Anyone keep Tarantulas? Molting problem...

Ann333 · Feb 18, 2015

I got a young adult chilean rose hair tarantula 8 years ago. For the first year he/ she molted several times every few months but once reaching adulthood, it slowed down like it should. About one time per year for the last 5-6 years.

Well about two months ago "he" had a strange molt. He is usually a light brown rather than a rose color, but after his molt he turned a more dark deep brown. Now, two months later, hes molting again. This is unusual he hasnt molted this frequently in years. Is this what adult males do when they get their final molt? Or could he/she just be trying to fix the last molt? Maybe something (nothing visible to me other than color) went wrong last time?

JerseyWendy · Feb 18, 2015

Hi Ann,

Yes, I used to keep Ts.

Do you have a picture of her? Do you know how to tell the sexes apart? If it's a male, he will 'hook' out, and then his days will be numbered as they can't shed their skin again after having reached sexual maturity.

They are easy to sex if you use the freshly molted skin. You can also sex them by having a look at the underside.

Tarantula Sexing - Arachnogallery @ Arachnoboards

Ann333 · Feb 18, 2015

Thanks jerseywendy. I can take a picture. I don't know... I'm worried. It just molten about two months ago so this is unusual to be molting again so soon. And this seems to be taking longer than most molts. She hasn't even made progress all day. Just laying upside down. I checked for the swollen "boxing gloves" and she/ he does not have those or the hooks... so not a mature male yet.

Thanks for the links. If this molt goes okay I'll look to see if I can tell if she's a boy or a girl... hopefully this molt 9snt the end. I know it's just a spider, but I've had her for 8 years and several moves around the state.... she's family.

JerseyWendy · Feb 19, 2015

How's he/she doing today, Ann? Yes, it's VERY unusual for a grown T to molt again after only 2 months. Let's just assume for a minute she's a girl. Was she fully grown when you got her? Do you know whether she was CB (captive bred) or WC (wild caught)? IF she was fully grown, there's no way of knowing how old she was. Female new world Ts can live up to 30 years or so when kept in ideal conditions.

No, she's not 'just' a spider. She's part of the family.

I was quite attached to mine as well. I truly hope to hear good news, and that she successfully finished her molt.

Here is a very old photo of the skin of my Mercedes (Mexican Redknee). What I circled in red shows you the 'flap' that females have.

Ann333 · Feb 19, 2015

She is still on her back and no progress has been made. It does not look like the exoskeleton has detatched from her at all. She is barely moving this morning. Last night she was pumping her legs quite well, but that has mostly stopped.

I'm not sure how old she was, she was already pretty close to full grown but did molt about three times the first year and probably twice the second year I had her. But then it tapered off to one time per year the last 5 years until now. I also don't know if she was wild caught. Im not the one who got her. She was a gift from an ex bf who knew I liked catching tarantulas around my house.... he said she only cost $6 though I'd like to assume breeders would charge more than that...

Ann333 · Feb 19, 2015

I did mist down the far walls of the tank because I red a little humidity might help, but she has never needed this before.

I'm scared she's just old and too tired. :'(

Edit: any idea why she would have changed colors on her last molt? Could that be due to some problem that lead to a molt following so shortly after?

JerseyWendy · Feb 19, 2015

I'm so sorry to hear she hasn't made any progress. That's indeed not a good sign.

The reason for the color change 'could' be that 'she' is actually a 'he', and during the final molt he reached his 'display' color.

Here is a photo of a mature Rose Hair:

Ann333 · Feb 19, 2015

Yeah I was thinking something similar.... I just hate to watch her suffer like this.

Ann333 · Feb 20, 2015

She's still on her back... no progress. Just one leg is barely twitching now... :'(

JerseyWendy · Feb 20, 2015

Oh wow, Ann. I am truly so sorry to hear this.

Dopey · Feb 20, 2015

I don't like spiders of any sort but I am sorry for what you are going through right now.

Ann333 · Feb 20, 2015

Thanks. I appreciate the thoughts.

Sunset_Chaser · Feb 20, 2015

I too am not fond of spiders but I hate to hear of any animal suffering like that. How is your spider today?

Ann333 · Feb 20, 2015

Thanks sunset_chaser, not good. I just got out of class and went to check on her. I don't see any movement Anymore. There was a small twitch this morning, but all movement has stopped now. I will wait a few days to move her though...just in case.

Sunset_Chaser · Feb 20, 2015

Aww, poor thing

JerseyWendy · Feb 20, 2015

I am so sorry!!!

HUGS to you!!!

getwozzy · Feb 20, 2015

Oh gosh- I'm so sorry your baby's not doing well

is there anything you can do to help him/her along with the molt?

Taw5106 · Feb 20, 2015

I'm sorry to hear this. Loosing family is so rough.

Ann333 · Feb 20, 2015

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate the kind words. I've been researching because I've never had this problem. Apparently there isnt much you can do. Raise the humidity slightly and wait to see what happens. Moving or touching her is the worst thing possible. I'm really at a loss and I fear it's too late anyway, but apparently they can lie motionless for up to a week before molting.... so idk.... I'm just at a loss....

RavensGryf · Feb 20, 2015

I'm so sorry Ann

.

Anyone keep Tarantulas? Molting problem...

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