Wet molt with amblypygi

[mantisfan101]

I received a phrynus longipes a few months ago and it appeard to have had a wet molt, yet it is currently eating just fine for me. I just noticed that my acanthophrynus molted and its exoskeleton still looks wet, yet it has eaten twice for me. Has anyone ever experienced this? Is there anything I can do about this? Gonna ping @wizentrop since he’s currently the resident ambly god

 

[GardenDrag0n]

This is probably a silly question, but I have not heard the term "wet molt" before. Can you elaborate?

 

[xXTristinaXx]

This is probably a silly question, but I have not heard the term "wet molt" before. Can you elaborate?

What IS a wet molt?

I am just curious. I've read a few threads about them, but no one ever responds to the questions of what one exactly is, how its caused, prevented, etc. It would be nice for future reference so if possible, I can prevent it from happening to my current and future T's.

arachnoboards.com

 

[Salmonsaladsandwich]

Every time I've seen an ambly molt it's looked shiny like that afterwards, do you not normally see them like that? Or are they just staying shiny for an abnormally long time?

 

[Banshee05]

even if I am not the 'resident ambly god' I feel to answer here
First, check out a series of publication from colleagues and me about the outer layer of whip spiders...

Wolff J.O., Schwaha T., Seiter M., & Gorb S.N. (2016) Whip-spiders (Amblypygi) become water-repellent by a colloidal secretion that self-assembles into hierarchical microstructures. Zoological Letters, 2: 23. DOI:10.1186/s40851-016-0059-y 6
Wolff J.O., Seiter M. & Gorb S.N. (2017) The water-repellent cerotegument of whip-spider (Arachnida: Amblypygi). Arthropod Structure & Development, 46: 116–129. DOI: 10.1016/j.asd.2016.10.010.
Filipov A.É., Wolff J.O., Seiter M. & Gorb S.N. (2017) Numerical simulation of colloidal self-assembly of super-hydrophobic arachnid cerotegument structures. Journal of Theoretical Biology, 430: 1–8. DOI.org/10.1016/j.jtbi.2017.07.001
Alastair, T.G., Idnurm A., Seiter M., Dyer P., Kokolski M., Goodacre S., Gorb S.N. & Wolff J.O. (2019) Amblypygid-fungal interactions: The whip spider exoskeleton as a substrate for fungal growth. Fungal Biology, 123: 497–506. DOI:10.1016/j.funbio.2019.05.003
Seiter M., Schwaha T., Ferreira R.L., Prendini L. & Wolff J.O. (2021) Fine structure of the epicuticular secretion coat and asccociated glands of Pedpalpi and Palpigradi (Arachnida). Journal of Morphology. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.21360.
Seiter M., Schwaha T., Prendini L., Gorb S.N. & Wolff J.O. (2022) Cerotegument microstructure of whip spiders (Amblypygi: Euamblypygi Weygoldt, 1996) reveals characters for systematics from family to species level. Journal of Morphology. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.21452

Well, this 'wet' appearance arise after molting. There are two major glands producing different kind of secretions which harden in contact with the atmosphere creating that specific cerotegument shape with a globula surface and colloidial particles on the surface. If the animal encoutner a another wet source, like a water droplet, or whatever, or facing special conditions, the fluid does not 'dry out' fast and remain. It is generally in captivity no big deal as the animal do not need that extrem water-repellence, or so. After some weeks it should remain as usual, or at least after the next molt.

 

[wizentrop]

I'd listen to @Banshee05 in this case. Looks like a regular molt to me. A true "wet molt" in Amblypygi is when the animal accidentally stabs itself with its spikes during molting, and is bleeding throughout the process. This is usually lethal, but if the molt is successful the area exposed to hemolymph will have a different appearance (darker and slightly shinier) compared to the rest of the body, and will stay like that until the next molting event.

 

[mantisfan101]

even if I am not the 'resident ambly god' I feel to answer here
First, check out a series of publication from colleagues and me about the outer layer of whip spiders...

Wolff J.O., Schwaha T., Seiter M., & Gorb S.N. (2016) Whip-spiders (Amblypygi) become water-repellent by a colloidal secretion that self-assembles into hierarchical microstructures. Zoological Letters, 2: 23. DOI:10.1186/s40851-016-0059-y 6
Wolff J.O., Seiter M. & Gorb S.N. (2017) The water-repellent cerotegument of whip-spider (Arachnida: Amblypygi). Arthropod Structure & Development, 46: 116–129. DOI: 10.1016/j.asd.2016.10.010.
Filipov A.É., Wolff J.O., Seiter M. & Gorb S.N. (2017) Numerical simulation of colloidal self-assembly of super-hydrophobic arachnid cerotegument structures. Journal of Theoretical Biology, 430: 1–8. DOI.org/10.1016/j.jtbi.2017.07.001
Alastair, T.G., Idnurm A., Seiter M., Dyer P., Kokolski M., Goodacre S., Gorb S.N. & Wolff J.O. (2019) Amblypygid-fungal interactions: The whip spider exoskeleton as a substrate for fungal growth. Fungal Biology, 123: 497–506. DOI:10.1016/j.funbio.2019.05.003
Seiter M., Schwaha T., Ferreira R.L., Prendini L. & Wolff J.O. (2021) Fine structure of the epicuticular secretion coat and asccociated glands of Pedpalpi and Palpigradi (Arachnida). Journal of Morphology. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.21360.
Seiter M., Schwaha T., Prendini L., Gorb S.N. & Wolff J.O. (2022) Cerotegument microstructure of whip spiders (Amblypygi: Euamblypygi Weygoldt, 1996) reveals characters for systematics from family to species level. Journal of Morphology. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.21452

Well, this 'wet' appearance arise after molting. There are two major glands producing different kind of secretions which harden in contact with the atmosphere creating that specific cerotegument shape with a globula surface and colloidial particles on the surface. If the animal encoutner a another wet source, like a water droplet, or whatever, or facing special conditions, the fluid does not 'dry out' fast and remain. It is generally in captivity no big deal as the animal do not need that extrem water-repellence, or so. After some weeks it should remain as usual, or at least after the next molt.

Oh oops I forgot to @ you, but I’ll look through the papers, thanks!

Every time I've seen an ambly molt it's looked shiny like that afterwards, do you not normally see them like that? Or are they just staying shiny for an abnormally long time?

The longipes has been shiny since November, and the Acanthophrynus since a few weeks ago

 

[Banshee05]

Oh oops I forgot to @ you, but I’ll look through the papers, thanks!

no worry about, most of us are happy to share their knowledge!

The longipes has been shiny since November, and the Acanthophrynus since a few weeks ago

give us an update after the next molt. I gues that the fluids did not come out properly or too much, or hardened under different circumstances and thus it reflects in an unusual way.

 

[Edan bandoot]

Could there be a possible nutrient/mineral deficiency that is causing it, 2 in such a short period seems unlikely.

Or possible some chemical in the water that is causing it?

 

[Banshee05]

any kind of prey/food intake effect is not known, and I can't believe it, otherwise we would have seen it for sure hundred times around here...

some chemical or just pH, conductibility, whatever... water-effect is possible, at least I think so. If the water have a specific property which disolve, dilute, or whatever do with the secret of the glands, the hardening effect could be stopped.
Never proofed, but sounds possible.