WORRIED!!!

[angelle]

My Chilean Rose Hair started molting at sometime this morning. About 10ish AM. It's now 7:54pm and she doesn't appear to have made any progress. I'm really beginning to worry.

 

[leaveittoweaver]

Do you have any idea how old she is?

Also, I would recommend changing out your substrate. Bark chips are not very natural for tarantulas and they can't effectively burrow in them. I would try either potting soil(plain old cheap stuff, nothing with added ferts), or eco earth even.

Good luck!

 

[angelle]

It's actually coconut husks. Not entirely sure how old she is. The pet store didn't know when I asked. I have a hide in there that she uses. I basically bought her because they weren't caring for her properly.

 

[leaveittoweaver]

Either way, coconut husks or bark, they can't burrow with it at all.

Kudos for taking her in. It may just take awhile, I know the one time my Porteri molted it took the entire day.

 

[angelle]

This is my first molt so I'm terrified. Is she suppose to move? Or are the movements so slow and small that you can't see them? I know, I'm a total novice lol

I'll definitely change her substrate as soon as I get in to the pet store... or garden center lol.

 

[Meludox]

The movements are very small. That's why it takes so long for them to molt.

 

[angelle]

Okay. I'll post again in the morning and let yas know. Thanks!!!

 

[angelle]

She made it out!!! It's 5:20am. Woke up to go get a drink. Checked on her and she was all the way out! Her color is completely different and she's HUGE!!! Thanks everyone!!!

 

[Meludox]

Congrats on the successful molt!

 

[angelle]

Thank You!!! It's my first so I was probably unnecessarily worried. Lol.

 

[Entity]

Congrats! Im glad all went well...yeah it can be a little nerve racking but in my experience a watch pot never molts

 

[angelle]

Lol and that's EXACTLY what happened. She sat all day and did nothing. And then molted once I went to sleep. I was so looking forward to seeing her molting lol. But the important thing is that she successfully and safety molted.

 

[angelle]

Is it normal for her to stretch out flat after a molt?

 

[khatchet]

Yes it is. In side the old exoskeleton the new one is shrunken, so after they molt the stretch out so the new exoskeleton is at full size when it hardens.

 

[khatchet]

They*

 

[Enn49]

Congratulations on a successful moult.

 

[angelle]

Ooooooooh okay. Thanks!!!

 

[khatchet]

You are very welcome!

 

[angelle]

Wow do they usually change colour so drastically??? She was an orange/brown colour and now she looks grey/silver and black. And has two pink spots, one on either side of her eyes.

 

[khatchet]

The color is always a bit darker right after a molt, she will fade back to her old color.