Premolt exterior appearance

[bio teacher]

My 2" B. vagans had 2 bald patches on its opithosoma when it arrived in the mail. I know these are probably from being scared and flicking hair during its transport from the seller. Now the patches are spreading and its opithosoma looks rather spoltchy. I saw it the other night continuously rubbing its opithosoma with its fourth leg. There is still a lot of red hair on its opithosoma. Is this a possible sign that a molt is within a week or two?:?

 

[problemchildx]

Judging from what Paul said on your other thread, and the fact of a balding abdomen, I am gonna guess that it is about to molt.

 

[Talkenlate04]

Balding is not really an indicatior of a molt........ all that is a indication of is stress at some level. Now most of the time stress does not kill so it's not really something to worry about. But just because your T is bald does NOT mean it's going to molt soon.

Now if that bald area goes dark, now we are talking about a whole different story, a darkening bald patch is a great indication of an upcoming molt.

 

[P. Novak]

My 2" B. vagans had 2 bald patches on its opithosoma when it arrived in the mail. I know these are probably from being scared and flicking hair during its transport from the seller. Now the patches are spreading and its opithosoma looks rather spoltchy. I saw it the other night continuously rubbing its opithosoma with its fourth leg. There is still a lot of red hair on its opithosoma. Is this a possible sign that a molt is within a week or two?:?

Nope, once the bald spots go dark or black then it'll be in premolt, but this can happen overnight so you never know. Especially since your T has been excavating more it could be getting ready to molt in the next few weeks. Whens the last time it ate?

 

[chandlermonster]

I have two B. Vagans, and yes before they molt they kick off all their urticating hairs. Immediately before the actual shedding they will turn darker all over, and it's particularly noticeable on the bald spot. They become a lot less active and won't eat for a few weeks. Also, I've noticed that they look a lot more dull in the week or so before the molt, as if the color were drained right out of them.

 

[bio teacher]

It ate two crickets last week. I am going to feed it this week.