Does anyone have a molt record for their adult GBB(s) handy?

[cshouston]

Subject pretty much says it all. All the threads I’ve searched are just asking about general molt rates or tiny slings. I’m curious about the rough average of inter-molt periods for juveniles and subadults.

If anyone has a good photo of a juvenile/subadult/adult in pre-molt, that’d be a bonus. I’d appreciate some education on the signs to look out for, besides just a growing abdomen. Thank you.

 

[Marlana]

Adults are a bit harder to tell then slings, generally. Unless they have a bald patch where you can see their abdomen darken.

I don’t have GBB so I can’t give you that information. A lot of my adults molt about once a year, but can’t say for this species. Also can depend on temps, feeding…etc

 

[cshouston]

Thank you. Yeah, that’s pretty much what I’m experiencing. No bald spot, just a ragged looking patch and dull colors for two months. She’s about 3”-3.25” or so, and it has been over four months and change since the last molt. Every time I think it’s coming, it never does.

 

[Finikan]

They all molt at different rates. A lot of factors including the tarantula itself. Ive had slings from the same sac molt within a day of each other, and another set molted 8 months apart.

Who knows what they're up to.

 

[cshouston]

I realize that. Temperature, feeding, etc., etc. I'm just trying to get an idea of a rough interval at that size. C. cyaneopubescens was one of the species I never had over the years before I stopped keeping Ts, so I have no frame of reference.

 

[Finikan]

Mine molted about 2 months ago, 2" or so, and I expect by the looks of things that it will molt again in 2-3 more months. It's been an every 3-4 month molter.

 

[cshouston]

Thanks. I was under the impression they grew quickly at small sizes, then by 3" they were considered to be at a "medium growth rate". Unfortunately, there's no standard for what that really means. If yours is taking 3-4 months at 2", then I should probably reassess my expectations for this species. FWIW, it's kept at 77F and refuses food for about two weeks at a time, then takes a large cricket before refusing again.

I hate its current enclosure because it webs the lid and makes filling the dish and feeding it a pain in the ass; she goes nuts when the web starts to stretch and pull. I just don't want to move it until *after* a molt, to avoid stressing it during pre-molt. That's the only reason why I'm tapping my foot with this one.

 

[Finikan]

In its defense, I got it 15 months ago at 3/4" so its not as slow as some others!

 

[viper69]

I realize that. Temperature, feeding, etc., etc. I'm just trying to get an idea of a rough interval at that size. C. cyaneopubescens was one of the species I never had over the years before I stopped keeping Ts, so I have no frame of reference.

My AF at that size- little less than a year

 

[cshouston]

My AF at that size- little less than a year

Thank you. A little less than a year between molts at that size is surprising.

 

[Smotzer]

It will molt when it’s ready to, likely not before that, until then wait!!

 

[cshouston]

Forgive me for seeking some data points.

 

[goonius]

Subject pretty much says it all. All the threads I’ve searched are just asking about general molt rates or tiny slings. I’m curious about the rough average of inter-molt periods for juveniles and subadults.

If anyone has a good photo of a juvenile/subadult/adult in pre-molt, that’d be a bonus. I’d appreciate some education on the signs to look out for, besides just a growing abdomen. Thank you.

We got a juvenile GBB at about 2” in August of 2020. Here are the molt dates: 9/18/20, 12/10/20, 4/19/21, 8/24/21. He hooked out on 4/16/22.

His premolts seemed to last a month or a little more. Fasting was the main characteristic we observed. Sometimes he’d do a bit more webbing in his lair beforehand, lining it with urticating hairs. I don’t remember him having any other specific premolt characteristics except looking really dumpy and disheveled, but feel free to ask more questions and I’ll try to answer them.

 

[Smotzer]

Forgive me for seeking some data points.

Tarantulas can exhibit drastically different growth rates from even members of the same species, and even the same sac, at any given stage due to a multiplicity of different factors (temp., genetics, prey type, frequency of feeding, environment, etc.). If I told you mine at that size took four months to molt, but yours still hadn’t molted at 6mo you might then start to worry if something is wrong. But alas is totally normal. So hence my answer being the only direct one, it will molt when it’s ready, no one single person here besides yourself will be able to tell you when and at what interval yours will molt at! Dislike the answer or not, but it’s the true one

 

[coolnweird]

Forgive me for seeking some data points.

They're saying this because no one's data points can tell you when your specific specimen will molt. I've raised a GBB to maturity, and the molting times had no kind of trend or reasoning. Three months between molts, and then two, and then six months, and then three again, for example. It all depends on how much it's been fed, the temperature, barometric pressure, and a million other internal factors we can know nothing about. It'll molt when it molts

 

[cshouston]

We got a juvenile GBB at about 2” in August of 2020. Here are the molt dates: 9/18/20, 12/10/20, 4/19/21, 8/24/21. He hooked out on 4/16/22.

His premolts seemed to last a month or a little more. Fasting was the main characteristic we observed. Sometimes he’d do a bit more webbing in his lair beforehand, lining it with urticating hairs. I don’t remember him having any other specific premolt characteristics except looking really dumpy and disheveled, but feel free to ask more questions and I’ll try to answer them.

Thanks. That’s useful data. 3, 4, 4, and 8 months apart. Mine definitely looks dumpy and disheveled, and I have noticed some new webbing going up around the upper parts of the primary tunnel. I’ll just wait it out with the crappy enclosure until the next molt.

I appreciate your useful input! Like I said before, I’ve kept a lot of other species, but never the GBB, so I’m just trying to get a rough idea of the intervals so as not to stress mine out by rehousing at an inopportune moment. I guess some people just get off trying to feel superior to others on the internet.

Tarantulas can exhibit drastically different growth rates from even members of the same species, and even the same sac, at any given stage due to a multiplicity of different factors (temp., genetics, prey type, frequency of feeding, environment, etc.). If I told you mine at that size took four months to molt, but yours still hadn’t molted at 6mo you might then start to worry if something is wrong. But alas is totally normal. So hence my answer being the only direct one, it will molt when it’s ready, no one single person here besides yourself will be able to tell you when and at what interval yours will molt at! Dislike the answer or not, but it’s the true one

I’m not asking anyone to tell me when my T is going to molt. I’ve been keeping since 2006, so I’m not some wet-behind-the-ears newbie who needs to be talked to like a child. I’m just trying to get a rough idea from the experiences of others in order to prevent rehousing at a bad time and possibly harming the spider. Sorry to have wasted your precious seconds by making you read a post that you could have just ignored, Mr. Gatekeeper. I’m not going to engage with this any further. Have a lovely day.

 

[vounti]

I keep an excel sheet with dates of every meal, molts and I also sometimes write observations/behavioral changes

I've had 1 GBB that turned out male and I currently have a sling (prob female)

I can send you the files

 

[cshouston]

I keep an excel sheet with dates of every meal, molts and I also sometimes write observations/behavioral changes

I've had 1 GBB that turned out male and I currently have a sling (prob female)

I can send you the files

Thank you. I keep similar records so seeing something like that for the GBB would be great while I establish my own.

 

[JonnyTorch]

I'm not sure if this will help. It's the molt schedule from sling to juvenile. I got it around .5-.75" and it's now about 2.5-3"
When mine is about to molt, sure, the abdomen gets larger. The abdomen also gets a little less vibrant in color but a little shiny also, and refuses to eat.