Question about vinegroon molting

[BroncoRaiden]

Hello everyone, I would like to clarify with the experts how long it takes for the molting of the telephone, so mine has been buried for almost exactly 2 months, closed the entrance and no longer climbs out, is it alive there at all? I have no visual access to it. I will be grateful for the answer.

 

[Smotzer]

Um so Thelyphonida especially the North American Mastigoproctus that are the most common, can stay buried in a molting/diapause chamber underground for many months on end and extended portions of the year and that is totally normal. Most of mine have been underground since October and are just starting to wake up and come above ground, so more than just your two months and there's no cause for alarm. There's no way for me to tell you when/if it will come out, but as long as it has remained moist or mostly moist it is fine underground until it is ready to come back above ground and begin feeding again. Only time will tell. Let me know if this helped you or not, if not feel free to ask any more questions and I will do by best to provide more information for you!

 

[BroncoRaiden]

Thank you very much for the answer! Now I am more calm. Constantly when I buy new animals, they immediately go to molt, so I can say so, I take them fresh

 

[wizentrop]

I agree with the above post by @Smotzer, and would like to share my own experience.
First off, vinegaroons do lock themselves up in an underground chamber for months prior to molting. This, depending on the species, can take anywhere from a couple of months to 8 months. This is normal, and it's a part of the animal's seasonal lifecycle.
As for the molting process itself, it happens at the end of that underground period, I'd say in the last 4 weeks.

I recently made a mistake and exposed a chamber where a Thelyphonus tarnanii was hiding. And unfortunately for me, it was midway into the molting process. The chamber has not collapsed and it gave me a glimpse into this part of the process. However, I was sure the animal would get stuck in its old skin and die, because normally any disturbance to a molting arachnid results in mismolting and body deformation.
To my surprise, the animal was fine with being exposed and even though it appeared to be stuck at first, the process kept going right before my eyes. It was very slow, and I do mean VERY slow compared to any other arachnid I've encountered. It took way over two days (!!!) for the animal to finish molting out of the old skin. After that it stayed pale for another day, before starting to darken. It spent 3-4 more weeks in the chamber hardening up, before emerging to feed.

This information is important because it seems vinegaroons have their own pace for molting compared to other arthropods. Molting is a time when the arthropod is most vulnerable and cannot defend itself. It is clear then why vinegaroons lock themselves up for such a long time - they molt so slowly.

 

[Smotzer]

Thank you very much for the answer! Now I am more calm. Constantly when I buy new animals, they immediately go to molt, so I can say so, I take them fresh

Good glad to hear that!! Yeah it seems to always happen that way

 

[Smotzer]

This information is important because it seems vinegaroons have their own pace for molting compared to other arthropods. Molting is a time when the arthropod is most vulnerable and cannot defend itself. It is clear then why vinegaroons lock themselves up for such a long time - they molt so slowly.

yes you are absolutely correct they do indeed have their own distinct pace to the actual process, thanks for mentioning that!

 

[paumotu]

The asian species do not undergo any hibernation period as our US natives do, correct?

 

[darkness975]

Telephone lol.

What was stated by @Smotzer

 

[BroncoRaiden]

finally, after 108 days, the vinegaroon crawled out of the burrow that had faded! plus he has some kind of red spot on his abdomen, does anyone know what kind it is? Also ate cricket

 

[Kada]

The asian species do not undergo any hibernation period as our US natives do, correct?

Typopeltis crucifer appears not to. though I have seen them stay underground for almost 2 months in captivity. Never seen those long stretches mentioned above though. 8 months is incredible, is this for species in cooler regions?

The wild Taiwanese ones are often around loads of ants and other possible problems, and there is no real winter. Perhaps this has to do with faster molting? Usually weeks with my captives, not months.