How do you tell if a tarantula is about to molt?

[Tarantuloid]

Now I'm kinda scared about killing my tarantula, as the other pet stores do not sell enclosures for arboreal tarantulas (not tall enough). Thankfully, when I DID have to handle her yesterday due to the dehydration problem, at least she is alive and walked around sort of readily when I was handling her.

Alright so today I will try to make her a new enclosure, no duct tape, unfortunately none of the pet stores in my area have a proper enclosure for sale (only critter keepers for terrestrial tarantulas and scorpions). I'll see what I can find though, I want to make this right.

 

[Tarantuloid]

I tried to take some pictures of my enclosure with my phone, but like I said, getting a good shot is quite difficult. The terrarium is a plastic tub with air holes around the perimeter of the top (cropped it out by accident in the second shot).

 

[grayzone]

dont worry about killing it... thats when "over caring" comes in and screws stuff up too.. It quite easy actually. So far youve gotten some decent advice, and if i were you (dont know if you already have) i would read all the caring for avics threads you could find on these forums.
The site's search function in the top right hand corner surely will help find some
Also, maybe even send a PM to BrettG.. add a link to this thread see if he can help you. MOST people here truly want to help and can assist you better.
As far as enclosures go, you dont have to go all out for 1 t. you can find just about ANYTHING that you can use as an enclosure.

Start here http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?48951-Enclosure-Terrarium-Pictures
then look here http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/forumdisplay.php?81-Vivariums-and-Terrariums

Lots of ideas that are DIRT CHEAP (most stuff comes from a dollar store) and require minimal handy/craft work

---------- Post added 07-05-2012 at 09:42 AM ----------

Oh.. well in THAT case, im not seeing anything SCREAMING danger.
All id worry about is, is there enough ventilation, and is there ANY holes drilled where tape is covering. Remember, if the t can poke its legs through and touch the sticky side of tape, it COULD end bad

 

[Tarantuloid]

I decided to remove the tape as it was the only way I could get a good picture,, the tape was on the outside of the cage though. Yeah the top of the keeper has a bunch of these small holes around the perimeter, not sure if that is enough, but I'm not sure what else I can do.

 

[grayzone]

uh.. i would add more for sure.

Youre no stranger to holding your avic, so if you think it best, coax it out and put it in a catch cup/deli cup for a bit ..

I would definitely drill some new holes (at least 1/8") halfway up the enclosure. A lot of arboreals tend to do way better with cross ventilation. like Storm said, the two big reasons that kill Avics (aside from over care) are stagnant air/poor ventilation and humidity issues.

---------- Post added 07-05-2012 at 10:01 AM ----------

Again, not trying to freak you out. If the t has lived in there a long time, it MAY continue to do so.. im just offering suggestions of what I WOULD do

 

[Tarantuloid]

Do you think it would be easier to just get a critter keeper since they already have the lids with all the ventilation holes in them? I called petco and they said they had one that was taller for arboreal pieces, not as big as the one I have her in now, but do you think it will be safer?

 

[grayzone]

if you WANT.. im not saying there is even anything wrong with what you CURRENTLY have now.. I would personally just add more ventilation.

Remember, that the more ventilation you have, the faster the tank will dry too. Be sure to keep up with dampening the sub once weekly and misting the sides(maybe more or less depending on how fast the sub dries out)

if you DO go with a KK.. there is a good idea turorial right here http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?228348-Dr-Acula-s-Enclosures

---------- Post added 07-05-2012 at 10:34 AM ----------

starts at post 13

 

[Tarantuloid]

I don't think misting will be a problem, I just want to make sure it's ok.

 

[Curious jay]

Do you think it would be easier to just get a critter keeper since they already have the lids with all the ventilation holes in them? I called petco and they said they had one that was taller for arboreal pieces, not as big as the one I have her in now, but do you think it will be safer?

Try getting hold of a sweet jar similar to this: http://emptysweetjars.premiumjars.co.uk/Cheap-Empty_Sweet_Jars_2_5litre_x_12-B007KL7596.html
It will hold humidity better than a KK and you can drill out the ventilation to your liking.

 

[Tarantuloid]

Can you get those at any store?

 

[Legion09]

Usually you can find a jar like it at most grocery stores with some sort of candy or snack inside. Even the big pretzel or cheezeball containers will work. Just empty the food into a container, wash out, drill some holes and setup. Not the easiest to stick a hand into but it works for a cheap solution.

 

[Tarantuloid]

I'll see if I can find one at Walmart haha.

