What are Instars?

[Kodi]

Could someone please explain what they are and the order of the molts beginning with when a T first hatches? I think my sling is 2nd instar but does that mean she molted once or twice since birth?

 

[Tweak]

Alright so basically the life cycle starts with fertilized eggs which become what are called eggs with legs (ewl's) which look like,well an egg with small legs. At this point they molt into 1st instars which look like spiders but for most part lack any visible hair. From they molt and move on to 2nd instar which is when it really starts to look like a baby tarantula all hairy and adorable and what not. From here on out every molt begins the next instar (3rd 4th 5th etc) and that's how it works on a basic level

 

[Kodi]

So when a T hatches that's considered their first molt?

 

[Quazgar]

They never really hatch, like what one thinks of with birds. They start out as soft eggs, then legs and a rudimentary mouth emerge out of the egg, but what was the egg basically turns into the body. That's the eggs w/ legs phase. Then they have a real molt, become first instars, which look basically like tarantulas, but not quite all the way. Then they molt again and are what we think of as slings in the second instar phase, though I think certain species may take until a third instar phase to look like true slings. After that, the instar phase doesn't really matter, as they will grow at different rates depending on food, temp, etc. Look through breeding reports of various species and there are often pictures of all these phases which will probably help you keep them straight.

 

[Kodi]

Ok that's what confused me. I watched a series of videos that this T hobbyist posted of the progress of his Versicolor egg sac and I watched the phases and recognize them now that I can label them with instars. They are very unique how the egg itself grows into a little curled up spider until it breaks out of a layer and unfolds revealing a tiny white creature. That must be why birth is considered the first molt because they're not actually hatching. I'm guessing they have no senses since they're hairless.

 

[Piddleysmith]

Is that the projecht 63 or 69 guy? if so then I watched his videos of the versicolour slings, it was great

 

[Kodi]

Yup. I watched them all. I like his videos.

 

[Cameron1996]

You should check out Tarantulaguy he has a lot of the same kinds of videos and a TON of feeding videos. And Kodi your sling is a 2nd Instar.

 

[jayefbe]

They never really hatch, like what one thinks of with birds. They start out as soft eggs, then legs and a rudimentary mouth emerge out of the egg, but what was the egg basically turns into the body.

When the legs and body emerge, they also cast off the chorion, similar to "hatching". The chorion is the outer shell of the egg, so it is not a molt.

 

[Kodi]

Ya I've seen his videos too. Watch the ones about Sammie its sad... I thought she was 2nd but wasn't sure.