G. rosea moulting on her front

[AraneaPulchra]

Hi there,

I have a much-loved G. rosea on her first moult in my care. She's around 6 or so years old. We bought her in September last year and since then she's eaten nothing! The place I bought her from reassured me that this isn't unusual for Chilean Roses.

Anyway, she has started moulting on her front () and her carapace is half lifted off, like a lid.

What are the odds of her surviving this, bearing in mind she's not eaten for a year?

The enclosure is also pretty dry at the moment. She has the water crystal things in her water bowl and for the last few weeks she's been sitting on them for long periods. I assume this is to ensure she is well hydrated but the tank itself isn't moist. If she's making no progress in a few hours, will she need misting to help her along?

Thanks

 

[Ellenantula]

Don't mist!
And ditch the water crystals -- just give water -- tarantulas won't drown. Dry substrate in enclosure is fine.

I will be hopeful for your G rosea.
Mine hasn't moulted since April 2014. And she fasted 14 months once.

I will remain hopeful. Until all hope is gone -- be positive. Ts know more about being Ts than we do.

Truthfully, the care/husbandry beforehand has much more impact than anything done after they've flipped. A few folks have mentioned dampening one corner when they flip to moult -- I've never even done that. End of day: moult will be successful or not -- not much you can do. Just leave her alone and assume nature will take natural and successful course.

[edited to add: most flip on back to moult but we do hear stories of those moulting on side or even upright. Just don't bother her -- interference will more likely end in bad moult more often than just leaving them alone, honestly!]

 

[EulersK]

An upright molt isn't much to worry about. It's not ideal, but it's far from a death sentence. I ask that you watch this for a quick crash course on molting:

Don't be concerned about her not eating, that's completely normal. Just about anyone that's been in the hobby for awhile has a story about year long fasts. I actually do worry about those water crystals though. Unless they were pretty soupy (i.e. the crystals were sitting in a puddle of water), then your spider wasn't able to effectively drink. Contrary to what the pet store may have told you, the water crystals are actually a detriment. So at this point, my only concern would be dehydration. Spiders almost always take a nice long drink right before a molt because the process will absolutely dehydrate them. If your tarantula makes it through (which I think it will), then be sure you've got a fresh bowl of plain water waiting for it. No crystals, no rocks, just water. It'll need a good drink when it's done. Other than making that change immediately, just leave the spider alone.

 

[miss moxie]

Water crystals only work for crickets and roaches because they actually bite off pieces of it and eat it. Tarantulas can't do that. They need a water dish with nothing but water in it. They submerge their entire face into the dish because their mouth is located between their chelicerae. If you ever see a high-definition picture of a tarantula in a threat pose with their chelicerae parted, you can see the small o that is their mouth.


[ source ]

 

[TRection]

An upright molt isn't much to worry about. It's not ideal, but it's far from a death sentence. I ask that you watch this for a quick crash course on molting:

Don't be concerned about her not eating, that's completely normal. Just about anyone that's been in the hobby for awhile has a story about year long fasts. I actually do worry about those water crystals though. Unless they were pretty soupy (i.e. the crystals were sitting in a puddle of water), then your spider wasn't able to effectively drink. Contrary to what the pet store may have told you, the water crystals are actually a detriment. So at this point, my only concern would be dehydration. Spiders almost always take a nice long drink right before a molt because the process will absolutely dehydrate them. If your tarantula makes it through (which I think it will), then be sure you've got a fresh bowl of plain water waiting for it. No crystals, no rocks, just water. It'll need a good drink when it's done. Other than making that change immediately, just leave the spider alone.

I agree with this 100% and would also like to ask OP to post some pictures of their enclosure, If their information and care has been giving based on what the pet store has told them then there very well could be much more wrong with the setup than just water crystals.

So OP if you can please post pictures of your T and its set up so we could help you even father (not saying that there IS an issue or anything wrong, but as you are a brand new member its always nice to make sure and give you as much help as we can if needed)

 

[The Grym Reaper]

Anyway, she has started moulting on her front () and her carapace is half lifted off, like a lid.

What are the odds of her surviving this, bearing in mind she's not eaten for a year?

Pretty good, my GBB always moults upright, she's never had an issue, she's a tough cookie, she survived moulting in the vial she was posted in without issue too.

As mentioned above, ditch the water crystals, they're useless for Tarantulas, you'd have to fully submerge a Tarantula for well over half an hour to drown it so they're fine with a shallow-ish water dish, rare sighting of my G. pulchripes taking a swig below.

View media item 43427
If you could post pictures of your whole setup then someone can advise you of any potential issues that may arise and suggest how to remedy them if there are.

 

[AraneaPulchra]

Thank you SO much all. I feel absolutely dreadful if she hasn't been able to drink. Poor thing! To be honest, the water crystal thing was my mistake. When I bought her, she had a soupy mixture of crystals and water (to prevent evaporation).

I moved to Beastie Water as it seemed a good idea (how wrong I was!). I thought would mean I'd disturb her less when adding more water (I did use water for a bit but it dried up quickly).

I did check the water crystals by pressing them and my finger was moist afterwards, so maybe she will have managed to get some.

She is actually my 7 year old son's pet and he has gone to bed in tears worrying about her.

The two of us are actually house-sitting for a friend, but we popped home (where my husband is, due to work) and my son spotted that she was moulting.

