Molting Question (and first post)

[ladyratri]

A tarantula molts when it is ready, based on having sufficient food and sufficient time. Both are required. Those long pre-molt fasts happen because the food requirement was met long before the time requirement.

The time requirement is influenced by temperature, and probably a million other things...but basically it's directly related to the T's metabolism.

As to whether there can ever be a shorter molt cycle after a longer one -- absolutely. This is my G. pulchra juvi's molt history with me:


She's been hiding in her burrow, fasting, for three months now. A true treat of patience

 

[darkness975]

Mine tend to molt when the weather warms up and the ambient temperature is higher.

 

[Tsongas]

Thanks all for the informative posts! Below are some pics of my T, enclosure, and thermometer/hygrometer. The enclosure that she is in is 18" L X 12" W. It is only 7" H, but when I had her in a much deeper terrarium she never burrowed very deeply and doesn't do it in this one either. She does much more reorganizing than burrowing.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

A tarantula molts when it is ready, based on having sufficient food and sufficient time. Both are required. Those long pre-molt fasts happen because the food requirement was met long before the time requirement.

The time requirement is influenced by temperature, and probably a million other things...but basically it's directly related to the T's metabolism.

As to whether there can ever be a shorter molt cycle after a longer one -- absolutely. This is my G. pulchra juvi's molt history with me:
View attachment 483283

She's been hiding in her burrow, fasting, for three months now. A true treat of patience

Is that app free on iPhone ? What’s it called?

 

[TheraMygale]

Thanks all for the informative posts! Below are some pics of my T, enclosure, and thermometer/hygrometer. The enclosure that she is in is 18" L X 12" W. It is only 7" H, but when I had her in a much deeper terrarium she never burrowed very deeply and doesn't do it in this one either. She does much more reorganizing than burrowing.
View attachment 483315 View attachment 483316 View attachment 483317

Looks like it should. Nice view of tarantula. Looking plump and healthy.

such cute flames on the articulations! I cant wait for mine to get to that size!

how is yours with hair kicking?

 

[ladyratri]

Is that app free on iPhone ? What’s it called?

Not sure about iOS. It's called Exotikeeper, I actually found it though posts here on AB.

 

[Tsongas]

how is yours with hair kicking?

Every so often, she will do a little kicking when we first take the top off the terrarium or go to pick her up, but it is rare and very brief when it happens. She has never had any bald spots from it and has never done it when we were holding her or had her out of the enclosure. Based on what I have learned about this species, she is much less of a hair kicker than many.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

Not sure about iOS. It's called Exotikeeper, I actually found it though posts here on AB.

My laptop broke so it probably isn’t happening. Defective power port on same model twice ..🥲

 

[TheraMygale]

Every so often, she will do a little kicking when we first take the top off the terrarium or go to pick her up, but it is rare and very brief when it happens. She has never had any bald spots from it and has never done it when we were holding her or had her out of the enclosure. Based on what I have learned about this species, she is much less of a hair kicker than many.

seems like you got delt a good card. Mine are still slings and can get skittish. Which many slings are in general so i take it with a grain of salt. I will hope for then to mellow with age but still be prepared to expect it.

 

[Tsongas]

seems like you got delt a good card. Mine are still slings and can get skittish. Which many slings are in general so i take it with a grain of salt. I will hope for then to mellow with age but still be prepared to expect it.

Mine was about 1.5", when I got her, and has never been skittish. But who knows what the next molt will bring...

Update - after not eating for a month, which is usually about how long she goes before molting, she is eating again. First time ever in 4+ years that she took a month or so off and then went back to eating without molting.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

Update - after not eating for a month, which is usually about how long she goes before molting, she is eating again. First time ever in 4+ years that she took a month or so off and then went back to eating without molting.

good news !
I’ve had Ts do this one month not eating a Few months later bam hungry again!

 

[Tsongas]

I know they can go on hunger strikes, it is just that mine hasn't done it before. She is chowing down for sure!

 

[Tsongas]

Update: it has been more than 6 months and she continues to eat! I guess this means she took a break from eating for a few weeks and got back to it. She had never done this before. Looks like the next molt will be at least 7 months since the previous one, so the intervals between molts are getting longer consistently.

 

[Gevo]

Glad to hear all is well! My B. hamorii just started fasting. She's not overly fat, and I'm quite sure she won't be molting anytime soon, so we'll see if she starts eating again in a few weeks or if she's going to hold out for months until she molts. Just tarantulas doing tarantula things!

 

[Tsongas]

Mine is 5 years old and this was the only time in all those years that she skipped a feeding without molting soon after. Yes, just being a tarantula!

 

[TheraMygale]

Mine is 5 years old and this was the only time in all those years that she skipped a feeding without molting soon after. Yes, just being a tarantula!

These are great learning opportunities. They can challenge us all the time by changing things a little bit. Even those who have tarantulas for a long time can be surprised from time to time. Its a fascinating hobby. Its gives back when we are patient and take good care.

 

[Tsongas]

A quick follow-up on what I said earlier about her minimal hair flicking. I have never seen her do it when I removed the top or fed her, but my daughter has maybe twice when she has removed her from the enclosure. She does it very briefly according to my daughter, who only handles her once or twice a year when I clean the enclosure. As I said earlier, she always seems completely calm when out of the terrarium. I think we got lucky with this one.

 

[TheraMygale]

A quick follow-up on what I said earlier about her minimal hair flicking. I have never seen her do it when I removed the top or fed her, but my daughter has maybe twice when she has removed her from the enclosure. She does it very briefly according to my daughter, who only handles her once or twice a year when I clean the enclosure. As I said earlier, she always seems completely calm when out of the terrarium. I think we got lucky with this one.

It can happen. Its cool that it doesnt flick much. You got yourself a nice coopertive tarantula. You probably also have a very calm approach. Keep doing what you are doing.

Tarantulas can always change personalities before a molt, and after a molt. So its good to take extra precautions.

It seems youre doing great. We all need some reassurance once in a while. Connecting with the board is a great way to get back in check with ourselves.

 

[Gevo]

A quick follow-up on what I said earlier about her minimal hair flicking. I have never seen her do it when I removed the top or fed her, but my daughter has maybe twice when she has removed her from the enclosure. She does it very briefly according to my daughter, who only handles her once or twice a year when I clean the enclosure. As I said earlier, she always seems completely calm when out of the terrarium. I think we got lucky with this one.

Lots of people say theirs chill out as they get older, though tarantulas can also change personalities from molt-to-molt, and really calm ones will suddenly become a menace, or vice versa. I don't know how old my B. hamorii is, but she's about 2.5-3 inches in diagonal legspan. Prior to her last molt in the spring, she was a really flighty hair kicker. Nowadays, she might flinch a bit when startled, but I haven't seen her kick hairs once, even when I was messing about in there the other day to retrieve her uneaten cricket.