Tailless Whip Scorpion Molting Process

[cascadingplates]

Hello,
I have just gotten my first tailless whip scorpion and wanted to know if there are any signs to look out for prior to it molting so I can take out any food that may be in its enclosure so it doesn't damage it before, during, and after molting.
Thank you for any info in advance!

 

[Sarkhan42]

It can be a little tricky with whips. For some species, with enough experience, you can begin to tell darkening of abdominal membraneas the new exoskeleton forms underneath.

In general though, the best indicator is feeding. Most species will undergo a period of fasting as they approach the molt, and if food isn’t taken after 48 hours I tend to remove it and try again the next time I feed. This is however assuming minimal hiding places for prey, and that the specimen in question has a very full abdomen.

 

[ForTW]

Hello,
I have just gotten my first tailless whip scorpion and wanted to know if there are any signs to look out for prior to it molting so I can take out any food that may be in its enclosure so it doesn't damage it before, during, and after molting.
Thank you for any info in advance!

As all scorpions and amply's, the back plates start to spread apart and look way too small for the Abdomen. Pretty easy and obvious.

 

[Sarkhan42]

As all scorpions and amply's, the back plates start to spread apart and look way too small for the Abdomen. Pretty easy and obvious.

Unfortunately this isn’t really a sign of molting. Some of the faster growing amblypygi, ex Acanthophrynus, will completely fill up and stretch the abdomen, and then metabolize and shrink back down and feed again.

 

[that1ocelot]

Unfortunately this isn’t really a sign of molting. Some of the faster growing amblypygi, ex Acanthophrynus, will completely fill up and stretch the abdomen, and then metabolize and shrink back down and feed again.

On this note, same with my Whitei.

@cascadingplates, it seems like you have a Damon Medius, missing both it's whips nonetheless.
You'll see another post about someone who recently lost their WC Medius - this animal is going to require a TON of moisture in the enclosure and should be left alone. It should regenerate little baby whips next molt.

They require vertical space to molt, but will happily molt off mesh lids if they can reach them. If they are forced to molt on the ground, they'll likely die or be in very bad shape.
Something unique to Damon, and maybe @Sarkhan42 can concur...I find that my Medius never gets "fat" while my other ambly get very obviously full.

It was very easy to tell when my Medius was going to molt because it got very obviously FAT, and this was without eating. So to answer your question: about 24 hours before the molt, your ambly's abdomen should get noticeably bigger than normal.
Considering your animal lost both of it's whips, you should be mostly crippling or pre-killing prey anyways if it will take it. My medius is a big fan of pre-killed superworms.

 

[Sarkhan42]

On this note, same with my Whitei.

@cascadingplates, it seems like you have a Damon Medius, missing both it's whips nonetheless.
You'll see another post about someone who recently lost their WC Medius - this animal is going to require a TON of moisture in the enclosure and should be left alone. It should regenerate little baby whips next molt.

They require vertical space to molt, but will happily molt off mesh lids if they can reach them. If they are forced to molt on the ground, they'll likely die or be in very bad shape.
Something unique to Damon, and maybe @Sarkhan42 can concur...I find that my Medius never gets "fat" while my other ambly get very obviously full.

It was very easy to tell when my Medius was going to molt because it got very obviously FAT, and this was without eating. So to answer your question: about 24 hours before the molt, your ambly's abdomen should get noticeably bigger than normal.
Considering your animal lost both of it's whips, you should be mostly crippling or pre-killing prey anyways if it will take it. My medius is a big fan of pre-killed superworms.

You're definitely right in that adult Damon can be tricky as they tend to remain more flat than say Phrynids which will completely balloon, but in whiplings and juveniles its still pretty obvious. +1 to prekilling prey as well, lots of people don't realize that Amblypygi will scavenge very well.