Should you save molts?

[TimmmyTarantula]

I feel like this statement will offend someone so go easy but why or should you save molts? Obviously the first reason and only reason I've kept them for any period is to sex other than that I don't see the appeal I always get rid of them. I love my T's but I have the tarantula why do I need its shed exoskeleton? Maybe I'm missing something here since I know some people keep them religiously. When I first got into the hobby I saved them but they collected dust on my shelf and eventually pieces brake off because they are so fragile. I don't, know I'm already into collecting various non tarantula things just felt like another thing I was collecting. Should I do something with them if so then what? What do you do? Would like to hear your thoughts!
Thanks!

 

[Arachnophobphile]

I've saved them all mainly to sex. I've collected quite a bit with no intention to do anything with them anytime soon.

Maybe in the future I might do something with them but for now I'm just amassing them.

Does this make me a hoarder?

 

[SageN]

I feel like this statement will offend someone so go easy but why or should you save molts? Obviously the first reason and only reason I've kept them for any period is to sex other than that I don't see the appeal I always get rid of them. I love my T's but I have the tarantula why do I need its shed exoskeleton? Maybe I'm missing something here since I know some people keep them religiously. When I first got into the hobby I saved them but they collected dust on my shelf and eventually pieces brake off because they are so fragile. I don't, know I'm already into collecting various non tarantula things just felt like another thing I was collecting. Should I do something with them if so then what? What do you do? Would like to hear your thoughts!
Thanks!

Still haven’t had a large enough tarantula with an intact enough molt to sex lol but I still save especially intact molts sometimes because it can be fun to track their growth that way. I have 3 out of the 4 molts my T. apophysis has had in my care and it’s awesome to see how much that species in particular grows between molts

 

[TimmmyTarantula]

Still haven’t had a large enough tarantula with an intact enough molt to sex lol but I still save especially intact molts sometimes because it can be fun to track their growth that way. I have 3 out of the 4 molts my T. apophysis has had in my care and it’s awesome to see how much that species in particular grows between molts

I think even I would keep apophysis molts those don't know how big your specimen is but that will be a big t one day those molts are worth saving

 

[Rigor Mortis]

I think they're fun decorations. My collection is comprised of juvenile males and sub-adult females, so I don't get moults too often. Three years of keeping and 10 spiders has yielded me 5 moults I can actually use. I'm sure if I had more spiders it wouldn't be such a coveted wall decoration for me.

 

[TimmmyTarantula]

I think they're fun decorations. My collection is comprised of juvenile males and sub-adult females, so I don't get moults too often. Three years of keeping and 10 spiders has yielded me 5 moults I can actually use. I'm sure if I had more spiders it wouldn't be such a coveted wall decoration for me.

Displaying them as a wall decoration would be awesome! I have a barely juvenile LP I was thinking maybe one day if I can get that final adult molt intact it would be awesome to set it in acrylic to preserve it forever

 

[Rigor Mortis]

Displaying them as a wall decoration would be awesome! I have a barely juvenile LP I was thinking maybe one day if I can get that final adult molt intact it would be awesome to set it in acrylic to preserve it forever

My method of display might be a little more "short" term but that's ok. I go buy a small shadowbox and nice paper. Glue the moult to the paper and put that in the shadowbox, ta da.

 

[TimmmyTarantula]

Also I saw in an old documentary thats available on youtube the piarowa tribe of the amazon (I butchered that name btw no clue how to spell it) will use the left over fangs as tooth picks so there's always that lol

My method of display might be a little more "short" term but that's ok. I go buy a small shadowbox and nice paper. Glue the moult to the paper and put that in the shadowbox, ta da.

I think you just gave me the best suggestion I just googled this and that's a great idea I think I'll deff save them from now on and do that! Thanks

 

[chanda]

I have a molt progression for my very first tarantula (T. albo) with all her molts from tiny sling to adult size in a shadow box. I also have a bunch of other molts in jars and boxes, because I use them in classroom presentations where I explain the molting process to children. In addition to the tarantula molts, I have a bunch of other molts from my amblypygi and assorted insects that I'll let the kids pass around and touch (carefully). I've also sometimes put molts (or just fangs, if the molt is pretty beat up) in small clear acrylic boxes and given them to children as "souvenirs." The kids get a big kick out of it!

 

[Arachnophobphile]

I might make a necklace of my molts.

I will use something to preserve them first so they don't crumble.

The necklace I will wear while gaming to bring good luck. Like...at the casino.

 

[viper69]

Should?? That's the wrong word. I don't save them.

 

[TimmmyTarantula]

I have a molt progression for my very first tarantula (T. albo) with all her molts from tiny sling to adult size in a shadow box. I also have a bunch of other molts in jars and boxes, because I use them in classroom presentations where I explain the molting process to children. In addition to the tarantula molts, I have a bunch of other molts from my amblypygi and assorted insects that I'll let the kids pass around and touch (carefully). I've also sometimes put molts (or just fangs, if the molt is pretty beat up) in small clear acrylic boxes and given them to children as "souvenirs." The kids get a big kick out of it!

I like that you use them for educational purposes! It sounds like a great way to teach kids about about insects and arachnids and show them like hey look how cool this is and there's no reason to be scared of a spider etc

 

[Tarantulafeets]

You can keep them to see how much your t grew over time. Seeing your t grow from sling to adult can be pretty rewarding.

 

[greeneyedelle]

You haven’t truly lived until you’ve successfully pranked someone with a molt… I have no shame in admitting that a carefully placed molt on a keyboard has been the pinnacle of my pranking career.
I also have a lot of friends with kids who love tarantulas, and molts make great birthday gifts!
One of my goals is to suspend the individual molts in a resin filled vial or something and display them or sell them. Looks really cool!
#howtomakeahoarder

 

[Craig73]

I have two on my desk with the intention of trying to sex them. Haven’t done it yet, but sure keeps people from messing with my stuff. I’ve had a couple jump scares thinking they were escapees, so not a fan of keeping them.

You haven’t truly lived until you’ve successfully pranked someone with a molt… I have no shame in admitting that a carefully placed molt on a keyboard has been the pinnacle of my pranking career.

My SO found one and put it on someone’s car door handle back in college. Doesn’t remember if it was dead or a molt, but so evil.

 

[greeneyedelle]

My SO found one and put it on someone’s car door handle back in college. Doesn’t remember if it was dead or a molt, but so evil.

Bahahaha evil or genius. Maybe both. I’m gonna have to try that one now

 

[Tim Benzedrine]

You should save them if you have an arch-enemy and have access to their underwear drawer. A couple shakes of that moult into their undies and they will have a really bad day. This only applies to New World species. If you keep Old Worlds, placing the tarantula itself into their underwear drawer will be much more effective.

 

[Arachnophobphile]

If only I could locate my ex-wife

 

[AphonopelmaTX]

I save the molts of adults and subadults only as a way to have a record of what has been in my collection and in the hobby in general. I also keep adults and subadults that die in jars of alcohol for the same reason. Sometimes a species that is common for years in the pet market can all of a sudden disappear never to be seen again. And sometimes a species that disappears can reappear again as something completely different but with the same name!

 

[DomGom TheFather]

Display pieces, itching powder...
I save some.
It would be cool to pin every molt from sling to adult in one compact wall piece.