curly hair help

[Lija]

thank you! i will slow down on a food then, the guy eats like 6-8 3 week crickets probably a week, i get them for my baby geckos once a week and then extra just throw in there, i must say they disappear pretty fast. I can swear after molt it doubled its previous size, how this is possible?

i tried to grab whatever is stuck and take it off, it stuck pretty well, i'm afraid to hurt it. will increase humiidty, but i think it should be around 75 at least in there already, it is a small plastic tub with a few small holes for ventilation, substrate has never dried out yet.

i have another question though about my other one, it has molded, going right now to take a pic. one of those what the heck I'm looking at lol

[Truffs1178]

Make sure humidity and temp are perfect especially when it's molting. If it already was then it's just bad luck.

When a tarantula molts it isn't actually stuck inside the old exoskeleton all cramped up. It comes out soft then as it's new exoskeleton is hardening it expands so it grows bigger.

[Lija]

Boy or girl?

[Glenn]

Looks like a boy to me.

[Truffs1178]

Looks male.

[Lija]

thank you! it doesn't have hooks though, does it mean he will have it later on?

[Lija]

I was told forget about humidity and temps and they strive on neglect lol right Glenn? Lol

Then the q- can humidity be too high? I can get one of those humidity gauges and stick a probe in this enclosure, I should have one of those, I have so much of everything laying around lol

[Glenn]

I was told forget about humidity and temps and they strive on neglect lol right Glenn? Lol
Then the q- can humidity be too high? I can get one of those humidity gauges and stick a probe in this enclosure, I should have one of those, I have so much of everything laying around lol

IME, it just happens sometimes, regardless of humidity. At that size, I'd start to just keep the bottle cap of water in there and let it dry out completely.
It does look a bit too damp in there, but I don't think that has anything to do with the molt thing.

thank you! it doesn't have hooks though, does it mean he will have it later on?

Upon his maturing molt, yes he will.

[Lija]

well, i set up it up when i got the guy at the end of august, substrate as damp as for pacman frogs, wet, but not dripping, and i placed a bottle cup with water in there, i haven't refilled water or sprayed the enclosure yet. should i increase ventilation? or leave it as is?

[Mentat]

Hi Lija ! Well, if a week went by it's skin is hardened and pulling off anything that won't come off by itself is dangerous. If by any chance you damage the new skeleton; it could kill it. Molting is a process where some humidity is required. That is achieved by lightly spraying a corner of the enclosure (never spray the spider) in the case of babies and juvies and/or maintaining a water dish for adults (depends on species).

Right now, would leave it alone and be watchful for signs of next molt. When that happens (bald dark abdomen, refuses feeding or spins a molting area) you must ensure the enclosure is humid. With good luck the next molt will correct problem... or the T will probably perish then . If you plan to keep Ts and maintain interest in them strongly recommend this book. Good luck !

[Lija]

right..... as if i have not enough stuff going on.... Carlos you just keep my paranoia going lol gosh i just wish for at least one month without anything at all happening. part of pet ownership i know....

anyhow would you please advise me on humidity, because i really don't think it was low, it might be too much though.

[Glenn]

With good luck the next molt will correct problem... or the T will probably perish then .

It's not that serious of a problem.

If it were stuck on the booklungs, or something then maybe (and even then, I wouldn't count the spider out!), but this is clearly just a case of some of the molt being stuck on the top of the abdomen.

You do not really need to increase humidity to facilitate molting; it's internal hydration that matters (which is mentioned in the TKG as well).
And you should definitely dry things out if it's as moist as a pacman's substrate!

You can simply add more ventilation, or do a rehouse with some drier stuff if you aren't feeling too lazy

[Lija]

all right, so what humidity there should be? it was wet as for pacs in august, now it is kinda fine i think but i can drill more holes, no problems here, in fact I'm gonna do it right now. what is TKG, - that book Carlos mentioned, gonna get it today, i think i saw it in a library.

P.S. you guys are awesome!

[Glenn]

Don't worry too much about humidity.
As long as he has a full water dish, the sub can be relatively dry. At around that size they begin to develop the waxy outer layer on their exo that prevents excessive water loss, so they can be kept drier than slings.
Yes the TKG is the book Carlos mentioned, and the author is the same guy who I'm sure I've linked you to earlier in this thread, maybe? I don't remember and I'm too lazy to look, hahah.
Here's a relevant link from his site, just in case: SPIDERS, CALGARY: GROWING YOUR TARANTULA

[MatthewM1]

the guy Stan Schultz, who wrote the book you guys said I should get, did presentation...

I'm super jealous, I've been working my way through TKG, soooo much great info in there

Sent from my LG-P930 using Tapatalk 2

[Glenn]

Told ya it's nothing to worry about

Am also a bit jealous you got to meet him.
You should have told him to join frog forum

For those interested, I'm fairly sure his recommended reading list is this: http://people.ucalgary.ca/~schultz/referenc.html
If you peruse the rest of his site, you'll find the internet sources too, as well as a wealth of info.

[Lija]

Dang forgot to take pic of that list, will look for it tomorrow.
Hey question- both silly tarantulas completely barricaded themselves in their burrows. I can't see curly hair, but another one is visible on a bottom of his burrow through the plastic, his belly is round and he is very much alive. Why do they do that? What do they do when they wanna get out? Dig out the entrance or find another way?

I really need need to read that book but very much appreciate if you could clear these things for me

[Glenn]

It's their version of a "do not disturb" sign. Rest assured that when they want to, they are more than capable to digging themselves out. It could simply be full, or hunkering down for a while, or it could be in premolt. The course of action is the same: leave it be and let it come out when it wants to.

[Lija]

Thank you!

[Truffs1178]

Nothing to worry about, mine usually molt when they block themselves in their hides. They seem to grow out of that as well because mine stop doing that when they grow bigger.