Salmon Pink Goliath Bird-eater tarantula (Lasiodora parahybana) bleeding from joints?

[EulersK]

Is molt fluid an actual thing? I've seen it mention before in multiple forums but never noticed it on the lp ive had for 3-4 years

Yes, it is. In preparation for a molt, fluid is secreted between the old exoskeleton and the new exoskeleton beneath it. That helps the tarantula 'slide' out of the exuvia.

 

[Greasylake]

Is molt fluid an actual thing? I've seen it mention before in multiple forums but never noticed it on the lp ive had for 3-4 years

I'm assuming you mean hemolymph? Before arachnids and insects molt they will pump hemolymph between the old exoskeleton and the one as a sort of lubricant to help them get out of the old exoskeleton. Hemolymph is the arachnids/insects version of blood. If you want more info on that stay tuned, I'm planning on making a thread all about it in the next few days.

 

[Tenebrarius]

Is molt fluid an actual thing? I've seen it mention before in multiple forums but never noticed it on the lp ive had for 3-4 years

It is.

Lol its funny how ive gotten 3 replies to my reply on this thread but none on my question of if my terrarium for my lp was too big

at me on it and I'll reply.

 

[YoungBrokeAndTrying]

It is.


at me on it and I'll reply.

lol im new to this site so i havent the sligtest clue ow to @ you butits the first thing to show up in the similar threads

 

[boina]

I'm assuming you mean hemolymph? Before arachnids and insects molt they will pump hemolymph between the old exoskeleton and the one as a sort of lubricant to help them get out of the old exoskeleton.

Not really. Molting fluid is quite different from hemolymph. It contains proteases and chitinases that are necessary to separate the old exo from the new one and would kill the spider if ever they got into the hemolymph. For the most part it seems to be secreted by epidermal cells.

 

[Greasylake]

It contains proteases and chitinases that are necessary to separate the old exo

Are these also what causes the new exoskeleton to harden after the molt, or does something else trigger that?

 

[boina]

Are these also what causes the new exoskeleton to harden after the molt, or does something else trigger that?

Prote-ase, Chitin-ase: every enzyme ending in -ase means something is destroyed. Chitin and various proteins are degraded to separate the old exoskeleton from the new.

Now, during hardening chitin is not supposed to be degraded. Instead chitin molecules are crosslinked to form long chains. For this you need the enzyme chitin synthase.

 

[Greasylake]

Prote-ase, Chitin-ase: every enzyme ending in -ase means something is destroyed. Chitin and various proteins are degraded to separate the old exoskeleton from the new.

I've always struggled with this part of biology, seems more like organic chemistry than biology. Anyway, you're teaching me more than my professor has.

Now, during hardening chitin is not supposed to be degraded. Instead chitin molecules are crosslinked to form long chains. For this you need the enzyme chitin synthase.

Makes sense, I don't know why I didn't automatically think of a synthase. I've got more reading to do it looks like.

 

[dangerforceidle]

Prote-ase, Chitin-ase: every enzyme ending in -ase means something is destroyed.

For this you need the enzyme chitin synthase.

But, wait! You said every enzyme ending in -ase means something is destroyed...

I've always struggled with this part of biology, seems more like organic chemistry than biology. Anyway, you're teaching me more than my professor has.

Organic chemistry and biology are extremely closely related -- biochemisty is basically a more specific branch of organic chem. You can't escape organic chem

 

[boina]

But, wait! You said every enzyme ending in -ase means something is destroyed...

Oh shoot... how did I overlook that

 

[Greasylake]

Oh shoot... how did I overlook that

Don't worry boina we know synthases are different lol.