Giant white knee trouble molting?

[PattiT]

I'm new to arschnoboards so please forgive me if I'm not posting correctly. I just recently aquire a giant white knee. Only about 1.5-2 inches. It was a gift to my bf from his friend so I've been doing my best to research how to care for them. The night before last my bf woke in the middle of the night to find out T on his back and was worried (I knew they usually molt on their back but I guess I didn't tell him) and kinda shook his container and he flipped back over. Then yesterday morning I noticed he was on his back again and excitedly told my bf I think he's molting. I took a short video and figured if check him later. I also increased the humidity some. When I checked him last night he is no longer moving at all, still on his back and all legs are curled in. From what I can see he hasn't came out at all. I'm worried he has died due to complications. Could he possibly just be taking his sweet time? How long should I wait?

 

[Deeser]

Are you able to post a picture of him? It will help to get a better idea, but for now leave him be.

Do you notice any movement in the legs from time to time?

 

[Trenor]

I second the photo if you can get one without disturbing it. Molt time can vary depending on the size of the tarantula. There really isn't anything you can do while it's molting so just give it time. Good luck.

 

[Nightstalker47]

Why would you shake the enclosure if you thought he was molting? Next time leave your spider be, you must have interrupted the molt.

It's imperative that you don't disturb them during this process. Hopefully it pulls through, although legs curling underneath is a bad sign.

 

[Trenor]

Why would you shake the enclosure if you thought he was molting?

She didn't. Her BF did and from what she wrote he didn't know how they molted. I agree that you should never shake any animal in it's enclosure for any reason.

you must have interrupted the molt.

Molting is a chemical process so you really can interrupt it once it's started. You can cause it to fail but tarantulas can't stop molts once they begin.

 

[PattiT]

Are you able to post a picture of him? It will help to get a better idea, but for now leave him be.

Do you notice any movement in the legs from time to time?

 

[PattiT]

Sorry for taking so long to reply. Had a busy schedule today. In between appointments I was able to get a picture of him/her. I have not noticed any movement in the legs or any other body part since yesterday evening. However when I just now returned home his legs have moved and are not as curled it. I'm hoping this is a good sign! I'm going to be super bummed if he doesn't make it. And yes I gave him quite a talking to when he told me he shook his enclosure a bit to get him to flip over.

 

[PattiT]

This is the most recent photo I took. The legs are not as curled in now as they were before. But if you zoom in you will see a green liquid/goo substance below the fangs? What is this?

 

[Trenor]

This is the most recent photo I took. The legs are not as curled in now as they were before. But if you zoom in you will see a green liquid/goo substance below the fangs? What is this?

That's not looking good. It looks like a wet molt. It could have been caused by the shaking or sometimes it just happens. All you can do is wait and see how it turns out.

Hope it pulls through.

 

[Nightstalker47]

This is the most recent photo I took. The legs are not as curled in now as they were before. But if you zoom in you will see a green liquid/goo substance below the fangs? What is this?

That's not a molting position, not anymore thats for certain. When the legs curl inwards towards the body it means the spider is either dead or dying. Sorry.

I think yours has been dead for some time. Is it completely unresponsive?

 

[Trenor]

That's not a molting position, not anymore thats for certain.

It's not? Looks pretty close to this though the fluid implies it's a wet molt.

I would let it be for a 24 hours or so and if it's not doing anything you'll no it didn't make it.

 

[PidderPeets]

This is the most recent photo I took. The legs are not as curled in now as they were before. But if you zoom in you will see a green liquid/goo substance below the fangs? What is this?

Is that mold in the bottom left corner of the enclosure and spread around all over the substrate, even a little bit under the tarantula? From what I've read, this species likes some moisture, but could you have had too much moisture with not enough ventilation?

I have to say I agree with with Nightstalker in thinking that it's dead

@Trenor, that's post molt though. That seems normal for after they get the old exoskeleton off. My understanding is that this one hasn't even popped it's carapace

 

[Nightstalker47]

It was attempting to molt, but obviously didn't succeed. Check out a time lapse video of tarantulas molting for a good look. The leg position is somewhat straight whilst it pushes it's way through the exo. They don't molt upside down with their legs curled inwards.

