inducing molt??

guitarlust

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is it possible to induce a spider to molt by manipulating the conditions the spider is kept under?
 

Windchaser

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Yes, by increasing the temperatures that it is kept under as well as increasing its diet. FYI, a tarantulas life span is tied to the number of molts it has. Therefore, increasing its molting frequency will in turn decrease its overall life span.
 

Hedorah99

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I had once heard that if you place a fresh molt in with a T in pre-molt it may speed up the process. I have found nothing toback this up and find it very dubious. Increasing food consumption and ambient temperature are proven to induce molts quicker, but as Windchaser already mentioned, this cuts your pets life much shorter.
 

guitarlust

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essentially, let nature take its course and allow the T to molt when it is good and ready.
 

guitarlust

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i hear that. just was wondering cause my b. emilia has not molted in what seems like forever. i hope it reaches 1" with the next molt.
 

Hedorah99

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i hear that. just was wondering cause my b. emilia has not molted in what seems like forever. i hope it reaches 1" with the next molt.
I'm in the same boat. Has not eaten in 3 months and not molted in 8 months. She is about an inch and I have had her for 2 years.
 

Talkenlate04

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I'm in the same boat. Has not eaten in 3 months and not molted in 8 months. She is about an inch and I have had her for 2 years.
Dear god really? Thats stupid slow....... really? Thats slow? I have two slings right now.... and they are at not even 1/2 inch. Uggg I hope they are faster growing then the 1/2 g rosea sling I have had for almost a year that has done nadda. That thing is a slug its in no hurry to do anything fast. :8o
 

guitarlust

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i'm not looking forward to my brachys growth rate. like i mentioned earlier my b. emilia is not even 1" and i have had it for about a year. it was about 1/4" when i received it. my b. smithi, ugghhh, 1/4" now and am dreading the slow growth. but it'll be worth it in the end.
 

Talkenlate04

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i'm not looking forward to my brachys growth rate. like i mentioned earlier my b. emilia is not even 1" and i have had it for about a year. it was about 1/4" when i received it. my b. smithi, ugghhh, 1/4" now and am dreading the slow growth. but it'll be worth it in the end.
With smithi I have not had one complaint about the growth rate. I have been able to get slings to 5+ inches or more in a few years.
 

guitarlust

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With smithi I have not had one complaint about the growth rate. I have been able to get slings to 5+ inches or more in a few years.
huh, all that i have read about brachys is that they are slow growers. hopefully, my smithi will grow somewhat quick
 

Keith Richard

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It has been said that raising temps can induce. How long do these elevated temps need to be sustained? A few months back we had a warm snap that kept daytime ambient up at over 90 degrees for a good two weeks. This rise in temps did not convince my dumb old G. aureostriata to shed. It's now as good as four years since I've had her, and no molts to date. Would raising humidity by covering a portion of the mesh lid on her tank perhaps change her mind? It's been a good three months since she ate, but that's because she seldom comes out of her cave.....even for water. I'm not one to disturb them unless the situation becomes critical, which I don't believe it is.
 

Mina

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Dear god really? Thats stupid slow....... really? Thats slow? I have two slings right now.... and they are at not even 1/2 inch. Uggg I hope they are faster growing then the 1/2 g rosea sling I have had for almost a year that has done nadda. That thing is a slug its in no hurry to do anything fast. :8o
Lets put it this way. Brachys aren't quite as slow as Grammostola, but they are still S-L-O-W. I have a 3 year old rosehair sling that is still only about an inch. It has moulted twice in the time that I have had it and it didn't really grow enough to be seen with either moult.
 

Keith Richard

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It has been said that raising temps can induce. How long do these elevated temps need to be sustained? A few months back we had a warm snap that kept daytime ambient up at over 90 degrees for a good two weeks. This rise in temps did not convince my dumb old G. aureostriata to shed. It's now as good as four years since I've had her, and no molts to date. Would raising humidity by covering a portion of the mesh lid on her tank perhaps change her mind? It's been a good three months since she ate, but that's because she seldom comes out of her cave.....even for water. I'm not one to disturb them unless the situation becomes critical, which I don't believe it is.
*Bump*....some advice needed here.
 

guitarlust

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i have no advice to give as i am new to the hobby as well. i just am going to let nature run its course and hope that my T molts soon. i keep my temps in the mid 70s and as to humidity, i have no idea where it stands. i have a water bowl placed in the enclosure but not sure as to how much that tends to help. each time my g. aureo and b. emilia have molted its been a dramatic increase in size. i am talking a very noticeable change. i got my b. emilia back in dec. 2005 and it was 1/4" long now it is at least a good inch. that was reached over the course of two molts in a year. for a brachy, i guess that is a good growth rate. i am not doing anything special. once a week feeding mainly.
 
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