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Is my tarantula molting?

BeefnPotatostu

New Member
Messages
1
Location
Florida
Hi, I’m a first time tarantula owner, I’ve had my metallic pink toe for three days now.
I did try to feed it but it did not eat, so I removed the cricket and decided to wait another week before feeding assuming it wasn’t hungry.
It does show all the signs of molting, its fuzz is thinning on the abdomen, it’s holding pretty still, and it is not hungry. It started to create some webbing today, I know that they molt positioned to the side or on their backs, but what other visual cues can I use to tell if the spider is in the process of a molt?
I know that sometimes a T will molt on its stomach, so how can you tell if it is molting if it isn’t upside down or on its side? I don’t know how to tell if the spider is molting and I don’t want to interrupt a molting process. I have handled the spider a few times to make arrangements in the terrarium, and I’m hoping I did not interrupt a molting because I know that this can harm or kill the spider.
Right now my tarantula is holding very still and not moving at all. She moves a little bit if I just slightly brush her leg.
How do I know it is molting? I’m very worried that I will not recognize the signs, especially if she does not change positions to molt. Also, how moist should the substrate be? I know that having a poor humidity can cause a bad molt, but I don’t know what kind of humidity is appropriate.
 
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Enn49

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10 Year Member
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Location
Malton, UK
Hi Stu,
Tarantula's can take a while to settle in to a new home and that can stop them eating for a few days or even weeks but don't worry they can go months without food. Water is the most important thing, a bowl of fresh water is a must.
Most Ts will flip onto their backs to moult, it's unusual for them to stay upright and arboreal Ts will often moult in a web hammock up in the branches but some will moult on the ground.
You don't say how big yours is but my advice is to leave it alone and don't try feeding again for a week and see what happens.
 

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