This is what the initial molt position looks like.

https://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl...aPXAhWFbxQKHc36CTsQMwhaKAkwCQ&iact=mrc&uact=8

 

[PattiT]

I have watched time lapsed videos and once he started to curl his legs in that's when I first started to think something was wrong. But his legs were still moving some from time to time. But early lastnight/evening they stopped moving entirely. Until today, I was gone all morning and returned around 1 and his legs were more relaxed/not as curled in as they had been and there was more fluid present. No he never even popped it carapace I have only added water to his water dish until yesterday afternoon I sprayed the inside a bit. The night before last he started webbing in random areas. I'm certain that is what is in the corner you see in the picture. Also is should add I have only had it a week. I'm going to give him another 24 hours but I don't think he made it. I honestly was not happy when my bf got him since I am terrified of spider but by the first night I loved the little guy/gal

 

[Trenor]

It was attempting to molt, but obviously didn't succeed. Check out a time lapse video of tarantulas molting for a good look. The leg position is somewhat straight whilst it pushes it's way through the exo. They don't molt upside down with their legs curled inwards.

This is what the initial molt position looks like.

https://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://i0.wp.com/backwaterreptilesblog.com/wp-content/uploads/tarantula-molting.jpeg&imgrefurl=http://backwaterreptilesblog.com/how-tarantulas-molt/&docid=yac21R5XvwpfLM&tbnid=Mw92K8dK1HVXGM:&vet=10ahUKEwjLjYDlwaPXAhWFbxQKHc36CTsQMwhaKAkwCQ..i&w=600&h=800&safe=off&client=ms-android-samsung&bih=560&biw=360&q=tarantula flipped over to molt&ved=0ahUKEwjLjYDlwaPXAhWFbxQKHc36CTsQMwhaKAkwCQ&iact=mrc&uact=8

@Trenor, that's post molt though. That seems normal for after they get the old exoskeleton off. My understanding is that this one hasn't even popped it's carapace

That is post molt flexing in the photo but I've seen them flex in this position on the premolt side before popping the carapace too. Once they pop the carapace they splay their legs out and go into the position you guys posted to work their body/legs out. They reflex at the end as they are stretching out the new exo.

I'll have to see if I have the original video of my B.hamorii molting. I cut the beginning prep flexing out along with some of the 2 hours of post stretching so the video would be so long.

With the fluids leaking as bad as they are, it doesn't look good for the T. Most of the time wet molts don't end well.

 

[Trenor]

I have watched time lapsed videos and once he started to curl his legs in that's when I first started to think something was wrong. But his legs were still moving some from time to time. But early lastnight/evening they stopped moving entirely. Until today, I was gone all morning and returned around 1 and his legs were more relaxed/not as curled in as they had been and there was more fluid present. No he never even popped it carapace I have only added water to his water dish until yesterday afternoon I sprayed the inside a bit. The night before last he started webbing in random areas. I'm certain that is what is in the corner you see in the picture. Also is should add I have only had it a week. I'm going to give him another 24 hours but I don't think he made it. I honestly was not happy when my bf got him since I am terrified of spider but by the first night I loved the little guy/gal

I hate that the molt didn't go well. There are a lot of great people here to help you get another one set up and answer questions you might have.

 

[PattiT]

I hate that the molt didn't go well. There are a lot of great people here to help you get another one set up and answer questions you might have.

I hate it as well I'm pretty sure he didn't make it but I'm still going to give it another 24 hrs. We were looking at a golden blue baboon T yesterday. We will probably end up getting it if this little one doesn't pull through. I will definitely be coming here with any questions. You all have been a great help! Thanks so much

 

[Trenor]

I hate it as well I'm pretty sure he didn't make it but I'm still going to give it another 24 hrs. We were looking at a golden blue baboon T yesterday. We will probably end up getting it if this little one doesn't pull through. I will definitely be coming here with any questions. You all have been a great help! Thanks so much

OW tarantulas like baboons can be a lot more defensive and harder to work with. Keep that in mind when getting a new species. I'd recommend another NW species to start with and then going into harder species once you have that one down. When you're ready to get the new one people on here can help you pick out a good species to start with and help you with care.

Best of luck.