Thank you all for the advice, especially Grayzone and Storm. I know you're not suppose to touch a atrantula during pre molt, but I think she was actually dehydrated to the point where it could've been fatal. Arboreal species are complicated!

 

[Storm76]

I'll see if I can find one at Walmart haha.

Thank you all for the advice, especially Grayzone and Storm. I know you're not suppose to touch a atrantula during pre molt, but I think she was actually dehydrated to the point where it could've been fatal. Arboreal species are complicated!

Not really complicated, just more skittish and prone to bolt I think. Hope the best for you and your T - keep us posted, please.

 

[grayzone]

Try getting hold of a sweet jar similar to this: http://emptysweetjars.premiumjars.co.uk/Cheap-Empty_Sweet_Jars_2_5litre_x_12-B007KL7596.html
It will hold humidity better than a KK and you can drill out the ventilation to your liking.

+1.. cool jar

Can you get those at any store?

yeah, possibilities are endless lol. I cant go into a safeway, michaels craft store , toys r us (anywhere really) without seeing some sort of container that would make a great home. With a little bit of MacGuyver style thinking you can have a BA tarantula enclosure.

The links to the tarantula enclosures sticky, and the terrarium/vivarium threads SHOULD be enough to get your creativity flowing...or at least give you an idea to copy

 

[Storm76]

Actually, there's one thing I'd change about that setup of yours you created there: If I see that correctly, there's (from what I see) one twig with sharp, pointy ends - it's a risk I wouldn't take. A clumsy jump, an accident of sorts and she can have a torn open abdomen...best advise is corkbark still..that stuff doesn't grow molt even.

That jar is nice, other possibility are the Rubbermaid jars...I use those for example

 

[advan]

best advise is corkbark still..that stuff doesn't grow molt even.

Corkbark molts? Do you have any pics?

I assume you mean mold. Cork bark is less prone to molding, doesn't mean it can't.

In regards to misting; don't mist, make it "rain". All of my spiders will happily drink from the down pour even when they have full water dish.

P.S. Defiantly not Avicularia huriana. If I had to guess I would say Avicularia sp. "enjoyitforwhatitis"

 

[grayzone]

Chad, by no means am i trying to argue with you on ID, im just wondering what distinguishing factors makes you say its not huriana? All i had to go by was other pics..

Was i at least correct with the scientific name in relation to the common?

 

[Tarantuloid]

So I made a little renovations to the habitat, starting by removing the duct tape to ensure she knows what time it is, filled up the water again, and I rounded off all the "sharp" edges on the branches.

I actually think she likes it better without the tape, when I took it off in a matter of hours she actually started making her way to climbing branches again. She didn't go all out, but it's a very slight improvement in behavior.

 

[advan]

Chad, by no means am i trying to argue with you on ID, im just wondering what distinguishing factors makes you say its not huriana? All i had to go by was other pics..

Was i at least correct with the scientific name in relation to the common?

Argue with me all you want but we will never get a positive ID on a Avicularia by a picture. We have no clue the history of this spider, where it came from etc. You comparing to other pictures that could very well also be mislabeled. That is not how to properly ID a spider. I don't pay attention to common names so I couldn't tell you on that one either. -Chad

 

[Storm76]

Corkbark molts? Do you have any pics?
I assume you mean mold. Cork bark is less prone to molding, doesn't mean it can't.

Yeah, - I meant "mold" and so far I've not seen mold on any piece of corkbark, but on the liane twigs I use in some of my enclosures. Only use them in dry ones hence.

So I made a little renovations to the habitat, starting by removing the duct tape to ensure she knows what time it is, filled up the water again, and I rounded off all the "sharp" edges on the branches.
I actually think she likes it better without the tape, when I took it off in a matter of hours she actually started making her way to climbing branches again. She didn't go all out, but it's a very slight improvement in behavior.

Like it has been already said, don't expect a T to race around its enclosure endlessly. T's that constantly move around are probably not happy really, or in case of MM, looking for a possible female. Keep us posted on her progress please!

Argue with me all you want but we will never get a positive ID on a Avicularia by a picture. We have no clue the history of this spider, where it came from etc. You comparing to other pictures that could very well also be mislabeled. That is not how to properly ID a spider. I don't pay attention to common names so I couldn't tell you on that one either. -Chad

Don't want to argue either, but one thing they started using over here now, is stating their original habitat where the species hails from instead of A. avic is also advertised as A. spec. "guyana" often now. Dunno, but personally I think that idea is not too bad.