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

[jayefbe]

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.

That is the best situation, and is way more accurate then trying to force it into a box (A. avicularia, A. metallica, A. huriana, A. geroldi, A. azuraklaasi, etc). Knowing the collection location provides more information then trying to find a species description that may not even exist given this genus' taxonomic uncertainty. Unfortunately, the only way to do that is to know the exact collection location, and/or know the exact import (assuming that the exporters only collect from a limited region). Without knowing the entire history of the specific tarantula, and without having separate designations unique to specific regions or specific imports, you're still left with the problem of not knowing which specimens are from the same or neighboring populations and can be bred.

 

[Tarantuloid]

AT least I have a general idea, it's really the molting I'm worried about. The guy assured me that the tarantula is molting and not to disturb it, I guess it just kinda bothers me how it's just resting on the floor at the base of a branch.

 

[Storm76]

AT least I have a general idea, it's really the molting I'm worried about. The guy assured me that the tarantula is molting and not to disturb it, I guess it just kinda bothers me how it's just resting on the floor at the base of a branch.

It IS not a good sign for an Avic to sit on the bottom of an enclosure, agreed. However, my A. purpurea slings do that sometimes, too. They always climb up again at some point and go about their business, but personally, I'm guessing they drink wringing out the substrate. Reason why I believe that? Ever since I put a waterdish in their jars, they don't do it anymore, instead I find them sometimes drinking from that.

Either way, to get back to your T: Is she STILL on the ground, not climbing at all? Don't disturb her, but I just want to know.

 

[jayefbe]

Post a clear picture of her. It's difficult to tell with Avics sometimes, so given what the info the seller did give you, I wouldn't be surprised if it's not actually in premolt.

 

[Tarantuloid]

I'll wait until my sister gets home because she has a high quality camera so I can get more detail. Yeah she is still laying on the ground, he says she is in pre molt, but for some reason I feel like something is actually wrong with her.

She hasn't scaled up the cage once at all since I've brought her home, the only slight improvement in behavior was when I took the duct tape off, but even then she doesn't look so good. I'm actually really concerned because I've done everything so far but nothing seems to be effective. Maybe she is in pre molt, but I don't see any signs.

 

[grayzone]

the clear pics will help, and TIME will tell indefinitely (one way or another)
Hope its nothing serious. Ive seen WAY too many "problems with avics" threads lately, and do NOT like it

 

[Tarantuloid]

This is my first arboreal species and they didn't look THAT picky with conditions, it's a pretty nice set up, it just looks like she's not doing so well. I've only restrained from taking pictures of her because the only way I can get a visible picture is to turn o nthe flash, and I don't think that would be good for her in this condition?

 

[Storm76]

It won't kill her, if that's what you mean. Brett might be your best bet currently, as he knows about Avics. See you can take a decent pic of her (without having to move her if possible) and post it. Really hope the best...

 

[grayzone]

if disturbing it can potentially mean you have a chance to save it, id say go for it
clear pics of the spider (in WHOLE, not like the one posted before) and the set up is key. Otherwise, like i said before, it just boils down to time

 

[Tarantuloid]

If I want to get a good picture, I really have no choice but to take her out. She's been hanging out in this corner by the branches and considering how tall the terrarium is, taking a good shot is very difficult.

 

[grayzone]

up to YOU, even transferring her to a large glass or deli would work better than nothing at THIS point.
Seeing a good photo of her abdomen, her mouth parts and the enclosure could help you get the answers youre seeking. I dont remember if its already been asked, but what does her mouth look like? Is there white gunk? do you see ANY movement in the waterdish?
(forgive me if this has been covered, but this page IS 5 or so pages long, and its been a few days lol)

 

[Tarantuloid]

I'm only saying this by observation, but I took a chance and decided to get some better pictures by taking her out of the enclosure. When I went in there, I did notice some changes since earlier this morning. While she was still on the ground in her terrarium, she was looking a bit healthier (legs spread out) and not so awkwardly brushed up against the corner like yesterday. I also noticed her water bowl was nearly empty when I completely over filled it the night before, so I assume she is also drinking readily when I'm not around to see.

While handling her, she acted just fine, walked through my hands at a steady pace (faster than my G. Rosea) and was fairly calm. I managed to get about 9 pictures with my phone, here's one I took from a top view in hopes that it might provide any detail. I had a look at her face as well, which looked fine, no white in the mouth area either.

