Signs of premolt

[eggsbenedict]

My G.pulchripes juvenile that I got on Wednesday seems to be busy excavating in and extending her hide pushing it up against the entrance like she's trying to block it, she also appears to be laying down web around/near the entrance too. From doing a little bit of research these seem to be two of the characteristic behaviors of a T going into premoult. She'll be due another cricket in the next few days so I guess if she doesn't take it that is an indicator too (?). I've read here (albeit the posts were a couple of years old) that it can be quite common for Ts to go into premoult following being introduced to a new home. I'm wondering if given these indicators if there's a chance that's what happening? I'm sure this is a very silly question but this behaviour couldn't also indicate stress could it? I'm less anxious currently, more excited by the possibility she's preparing herself.

 

[DaveM]

First of all, I'm glad for your excitement, and wishing you much more to come. You describe what many of us have felt on our tarantula keeping journeys.

You might be right about your spider. What you describe might be signs of going into premolt, but maybe not. This could be part of routine burrow excavation, and laying out a "welcome mat" of webbing is normal too. Premolt is not the only reason a T might seal off its burrow. In the wild, some silk over the burrow entrance each day to protect from the desiccating heat or dry air, or to protect against predators, or winter cold, and for many other reasons too.

I'm listing here for your reference a longer list of signs of premolt that you might notice:

* Darkening of the abdomen, especially visible in a "bald" area (if present) where the urticating setae have been kicked off. (MOST DEFINITIVE)
* Refusing food, sometimes attacking prey halfheartedly and then backing off to leave it alone. (They almost always refuse food close to a molt, but may refuse food for other reasons.)
* Having abnormal difficulty climbing glass. (In heavy premolt, their tarsi/"feet" can slip more on the glass.)
* Sometimes one can see that areas of the exoskeleton, especially on the legs, get a shiny, glassy look. (only sometimes observable on some spiders, and legs can look shiny from wear-an-tear / getting polished by rubbing on burrow walls as well, unrelated to molt cycles)
* Behaving differently than normal: sitting in unusual [cramped or asymmetrical/skewed, or to anthropomorphize: uncomfortable-looking] postures, being unusually jumping, having altered levels of activity, sometimes unusually pacing, and [shamelessly anthropomorphizing again here] appearing more ornery or grumpy. (This can be subtle, spider-specific, but you may notice differences if you routinely observe your spiders keenly.)
* Laying down more webbing than usual. (this can happen for other reasons also, though)
* Blocking off entrances of burrows. (not definitive)

Mature spiders might molt on a fairly regular or predictable schedule. For spiderlings, the intermolt interval usually gets longer as they grow, but you might get a sense for approximately when they should be ready to molt next.
It's all very exciting trying to predict when the next molt will come. Yes, refusing food is a very common indicator, but overfed spiders may refuse food sometimes too. Integrate many pieces of evidence for the most reliable predictions.

How big is your juvenile? This genus has some very slow-growing members, but pulchripes is large and grows more/faster than other species in the genus.
Also, don't mind us Americans writing "molt" and "premolt". Noah Webster didn't seem to like the letter 'U' very much. We know that our brethren from across the pond speak Queen's English, or is it King's English now?
Good luck, and enjoy!

 

[kingshockey]

just pre kill the feeder all the way on its next feeding then and remove the next day if untouched. you have only had for 4 days what its doing is also very normal its just settling in making itself at home in its new cage digging out a burrow etc. is part of that. you will get a more accurate idea/guess by keeping track of the color of its buttt. do more reading about pre molt signs the color of its butt wont lie

 

[DaveM]

Pardon me. I missed seeing that you've only had the spider for 4 days. Just wait. Tarantulas will take time to adapt to their new enclosures, and yours has not had long enough to settle in and to establish baseline behaviors. Thanks, @kingshocky, for bringing up that important point.

 

[kingshockey]

Pardon me. I missed seeing that you've only had the spider for 4 days. Just wait. Tarantulas will take time to adapt to their new enclosures, and yours has not had long enough to settle in and to establish baseline behaviors. Thanks, @kingshocky, for bringing up that important point.

your reply was more helpful than mine