Molting Question (and first post)

Tsongas

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I have learned a lot over the years reading threads on this site, but this is my first post. Thank you for all that I have learned to date!

Someone gave me a 12 year old G. Rosea years ago, that we kept until she died. And then we got a B Hamori that is the subject of the post, so I suppose I am an experienced beginner.

She is about 5 years old (had her since she was 1) and measures about 5". Her last molt occurred about 7 months after the one before it. It has been just over 4 months since her last molt and lately she seems uninterested in eating, which leads me to wonder if she might be getting ready to molt. I understand that molts generally happen further apart as they mature, but do they ever molt earlier than in a previous cycle, or do the molts almost always happen further apart? Would it be unusual for her to molt at 5 or 6 months?

I realize that she could be uninterested in eating for many reasons, and that things like humidity can affect molting, but I would love to know how unusual it is for a T such as this to have a shorter molt along the continuum of generally longer ones.

Thanks in advance for any info. you can provide!
 

TheraMygale

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Well, considering what you have previsouly written, you should already have a feel to premolt. Especialy for your hamorii, if youve had it that long.

i don’t think there is a set time. Or expected months. Brachypelmas are known to fast, be it just that they are full, or if pre-molt. And the older they get, the longer they take to molt. That doesnt mean they can’t molt quicker from one molt to another.

5 years it still a young brachypelma, and 5 inches, is a lovely size!

i heard your question, but it feels there might be an unsaid one. Are you worried that its not eating because its been a short time since last molt? It really could be that its full.

you said you have been reading on here for a long time, then you should know we will want a picture of the tarantula: to see for ourselves. Enclosure too, why not.

i have two hamoriis. They once in my care and have quite the appetite. I could feed them more but those abdomens are so juicy and fat, there is no point. I am waiting a while for next feeding, especialy since showing signs on abdomen of shining, color change and less UrS. Mine are about almost 2 inches now. But on the small carapace side.
 

Ultum4Spiderz

ArachnoGod
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I have learned a lot over the years reading threads on this site, but this is my first post. Thank you for all that I have learned to date!

Someone gave me a 12 year old G. Rosea years ago, that we kept until she died. And then we got a B Hamori that is the subject of the post, so I suppose I am an experienced beginner.

She is about 5 years old (had her since she was 1) and measures about 5". Her last molt occurred about 7 months after the one before it. It has been just over 4 months since her last molt and lately she seems uninterested in eating, which leads me to wonder if she might be getting ready to molt. I understand that molts generally happen further apart as they mature, but do they ever molt earlier than in a previous cycle, or do the molts almost always happen further apart? Would it be unusual for her to molt at 5 or 6 months?

I realize that she could be uninterested in eating for many reasons, and that things like humidity can affect molting, but I would love to know how unusual it is for a T such as this to have a shorter molt along the continuum of generally longer ones.

Thanks in advance for any info. you can provide!
mine took 8 years for 5” and died 8 years later.🥲rip..
Pictures of the cage and spider? :pigeon: :pics:
 

Tsongas

Arachnopeon
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Sep 19, 2024
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12
Thanks for the reply! I am not sure I am adept at measuring, so I could be off on my size estimate. I measured the exoskeleton from the last molt and it was just barely under 5", but the legs were a bit curled and I didn't want to try to straighten them due to the risk of breaking them. We like our exoskeletons.

I am not worried about anything, but I am curious, and your response was helpful.

I don't have any recent good pics, or any of the whole enclosure, but here is a recent one of the T. I will post better pics of both soon.

IMG_1410.JPG
 

TheraMygale

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Thanks for the reply! I am not sure I am adept at measuring, so I could be off on my size estimate. I measured the exoskeleton from the last molt and it was just barely under 5", but the legs were a bit curled and I didn't want to try to straighten them due to the risk of breaking them. We like our exoskeletons.

I am not worried about anything, but I am curious, and your response was helpful.

