What are my Western Black Widows doing to their molting?

[Khaos Weaver]

So I have seen this behavior a few times from all four of my female Western black widows, and when I look for information for what I’m seeing them do, I can’t find anything to explain this behavior. I just find it kind of fascinating. The first time I witnessed it, I was like, “WTH is she doing? Is she eating her molting?” It looked like it as she had started nibbling on the tip of her old molting leg. I saw her again messing with her molting after I put a roach in for her, and she was having some difficulty capturing it because it kept running behind a stick at the bottom of her enclosure that she wasn’t able to reach. She went to the top and started messing with her molt. I watched her for a few minutes move above it and under it, and then the molt dropped down a little, and I wonder if she was doing some house cleaning like this is taking up catching space and she was cutting it out of her web. I have seen them all do this at different times; sometimes it seems like maybe they mistake it for something, other times it seems they have a clear intention to remove it from the space. I just found it interesting. I have not been able to find any information as to what it is they are doing. Has anyone else witnessed anything like this with their spiders? Or does anyone have any idea or know where I can find more information regarding this behavior?

 

[Brewser]

After a fresh molt Regaining lost fluids left behind on the exoskeletal remains

Spider doing Spider Things.

Thanks for sharing, nice pics

 

[Ratmosphere]

It is common for spiders to suck out fluids from their molt.

 

[Khaos Weaver]

That’s fascinating I spent a couple hours searching for information on what they are doing and couldn’t find anything about it. Thanks for replying!

 

[samuraiscorpion]

One of my tarantulas loves ripping apart it's moult and spreading it all throughout its enclosure. As stated ust spiders doing spider things .

 

[darkness975]

That’s fascinating I spent a couple hours searching for information on what they are doing and couldn’t find anything about it. Thanks for replying!

As others have said they suck remaining fluids out of the molt.

 

[Khaos Weaver]

I love this place I have found it so helpful. So much information it feels is never even mentioned anywhere else regarding their behavior, I have discovered if I'm having no luck in finding information coming here or to similar forums is where I can find my answers. It is just so nice to have such a helpful community.