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

[jayefbe]

one indication of a coming molt in my experience is when a t's 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.

Not all tarantulas make a molting mat on the substrate when they molt.

The tarantula looks good. Although, I still don't think it's in pre-molt. If its eating, then it's definitely not. Given what I've heard about the seller (keeping crickets in the enclosure, with a tarantula in "pre-molt" no less, the whole subspecies thing, the tape on the enclosure thing) I would just forget everything he's said. I'd trust anything you read on this forum over him. I don't know why he insisted that it's about to molt. If it hadn't been eating for a while, then I would've given him the benefit of the doubt, but that doesn't appear to be the case.

 

[Storm76]

one indication of a coming molt in my experience is when a t's 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.

Avics are arboreals and usually molt in their web-tubes

NO T is in an "upright" position if molting - it's extremely rare that it DOES happen though. They're usually on their back.


@the OP:
Uhm...did I get that right that there have been crickets in there for over a week?! If so, remove any feeders after a day or latest two if not eaten. Just annoys the T if it isn't hungry. 1-2 crickets every 2 weeks is absolutely fine for her at that size. She'll probably only eat one anyways...

EDIT: JFB beat me to it - agree 100% to what he said there...

 

[Tarantuloid]

I sure hope she doesn't die, I actually did see her poop earlier, but none of it was stuck to her rump. I think I'm going to rework her enclosure a little bit on the climbing space.

 

[grayzone]

Best of luck, hope all ends well, and again, sorry if any info given caused YOU AND THE T stress.. Ill check back in on this thread in a few days (sooner probably lol)

 

[Tarantuloid]

I honestly can't say for sure if she's eaten or not since I brought her home, I'm just guessing, but it looks like there might be one or two missing. Really? I didn't know! I'll go remove the crickets in her enclosure and put them with my cricket colony.