I don't have any recent good pics, or any of the whole enclosure, but here is a recent one of the T. I will post better pics of both soon.

View attachment 483238
Wow! What a gorgeous puppy! This tarantula looks healthy: from the angle i see it.

i think you just need to be patient at this point and keep doing what you have been doing. Feed it less often? Try a pre-killed? Test the waters.

Grammastola and brachypelma are different too. But they have some things in common.

i also have two b emilias. One of them recently molted. The other a female, just stopped being a feisty eater today. And she is litteraly the biggest food response i have at this moment. So shes definitely full.

Could be just that shes full. Her weight and appearance is gorgeous. Maybe shes starting premolt. I will try to feed her later this week. Her waters full, shes got a damp spot, her extensive burrow is top shape. At this point, its a who knows whats up. I make sure the bottom of the burrows are a slightly moist when i notice feeding is stopping or shortening: just in case.

im not swamping the burrows, just putting a bit moisture down there.

its exciting.

seasons changing too; daylight hours are going down. Animals and plants know this.

pictures of abdomen can be helpful aswell.
 
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Brewser

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What a Beautiful B. hamori.
Many Factors can affect Tarantula Behaviour
 

Mustafa67

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I have learned a lot over the years reading threads on this site, but this is my first post. Thank you for all that I have learned to date!

Someone gave me a 12 year old G. Rosea years ago, that we kept until she died. And then we got a B Hamori that is the subject of the post, so I suppose I am an experienced beginner.

She is about 5 years old (had her since she was 1) and measures about 5". Her last molt occurred about 7 months after the one before it. It has been just over 4 months since her last molt and lately she seems uninterested in eating, which leads me to wonder if she might be getting ready to molt. I understand that molts generally happen further apart as they mature, but do they ever molt earlier than in a previous cycle, or do the molts almost always happen further apart? Would it be unusual for her to molt at 5 or 6 months?

I realize that she could be uninterested in eating for many reasons, and that things like humidity can affect molting, but I would love to know how unusual it is for a T such as this to have a shorter molt along the continuum of generally longer ones.

Thanks in advance for any info. you can provide!
WAIT

Can vary
 

Gevo

Arachnosquire
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Oct 25, 2023
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Beautiful B. hamorii!

Premolt is a tough phase to pin down, and there have been some interesting discussions on it here. My juvenile B. hamorii sealed off for nearly 6 months last year and didn’t eat or drink, then emerged and ate a couple of meals before molting. The fasting part of premolt can last a really long time before other signs that a molt is imminent.

I’ve only had my tarantulas for a year, but I’ve also seen posts on here where people share their tracking between molts, and some tarantulas do have longer molt periods followed by shorter ones, so it’s not always a linear expansion of time between molts.

In other words, anything is possible!
 

Ultum4Spiderz

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Wow! What a gorgeous puppy! This tarantula looks healthy: from the angle i see it.


pictures of abdomen can be helpful aswell.
pre-killed I usually only use for slings or picky adults but yeah like you said . More pics could help!!!
Don’t worry about premolt it happens the t quit eating then it gets a shiny abdomen .
 

TheraMygale

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pre-killed I usually only use for slings or picky adults but yeah like you said . More pics could help!!!
Don’t worry about premolt it happens the t quit eating then it gets a shiny abdomen .
Im still at test stages in certain parts of my learning. You have a point though, when that big, a prekilled cricket won’t be that inviting. I still offer it to mine, just to see. Only when they stop feeding. I have to admit, its what i do with slings. But i do it to everyone else by default, just because it doesnt harm.

i like to try everything that will not cause problems. I like solutions.

and don’t forget @Ultum4Spiderz, i dont have roaches. Just crickets.
 
