct 13, 2011
Messages
6,073
Still having one fang intact is okay.

I had a sling die recently from a bad (wet) molt. That is a lot more devastating.

The missing fang on yours will regenerate with subsequent molts.
Very sorry same thing happened to my a genic rip. I’m trying to add more hydration to my tanks or something see if it lessens bad molts. Don’t know if I’m keeping some too dry and some too wet , trying to balance it out.
The first spider loss I had was due to a wet moult. It was a large juvenile I had grown from a little L1 sling. It had already passed when I found it but man, I was gutted. Not a nice sight at all. Sorry for your loss. ❤
yeah it happened to my a genic , now I want another eventually but it was sad because I got it as a tiny 1/4 or smaller sling around same as yours . What causes these bad molts ?
 

darkness975

Latrodectus
Arachnosupporter +
Joined
Aug 31, 2012
Messages
6,045
The first spider loss I had was due to a wet moult. It was a large juvenile I had grown from a little L1 sling. It had already passed when I found it but man, I was gutted. Not a nice sight at all. Sorry for your loss. ❤
Very sorry same thing happened to my a genic rip. I’m trying to add more hydration to my tanks or something see if it lessens bad molts. Don’t know if I’m keeping some too dry and some too wet , trying to balance it out.

yeah it happened to my a genic , now I want another eventually but it was sad because I got it as a tiny 1/4 or smaller sling around same as yours . What causes these bad molts ?
Mine wouldn't leave the water dish. I had to keep filling it with the spider over it. I also keep the surrounding substrate moist. It's hard to really know.
 

Spidershe

Arachnopeon
Joined
Jun 17, 2023
Messages
12
She's not eating. I don't understand. She used to snatch a cricket up so fast she'd leave it's two legs behind. It was cute. She'd get so fat I'd get a little worried but then she'd moult. I hope she has enough nutrients stored up to force a moult, like another person said. I know I need to give it more time I'm still worried.
 

Smotzer

ArachnoGod
Arachnosupporter +
Joined
Jan 17, 2020
Messages
5,451
She's not eating. I don't understand. She used to snatch a cricket up so fast she'd leave it's two legs behind. It was cute. She'd get so fat I'd get a little worried but then she'd moult. I hope she has enough nutrients stored up to force a moult, like another person said. I know I need to give it more time I'm still worried.
how long has it been since it molted, generally eating directly after a molt is of no immediate concern. Also Im not sure if it was already brought up, but did you check to make sure the sucking stomach also molted properly?
 

jmyers494

Arachnopeon
Joined
Oct 17, 2022
Messages
27
My B. hamorii broke most of both of her fangs off in February 2023 during a molt. I was super worried that I was going to lose her, but she managed really well with pre-killed crickets. She just molted a few weeks ago and has grown both fangs back! I also noticed that it took weeks after she had her bad molt to be interested in eating, she was especially shy with any live prey(I offered this before I really knew what happened to her fangs). After I realized she broke her fangs I would leave pre-killed crickets by her burrow opening and she would eat them. I hope this information helps you somehow! 772985B9-6269-43D9-94A5-50A25D816D14.jpeg 290ED6A3-3262-4FD2-90AD-678306657527.jpeg
 

IntermittentSygnal

Arachnotic
Arachnosupporter +
Joined
Aug 7, 2022
Messages
1,033
My B. hamorii broke most of both of her fangs off in February 2023 during a molt. I was super worried that I was going to lose her, but she managed really well with pre-killed crickets. She just molted a few weeks ago and has grown both fangs back! I also noticed that it took weeks after she had her bad molt to be interested in eating, she was especially shy with any live prey(I offered this before I really knew what happened to her fangs). After I realized she broke her fangs I would leave pre-killed crickets by her burrow opening and she would eat them. I hope this information helps you somehow!
I remember your posts on this. So happy to hear she has her fangs again!
 
Top