Weight loss

[kyrga]

Do Ts typically lose weight after a molt? My a. avic seems to be doing great, but her abdomen is getting really skinny, and I don't think she'll be ready for a cricket for another week or so. Is this normal?

 

[Merfolk]

It's normal , just a transfer of fluids that the spider use to "inflate" and stretch the legs and else, that's how they gain volume. Hemolymph is pumped in the legs before they harden, that's how they grow in size!!! Also, the shrinking of the abdomen helps shedding the old skin attached to it.

 

[P. Novak]

Yeah a decrease in abdomen size is perfectly normal AFTER a molt. Just wait for her to harden up and then feed her to increase her size.

 

[138]

how big is it? and are you shure it's a she?

 

[Becky]

Does it matter? lol

Either way straight after a moult the abdomen will shrink, as the above people have said, due to a transfer in fluids

 

[138]

Does it matter? lol

if the abdomen is really skinny after a molt and the avic is over 3" it could be a male.

 

[Becky]

All abdomens are skinny after a moult...?

 

[kyrga]

how big is it? and are you shure it's a she?

Still too small to tell. I figure maybe if I call it a "she" enough, it'll be female

Thanks for the swift replies!

 

[P. Novak]

Still too small to tell. I figure maybe if I call it a "she" enough, it'll be female

Thanks for the swift replies!

OUt of curiousity, how big is it?

 

[138]

All abdomens are skinny after a moult...?

most are, yes.

 

[Merfolk]

What goes into the legs to enlarge them has to come from somewhere, huh!!!!

I observed that it's actually the swelling of the legs that pushes the old skin away (in smaller ones though...)