Molting post-rehouse phenomenon

[jVendetta]

I'm quite sure everyone has experienced this: rehousing tends to trigger molting or pre-molting behavior. Yesterday I received this beauty

and today she decided to go hikikomori

Is it just pure coincidence? What's with rehouses that seem to trigger this behavior? Post for speculation and experience sharing.

 

[GarField000]

If you put a spider in a new home it has to adapt to that.
I have the feeling they dig them self in (or web of as you see on your pic) and later get out to see where they are.
I have had this many times, but they did not all molt after ....

 

[0viWan]

At the moment I have 12 slings, all of which are NW terrestrials and this is pretty much their go-to behaviour after every rehouse. From the couple of rehousings I have done it seems to me, that every rehouse actually is a traumatic experience for the spider, which triggers a very raw survival instinct -> to dig in and survive.

This also makes sense if you think about it, since in the wild this kind of forced relocation would never happen to a spider.

 

[Tentacle Toast]

There seems to be a strong correlation between storm systems, particularly with drops in barometric pressure, & sudden molting, particularly in New World spiders (mostly Avics for me).
I wonder if it's possible that the fresh substrate is universally slightly more moist, indicating to the T that there HAD been rain, & triggering the molt. No fluctuations in pressure, but the whole of their earth now has a higher moisture content...

 

[jVendetta]

There seems to be a strong correlation between storm systems, particularly with drops in barometric pressure, & sudden molting, particularly in New World spiders (mostly Avics for me).
I wonder if it's possible that the fresh substrate is universally slightly more moist, indicating to the T that there HAD been rain, & triggering the molt. No fluctuations in pressure, but the whole of their earth now has a higher moisture content...

It's astounding to think that they can sense changes of few hPa and act accordingly. In some way humidity and pressure are related; the density of humid air is lower than that of dry air due to its constituents. I wonder if in an enclosed space and with a highly sensitive sensor as a T that translates into perceived lower pressure.

Everytime I delve into scientific literature about tarantulas for the sake of curiosity, even if it's far from my research field, I end up amazed by the craftsmanship of nature. No wonder why in other fields we end up developing bio-inspired structures and systems.

 

[AphonopelmaTX]

Plugging the entrance to a hide is not necessarily a sign that a molt is coming.

 

[Arachnophobphile]

I'm quite sure everyone has experienced this: rehousing tends to trigger molting or pre-molting behavior. Yesterday I received this beauty
View attachment 458500
and today she decided to go hikikomori
View attachment 458501
Is it just pure coincidence? What's with rehouses that seem to trigger this behavior? Post for speculation and experience sharing.

I've only had it happen once and that was rather recently.
My 5 inch female T. vagans molted a day after I rehoused her into a whopping beefy 6 inch big girl.

Now it wasn't totally obvious if she's been in premolt this time. I believe due to being rehoused and new moist sub triggered her to molt sooner than rather later, it's possible.

The fact that her abdomen was not the usual bright rusty red after a fresh molt like usual might be a sign.

 

[Mike Withrow]

I can't say I've ever experienced this in my short time in keeping spider's.
I guess my reason is. If I see obvious signs my spider is in pre-molt... I don't rehouse it .

I'm not sure if I understand what the op is saying I guess.

Sorry mind works different I suppose.

 

[kingshockey]

its just doing what it feels needed to feel safe in its new home and settle in. just like a human does when we move into a new home we buy stuff etc to get our home how we want it. thats not to say its close to a molt highly doubtful it is though since most responsible dealers refuse to ship out a t in premolt opting to hold off until after it molts and hardens up before shipping.

 

[0viWan]

My Ts do this in spite of any molt cycles. I have one B. Klaasi sling (3/4'' at the time), which did this day one after shipping in the beginning of August. I haven't even fed it once until it molted on Aug., 21st. One week after the molt I opened a hole to its burrow and placed a prekilled cricket there, which the sling grabbed over night. Placed another cricket at the hole, which was gone the next day but also the hole has been sealed up again. So this sling has been sitting in its burrow for almost 3 months now, sealed off pretty much the whole time. I can see the sling through the sidewall of the enclosure and it seems to be doing fine. Actually I am not sure what to do with this one though. Guess I will just leave it be and see what happens.

 

[Smotzer]

As mentioned this is not neccesarily related to a imminent molt and that its only just been rehoused in this experience and they can do this for security after a big change of environments.

 

[Tentacle Toast]

As mentioned this is not neccesarily related to a imminent molt and that its only just been rehoused in this experience and they can do this for security after a big change of environments.

I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around the security angle. Is it because of the larger size it's assumed to be post molt? If so, it seems like a hell of a gamble, considering the immense state of vulnerability during the molt itself. Being rendered utterly defenseless in the face of a perceived threat to security seems counterintuitive to me. Seems other factors should be at play, no?

 

[Smotzer]

I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around the security angle. Is it because of the larger size it's assumed to be post molt? If so, it seems like a hell of a gamble, considering the immense state of vulnerability during the molt itself. Being rendered utterly defenseless in the face of a perceived threat to security seems counterintuitive to me. Seems other factors should be at play, no?

Im not understanding you, I dont think? Can you try and clarify? I was saying that burrowing/sealing a burrow doesnt necessarily equal a molt. Ive had spiders after a rehouse hide/seal entrances and then open them up and it wasnt related to a molt/pre-molt.

 

[Tentacle Toast]

Im not understanding you, I dont think? Can you try and clarify? I was saying that burrowing/sealing a burrow doesnt necessarily equal a molt. Ive had spiders after a rehouse hide/seal entrances and then open them up and it wasnt related to a molt/pre-molt.

LoL, my apologies, friend...I thought you were speaking to the "phenomenon" of the sudden post-rehouse molt; I didn't realize you were replying to the poster above.

 

[Smotzer]

LoL, my apologies, friend...I thought you were speaking to the "phenomenon" of the sudden post-rehouse molt; I didn't realize you were replying to the poster above.

Ahhh sorry my bad hahah!