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Ultum4Spiderz

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Im still at test stages in certain parts of my learning. You have a point though, when that big, a prekilled cricket won’t be that inviting. I still offer it to mine, just to see. Only when they stop feeding. I have to admit, its what i do with slings. But i do it to everyone else by default, just because it doesnt harm.

i like to try everything that will not cause problems. I like solutions.
Old slow roaches also make a good meal, but sadly there too expensive in Canada I understand using alternatives. I’m swamped with feeders but I don’t have enough to sell lol 😂.. mealworms failed as a cleaner crew . 😳 but I have those for slings and diversity .
 

Tsongas

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Wow, thanks so much for all of the posts and for the kind words about my T! Her abdomen looks pretty plump, though not overly so. As I said earlier, I am not worried, and created this thread because I was curious about molting patterns. She certainly could just be full, or in pre-molt, or on a hunger strike. We'll see...

Your responses have been informative and I truly appreciate them.

I post some more pics of the T and the terrarium soon when the lighting is better.
 

TheraMygale

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I believe you. Youre not worried. Youre curious, and this is the best place to start a conversation.

welcome to the boards.

Your contributions help eveyone. The more info we gather, the more posts we read, its all very helpful and relevant.

there are awesome keepers out there. Good feedback is also an opportunity to learn! Youve had great success all these years. You definitely have your place here. Share away.
 

Tsongas

Arachnopeon
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I believe you. Youre not worried. Youre curious, and this is the best place to start a conversation.

welcome to the boards.

Your contributions help eveyone. The more info we gather, the more posts we read, its all very helpful and relevant.

there are awesome keepers out there. Good feedback is also an opportunity to learn! Youve had great success all these years. You definitely have your place here. Share away.
Thank you so much for the kind, thoughtful message. I hope that whatever I share can be helpful for others. I have learned a lot over the years from posters like you on Arachnoboards and like the idea of helping others learn more as well.

Here is a pic of her exoskeleton after her last molt 4+ months ago. Not sure if I measured correctly, but this is why I estimated her size at about 5".
IMG_1413.jpg
 

viper69

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She is about 5 years old (had her since she was 1) and measures about 5". Her last molt occurred about 7 months after the one before it. It has been just over 4 months since her last molt and lately she seems uninterested in eating, which leads me to wonder if she might be getting ready to molt. I understand that molts generally happen further apart as they mature, but do they ever molt earlier than in a previous cycle, or do the molts almost always happen further apart? Would it be unusual for her to molt at 5 or 6 months?
Molting can happen "anytime", meaning it's not a rigid cycle. As they get older, molt less, just like humans.

and that things like humidity can affect molting
I've never observed humidity to be a factor in molt cycles, only temperature
 

Tsongas

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I've never observed humidity to be a factor in molt cycles, only temperature
I read about humidity being a potential factor in molting, though it might have been about it affecting the outcome of the molt itself rather than the timing of the molt.
 

Gevo

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I read about humidity being a potential factor in molting, though it might have been about it affecting the outcome of the molt itself rather than the timing of the molt.
Hydration can affect the chances of a successful molt. When molting, tarantulas need to pump fluid between their new and old exoskeleton, which requires them to be well hydrated internally. This is partly why access to a water source is so important. They don’t always drink, but they need to be able to when they need to.
 

viper69

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I read about humidity being a potential factor in molting, though it might have been about it affecting the outcome of the molt itself rather than the timing of the molt.
Personally I think it is circumstantial “evidence”, I’m well aware of it.
 

Charliemum

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My Brachypelma hate humidity, dry sub n a water dish , if I try to make the sub damp in any way they live on the walls till it drys again.
As for not eating my brachypelma have done this lots of times my 5 inch smithi male Andrew has currently gone 7 months without eating , I still offer every few weeks just incase but I expect he won't eat till he moults again, n while not a brachypelma my chalcodes female has gone 15 months without taking food before. They are built for long fasting periods, they don't need food like we do. I really wouldn't worry unless the abdomen is loosing size , just keep your water dish full n be patient, it's all part of keeping 😊 gl to you both 😊
 
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