So I can't post a pic at the moment as I'm not there. I will be going by tomorrow though to check up on her! Her enclosure is not the one she came in, which did not have enough air holes and was getting full of condensation. I thought that might be bothering her, and making her too uncomfortable to eat. The new one is the following: https://www.therange.co.uk/reptiles/reptile-vivariums/nano-habitat/#170689

It also has a bit of tree bark she can hide under, though she rarely does. Substrate is the coconut husk stuff that comes in bricks that you have to soak in water.

My husband, who likes her but isn't as fond of her as us, just reassured my son he'll buy another if she dies. But we really love her, and want her to make it. I am feeling so sad and guilty that I've made it harder for her to survive this moult. Thank you for being so kind despite this!!

 

[AraneaPulchra]

My husband says she seems to be making progress, but he didn't get a good luck, as he's turned the lights off in the room she's in and is doing his best to be quiet and stay away. My son has banned him from watching TV in the next room in case it disturbs her!

 

[AraneaPulchra]

Here she is. Isn't she lovely! Please join me in rooting for her to get through this unscathed.

 

[sdsnybny]

Nice looking T.
You have what appears to be a G. porteri, as G. rosea is has red accent setae. It's common for pet stores to call them all "Rosie's or Rose Hairs" there are actually many diff species/locals that fit the description. I hope she molts successfully for you.
G. porteri freshly molted (notice the blueish tint to the femurs, indicative of a G. porteri)


G. rosea freshly molted

 

[Ellenantula]

Oh -- please don't handle a newly moulted T -- they are super soft, fragile, delicate and (at that size) need at least 10 days to harden up!
Seriously, you could really damage a T post-moult.

I am glad yours moulted well. You had a lot of positive vibes going your way!

 

[EulersK]

Oh -- please don't handle a newly moulted T -- they are super soft, fragile, delicate and (at that size) need at least 10 days to harden up!
Seriously, you could really damage a T post-moult.

I am glad yours moulted well. You had a lot of positive vibes going your way!

I don't think that it's actually molted yet, that's an old picture.

 

[AraneaPulchra]

Thanks for the info! I need to change my thread title!

Ellenantula, don't worry, that was a pre-moult pic. She is still in the process of moulting. I know that if she moults successfully, she'll be fragile for several days and mustn't be handled.

Have just asked husband who says he can't see and doesn't want to turn the light on in case it disturbs her.

So I won't know how she's doing until the morning.

 

[Ellenantula]

I am SO glad to be wrong on this. I have spent the last 5 minutes wondering if you pinched grabbed it or if it actually managed to walk on your hand, 5 minutes after moulting. (weak laugh)

I really thought it was a celebratory post-moult pix. SO relieved!!!

[no thread title change needed]

 

[Ellenantula]

Nice looking T.
You have what appears to be a G. porteri, as G. rosea is has red accent setae. It's common for pet stores to call them all "Rosie's or Rose Hairs" there are actually many diff species/locals that fit the description. I hope she molts successfully for you.
G. porteri freshly molted (notice the blueish tint to the femurs, indicative of a G. porteri)
View attachment 249943

G. rosea freshly molted
View attachment 249942

Okay -- what makes the bottom pix a G rosea RCF instead of a G sp concepcion.
I have a G rosea RCF, that I accept is just a G rosea -- but mine also favours concepcion. How do people know the difference? (sorry, off topic, but you did post the gorgeous pix!)

 

[AraneaPulchra]

Haha, don't worry, I know I am a tarantula noob (calling her a G. rosea for a start - oops!) but one thing I did learn was that they are best left undisturbed when moulting.

I really, really hope in a couple of weeks I will be posting a genuine celebratory picture.

 

[Ellenantula]

Haha, don't worry, I know I am a tarantula noob (calling her a G. rosea for a start - oops!) but one thing I did learn was that they are best left undisturbed when moulting.

I really, really hope in a couple of weeks I will be posting a genuine celebratory picture.

Me too. And I was trying so hard to be kind in my reply. But inside my head I was "oh my god she's handling a newly moulted T!"
Very thankful to have misunderstood to pix and text meaning! Those T's back legs just looked so draped in the pix, I guess.

 

[sdsnybny]

Grammostola sp. "Concepción" has enlarged scopula disk shape and G. rosea doesn't.
http://arachnoboards.com/threads/gr...n-mature-male-scopula-emboli-and-hook.290678/
Post 40
http://arachnoboards.com/threads/grammostola-sp-concepcion.261024/page-2

 

[ShyDragoness]

If the lid is mesh you may want to replace it with a sheet of acrylic or plexi glass cut to fit with hair holes drilled in- if not ignore me haha !

 

[Ellenantula]

Grammostola sp. "Concepción" has enlarged scopula disk shape and G. rosea doesn't.
http://arachnoboards.com/threads/grammostola-sp-concepción-mature-male-scopula-emboli-and-hook.290678/
Post 40
http://arachnoboards.com/threads/grammostola-sp-concepcion.261024/page-2

Thanks -- I enjoyed reading the links. I knew (since I trusted seller) I could only have RCF rosie; but still -- such a strong resemblance to concepcion.
I always enjoy learning something new. It's seems like such a subtle difference until you keep studying the pictures. Thanks again.