Tarantula Moulting X2 in one month - Sub Adult

Guys

Something strange is happening. My second couple Poecilotheria Metallica, fatso.. is on its back again!
Now you would say, good it is moulting.

It is indeed.

What is strange is that it moulted 23rd of april, barely a month away.
So it still is fresh and vibrant in colours!
It ate fine and it showed no weird stuff.

Just now poef on its back. Enclosed is a picture. It is a sub adult being 4-5cm bodylength...
Anyone else witnessed this on a spider of their own? I have owned spiders for years and years.

Never have I experienced this. Is it moulting because something in its exo was wrong now? Like a rush job now?
I hope she will be fine! Fingers crossed

pluto wrote:

Is it moulting because something in its exo was wrong now? Like a rush job now?

I've heard from experienced T-keepers that if something is wrong with a molt, they'll rush into the next one to repair whatever it was that went wrong. Possibly there was some defect that you didn't notice but the T did.

Thanks, I never heard of that happening.. It ate and behaved fine, but my guess is you are completely right. I had a feeling something like that was happening. I dont think it will be that much bigger now. At least, what I'm seeing now. Notice she already has the colours, even on the new legs.. WEIRD

update

it is shedding her old jacket like a rocket!!

update

done... as I said.. weird. It is also ferosciously feeding on its old exoskeleton. It was quite plump before...
Do I have a nutter? good this happens now!

wow awesome pics thanx for sharing

Np bex, anytime. The more photomaterial that is on this site, the more visitors you will get, getting an answer or just a smile from seeing fellow specimen pictured.

It is quite weird, it has grown considerably in only 3 weeks time. No scratch that, it has grown HUGE. 2 moults in one month time.. with size gains. It might have had a problem with the previous exo, but it has grown huge after this moult, so I think it was just necessary and it has grown quicker than is supposed to.

Every moult seems to get this specimen even more cranky.. Zomg, he even attacks the bark he is on.
What I have seen before is that they are really calm and flexing their legs to pump it full of fluid.

Wait with eating untill their teeth and exo are hardened out. This one is already crawling around..
nutter

edit:

The one in my avatar is the one that has moulted just now, with the attitude.. That avatar picture was taken today!

This is quite strange indeed. I once had a P. murinus Mombassa moult three times in about four months. It never slowed down. I thought it was quite strange, but it grew to adulthood very quickly and has thrived ever since.

He moulted succesfully and apparently it is a she...
When a T got this colour of teeth, they're not ready to eat yet (just meant informative)


Street, is it still alive?? I think there are some fast growing freaks amongst Ts, this one caught up with the male in size now too... It was a moult behind and now big as ever.

How do you sex T's? Do you tell from the molt?

Yes you should do ventral sexing on juvies or sub adults.
Now with pokies it is different. All P. species have a different colouring pattern male <> female.

The female has much brighter and higher contrasts as the male. THis is noticeable at the abdomen and overtime as the specimen is aging towards being adult the difference gets clearer and clearer.

I have 4 I can compare and it gets very clear when you put them side by side.

As for moult sexing I have big hands and never been able to pull the shriveled abdomen open without damaging it. When Ts go into their final moult, the pedipalps on males are much thicker and he will make spermwebs after which the underside of a male spider's pedipalps will be blood red.. Some have mating hooks, some don't. P species dont.

You should see a sack like structure on female, missing the bump and spot of black hairs males have..


At least that is what i remember from Ts

Pluto: It is still with me. Four years now and brought up from 1". It's a mean momma!

Bex: Many adult specimens also vary greatly in abdominal size. The males will have very small abdomens and will look almost like very underfed females. As for the mating hooks as Pluto says some have them and some don't. They look sort of like the spider stepped in something gooey and pulled away. Almost like a small telson shaped thing on their "mouth legs"

I've never been any good at sexing juvies though...

Cool thanx for explaining guys, I'm not too clues up on T's yet so need all the help an info I can get

it's dead easy from a cast skin. If the skin is dried out simply put gome warm water in a dish, add a couple of drops of washing up liquid and drop the skin into it. A couple of hours later it'll be soft and pliable. Simple to unravel.
There are a million pics/ explinations on exactly what to look for and where to look so I wont go into it here, simply Google "Sexing *species*".

cool thanks pelo

male fresh new enclosure



female fresh new enclosure

great pics! think i maight have to get one of these

Very nice pics mate and an awesome species (I've said it before though )

Bex you might change your mind unless the right deal comes up, Martin has some for £120

OMG yeah maybe not then lolz

Hehe thanks yes you said so before mr Lawrence..
I just posted them because I was bored.

I got mine very cheap from family. Otherwise I wouldnt have bought them. Adult females go for as much as 600 euro.

Slings about 55 euro.

Juveniles 100-150 a piece.

It is crazy for a critter that can drop dead when sprayed upon with bug-away.

post away mate, they've got to be the best looking spiders IMO.

That is very expensive but maybe I'd consider a sling if they came up.

It is, I would never buy them for a crazy price like that. But they go for it yes.
In my eyes these, regalis and subfusca are the prettiest and fastest too.

I got mine when they were pretty small and not outrageously expensive. It is a good investment if you keep Frontline away and take good care of them.

I will probably be getting my subfusca and regalis slings this weekend for 10 and 12 euro /p
I might be able to get a discount on metallica if you are interested pm me.

I dont know their price but I believe 50 euro is what the german asked. That is great, but I'll squeeze the last dime out of him. So if interested give me a pm and Ill keep you informed.

My 4 specimen i got for 40 euro/p juvenile.. but those deals dont come through often.
I will be having slings too, but that is not due for months..

Cheers

Shouldnt have moved them, me thinks. It is a bit hotter in there and they are super jumpy lol. Makes for exciting times! Already had to thumbpush the female back into the box. Just now. Good thing they don't bite easily. At least the female doesn"t.

I had the male dangling from my tweezers trying to bite it after i poked it away from the lid.

Lady Fat - few weeks after the moult back on schedule for weightwatchers.

Good thing the enclosure is surrounded by damp coconut fibre. If she falls, not to break the egg she is carrying. Then again, Lady fat wouldnt be lady fat if she moved much so, she usually stays inside the retreat I made and which she has happily webbed seal tight.



And here is the enclosure freshly made (left) and after Lady fat got a go at it. Picture taken after the female having a go at me (thinking I was there with the tweezer and a cricket in it. It's a pig)





As you can see, the lid is open and she is at the edge with one leg. This shows that Ts which are at ease will not try to escape that easily. She could have if she wanted to, but I almost trust to leave the lid open and she will be there the morning I wake up. Not taking chances, but I wouldnt be surprised if she indeed still was there.

It is simply hotter and more humid in there than on the outside, which makes it less likely for the spider to explore.