First tarantula molt EVER!!

[DannyH]

Okay, so my sling just molted, and is it normal for them to lay on their backs after the moult? I think i saw it twitch a little bit, is that okay?

---------- Post added 09-21-2011 at 03:06 PM ----------

His legs are curled over him is he dead is there anythign i can do?

---------- Post added 09-21-2011 at 03:13 PM ----------

Okay its not a death curl but its like her knees are crunched in, sorry I can't post a pic, I keep the cage high up so my cats can get it, and I can barley see it.

 

[R McP]

hes fine let him do his own thing and dont bother him

 

[DannyH]

I'm not touching him, but I realized he is standing up, but hes knees are bunched in by the carapace. Is that normal?

 

[Amoeba]

Do you mean its legs are covering the carapace and eyes and not underneath him? Like This

 

[DannyH]

Do you mean its legs are covering the carapace and eyes and not underneath him? Like This

Yes like that, is that bad?

 

[R McP]

Yes like that, is that bad?

no hes seems to be ok but he needs to harden up before you feed him.

 

[Amoeba]

That is the stress pose probably brought about by you fidgeting over everything it is doing. Put the enclosure in a dark quiet place and leave it alone for a few days.

 

[ruca49]

Oh the joys of learning tarantula behavior! Just wait til it is hanging by a couple of legs while it tries to stick a 3 legs in it's mouth at once! They do some crazy looking things just don't try to disturb them too much.

 

[paassatt]

Not to sound rude or condescending, but if you'd have done even the bare minimum amount of research before getting the spider you'd know what typical post-molt behavior was. I understand it can be nerve-wracking watching your first molt, but everything you described in your original post is completely normal and you would've known that if you read up on the molting process before hand.

 

[DannyH]

Not to sound rude or condescending, but if you'd have done even the bare minimum amount of research before getting the spider you'd know what typical post-molt behavior was. I understand it can be nerve-wracking watching your first molt, but everything you described in your original post is completely normal and you would've known that if you read up on the molting process before hand.

Yeah, I know. I was really just frantic and was posting anything that I thought could be a tiny problem. I read a tarantula book, and they said it was normal for tarantulas to lay on their back after a moult, but it seemed really outdated (It suggested sponges) so I just wanted to be sure.

And if anyone cares, hes out of the stress postion and seems to be felling his new skin. Grew about 1/4 of an inch!