Grammostola lying on it's back

[Labrys]

I got my first t recently from a breeder here in Washington, a juvenile Grammostola Rosea. I had gotten him only two days ago on the 15th so seeing him lying on his back in what I assumed was him starting to molt was a surprise, though not much of one considering he was showing signs before hand (didn't eat when I first tried to feed him as the breeder hadn't told me the last time he was fed so I wanted to get him on a schedule for eating early, was some what sluggish in movement though seeing as I only got him recently I hadn't noticed it at first, incredibly dull compared to post molted specimens, hiding more often then not, lying on his back he looked fairly shiny and abdomen somewhat swollen) he's not in a death curl and hasn't been so I know he hasn't died. When I first saw and inspected him it was around 11 pm, I went to bed seeing as it was late and I woke up a few hours later because I set an alarm to go check on him. It's currently 3 am and he is still lying on his back with no signs of progression on a molt. I had seen him twitching earlier but other then that, there has been no movement.

Is this normal behavior? Would it be okay to sprits him with water or to gently prod him or should I wait longer? I don't want to stress him out on his first molt in my possession but I'm starting to get worried and at this point I'm not even sure he's molting.

Thank you in advance.

 

[Konstantin Konstantinov]

Hi
Do not touch the spider or even the enclosure!!!
Moulting is a stressful process for tarantulas.
It know best what is doing.
Wait it out.
You can do more damage than good if you intervene.
Regards Konstantin

 

[DomGom TheFather]

Don't sprits him.
Don't do anything.
These things can take some time.

 

[Labrys]

Don't sprits him.
Don't do anything.
These things can take some time.

Okay, I'm going to go back to bed then. Thank you.

 

[viper69]

WAIT

and read more about Ts

 

[Vanessa]

Even though it does sound like normal moulting behaviour, a photo of the spider would enable people to give proper advice.

 

[Labrys]

WAIT

and read more about Ts

I've read lots I just wasn't expecting molting to take this long and was worried. The time lapses I'd seen of molting definitely skewed my vision of the process. I went back to bed and didn't mess with him and he's only now finishing up.

Even though it does sound like normal moulting behaviour, a photo of the spider would enable people to give proper advice.

He's definitely molting! The molt was lying in his little den thingy when I woke back up.

 

[Matt Man]

it can take hours. First molts are scary for new handlers

 

[Iamconstantlyhappy]

Leave it, tarantulas don’t die on their backs.

 

[Konstantin Konstantinov]

Leave it, tarantulas don’t die on their backs.

Thats not true.
I had a rescued adult A geniculata die on its back during moult.
Regards Konstantin

 

[Iamconstantlyhappy]

Thats not true.
I had a rescued adult A geniculata die on its back during moult.
Regards Konstantin

. Ok i also had a G. pulchra die on its back once but assume it was due to a bad molt. So I guess we could say 90% of ts will not die on their backs unless it’s a molt situation.

 

[Aline]

First molts are scary for new handlers

I think molts are always a little scary, even when you've seen spiders do it many many times...!

He's definitely molting! The molt was lying in his little den thingy when I woke back up.

Good to hear! Hope he is doing well!

 

[Braden]

Good luck getting a G rosea on a feeding schedule