Early molt?

[Venom]

Hey everyone, I have a bit of an enigma with my e.campestratus. I just got back from vacation, and noticed that the bald spot on her abdomen has noticeably darkened in colour. I know that is a sign of an upcoming molt, but her last molt was only in February, and she's over 5" ( max legspan, leg I - IV )! I've been feeding her pretty heavily since her last molt, but do you think she could molt again so soon? Please let me know what you think. Thanks!

 

[Static_69]

well...since it sounds like your power feeding her,
I wouldn't be surprised if she molts again so soon.





Risto

 

[Venom]

It's not like I'm ramming the crickets down her gullet; I am feeding her one medium - medium large cricket a day, 5 or 6 days a week, and she keeps taking them, the greedy pig. Do you think I should ration her crickets a bit ?

 

[SpiderTwin]

Do you have a pic of her, I'd like to see what her abdomen looks like.

I wouldn't think it would be molting so soon, especially at it's size. I would say at that size, it should be molting only about once a year.

 

[Venom]

Here she is, assuming the link works.

 

[blackacidevil]

Right now that link isn't working but I would say that is a lot of feeding for a T. I feed my larger T's (only have a couple about 1 large cricket every two or three days. That doesn't mean what you are doing is wrong but it could explain the early molt.

p.s.
My juvenile B_Boehmi had gone seven months without molting but once I added a heat source it molted four months later.

 

[blackacidevil]

Originally posted by blackacidevil
Right now that link isn't working but I would say that is a lot of feeding for a T. I feed my larger T's (only have a couple) about 1 large cricket every two or three days. That doesn't mean what you are doing is wrong but it could explain the early molt.

p.s.
My juvenile B_Boehmi had gone seven months without molting but once I added a heat source it molted four months later.

edit>> Stupid me, I meant to edit the previous post but accidentally quoted!

 

[Venom]

Thanks for the advice! I am keeping, and will continue to keep her tank moister than normal, so she won't dehydrate if she molts during the night.