Theraphosa apophysis molt cycle

[mingu]

Theraphosa apophysis molt cycle, too fast?

I can't believe she's molting. It's only been 12 months. Her previous molt took 23 months. Her sibling sister (from last years, Theraphosa apophysis molting video) is showing signs of premolt too.

 

[Misty Day]

I'm having a similar thing going on with my gbb sling. She's 1 inch and molts about every 5-7 weeks. But she's showing premolt signs and is gone off food and she only molted 4 weeks ago, my guess is she's probably having a growth spurt?

 

[mingu]

At her age a growth spurt? She's an adult and captive bred from 2008. It looks like she molted fine.

 

[macbaffo]

Are Those urticant hairs?

 

[Misty Day]

I've seen some adults have growth spurts, molting more frequently then not molting for sometimes years. I know someone who's g.pulcra female molted then molted again 4 months later as an adult, then went on to not molt for 4 1/2 years.

 

[Poec54]

I've seen some adults have growth spurts, molting more frequently then not molting for sometimes years. I know someone who's g.pulcra female molted then molted again 4 months later as an adult, then went on to not molt for 4 1/2 years.

In habitat, this would undoubtedly make sense. But we have little idea, if any, of the details of their lives and the things that trigger molts.

 

[mingu]

I've seen some adults have growth spurts, molting more frequently then not molting for sometimes years. I know someone who's g.pulcra female molted then molted again 4 months later as an adult, then went on to not molt for 4 1/2 years.

Interesting, I'm keeping molting records for the last 4 years of my sub/adult Theraphosa sp. and I never had this happen before. I thought adults molted between 15-20 months.

---------- Post added 02-01-2014 at 11:14 AM ----------

Are Those urticant hairs?

Yes, Theraphosa sp. often cover themselfes with urticating hairs before molting.

---------- Post added 02-01-2014 at 11:41 AM ----------

Just looking at my records and what I found interesting is, my one year younger female T. apophysis that molted very recently took 19 months to molt and she's kept exactly the same as my other 2 females.

 

[macbaffo]

Thanks. Indeed a dangerous fluffiness.

 

[LordWaffle]

Great pictures!

 

[Beary Strange]

Thanks. Indeed a dangerous fluffiness.

I absolutely love this descriptor "a dangerous fluffiness".

I don't imagine sexing their molts is too much fun.