 

[Storm76]

Well, messing around any further with her (after you checked her visually and didn't find anything suspicious) won't help neither her nor you, so you'll need to decide upon a course of action:

Either put her into an ICU and see if that helps it...

...or...

Leave her be in her enclosure, just making sure she has ample of water at her disposal.

These usually never sit on the ground really and will almost always seek out vertical walls to hang onto. When you put her back, did you let her walk onto the walls, or let her walk straight onto the ground?


And personally: I would try to offer her a cricket, just out of curiosity after all that stuff that person told you that sold her to you...after all, he could be wrong with his assumption...

 

[jayefbe]

She doesn't really look like she's in pre-molt. This genus isn't all that easy to tell, but nothing really screams pre-molt. Why did the seller claim that is was?

 

[grayzone]

I also noticed her water bowl was nearly empty when I completely over filled it the night before, so I assume she is also drinking readily when I'm not around to see.

Im just going to stop making suggestions COMPLETELY at this point. The t looks normal/healthy to me and any more suggestions may just cause the dreaded "over care" if that t was dehydrated, it certainly doesnt look it at this point (no dimpled or shriveled abdomen) it the avic is walking fine and looks fine IM FRESH OUT OF IDEAS. Also id like to point out that the t MAY HAVE/LIKELY didnt drink that whole dish full of water. If im not mistaken that waterdish is likely ceramic? Am i right? NOTORIOUS for leaking somehow. Ive had many a dish drain over night. I USED TO go crazy wondering how a little spider could drink so much water in one night. Also, if there is any sub that gets in the dish, the water can wick out.

Replace it temporarily with just a plastic lid or tiny rubbermaid or something.. see how much water REALLY gets drank.

 

[Tarantuloid]

I think she's been eating ok, when I bought her, he left a couple of live crickets in there and I think a couple of them are missing since I brought her home. Can't say for sure though.

This is the last time I will be handling her, I only did so to get a good picture in case something really was wrong with her. When I let her back in, I wanted to see how she reacted. When I was beginning to put my hand in, she kinda was feeling around for branches and climbed on this large leaf I have in her enclosure. Right now, she's at the top of the terrarium on this leaf pointing upwards.

 

[grayzone]

**edit
like to point out that the t MAY NOT HAVE/LIKELY didnt drink

I dont know why, but my edit function hasnt worked for me in a LONG TIME

 

[Tarantuloid]

Haha that's a good point about the water dish, and I didn't mean to get everyone all worked up for nothing. I guess after seeing her o nthe ground for weeks and then everyone on here telling me that's a bad sign, I kinda panicked thinking I was killing my T somehow.

To me, she looked perfectly fine, no physical signs of illness other than resting on the ground, but ever since I took the duct tape off, she has shown improvement.


EDIT: As for the pre molt, I talked to him twice (right before I bought her and the day before yesterday) and he talked to me like he was 110% sure she was preparing to molt and still says so. He does have a lot of experience and I don't want to doubt him, but maybe this time was a miscalculation?

 

[grayzone]

well, i PERSONALLY assume the worst, but thats only because 8 out of 10x people post its way too late. In MOST cases, there is nothing you can do besides ICU anyways.
I WILL SAY that a week/weeks on the ground is very out of the norm for any Avic ive owned, and usually is an indicator something is wrong. Hopefully with the proper humidity the t will bounce back in no time.

One last thing i can think to ask is, is your tank covered in poo? Have you SEEN her poo? does it have any caked onto her anus (right below the spinnerettes in case you dont know where to look lol) I HAVE heard of cases where avics (in particular) hold in their poo till they pass away. Usually (from what ive been told) its due to them lacking adequate climbing space .. dont know how much truth that holds.

---------- Post added 07-06-2012 at 07:59 PM ----------

maybe ditch some of those twigs/sticks and get a cheap large cork bark slab.
I think ive covered all i can on avics... Dont worry, and sorry if i have caused you too.. like i said tho, usually Avic threads end badly, or were a day late on getting posted/treated.
All in all, your t looks fine. Time for a day or two break and come back to it to see how its doing i guess.

 

[kelvintheiah]

one indication of a coming molt in my experience is when a t creates a web mat on the substrate. also, a molting t is in a upright side position but in some cases its not. wont eat and a little sluggish.