Appetite after a moult question

[WolfieKate]

Hello everyone,

My female GBB moulted recently. She did do it off sight in her coconut (she was my first spider!) but by the time she came out to stretch her legs and push the moult out it was was dry and crispy but looked normal. My experience as a beginner is that mostly the Tarantulas regain their appetite quickly but we hold off for at least a week until the fangs harden etc. I’ve never had one turn down a timely snack.

But I think this was quite an intense moult, her carapace has grown quite a bit and she looks tired. She has been quite quiet, just a few laps of the tank and a bit of webbing but she‘s not eating yet. It’s been about 8-10 days approx. Do they get their appetite back more slowly as they get older. She’s about sub adult now.

 

[m0lsx]

Every T is different & every molt is a new experience for your T. Behaviour can change with a molt & it is thus perfectly normal for T's to not eat for differing periods after a molt.


10 days is not long, giver her time.

 

[WolfieKate]

Every T is different & every molt is a new experience for your T. Behaviour can change with a molt & it is thus perfectly normal for T's to not eat for differing periods after a molt.


10 days is not long, giver her time.

Thank you. I have had a few molt now but this seems to be quite a change in disposition. She was very wary emerging from her den. I will stop fretting, she looks beautiful.

 

[Ratmosphere]

You can always try pre-killed, she may not have the energy to hunt yet. My GBB's will take pre-killed after molts.

 

[AndrewClayton]

Depending on the size of the T I will leave sometimes at least 3 weeks before attempting to feed, generally that's is sufficient enough for the T to jump straight on the prey item. Yes they take longer to harden up as they get bigger, Ideally you're just want to make sure it's Fangs have hardened up. Leaving a pre killed for a day may instagate a feed.

 

[WolfieKate]

Thank you everyone. I realise that my collection has a lot of younger spiders. I need to observe and understand the process better for bigger spiders. My bigger ones, some haven’t molted yet with me. She was very reclusive before hand. Thanks for replying. I left her a prekilled cricket and at first she was like what is that and then it was as if she remembered and she did eat it. I can see she needs much more time to get over the process this time. I have her old molts and her growth is amazing. But i can see all she wants to do is stretch and take it easy.

 

[WolfieKate]

Ingrid… (after Ingrid Pitt ). Same camera, different lighting. Didn’t want to hassle her.

 

[Tarantula Trooper]

Ingrid… (after Ingrid Pitt ). Same camera, different lighting. Didn’t want to hassle her.

Hey Kate, after my GBBs last molt it seems like it took over two weeks for that insane GBB feeding response to return and your girl is stunning indeed! My GBB Icarus. Raised from a sling! These spiders are so cool to raise from a baby.

 

[WolfieKate]

Hey Kate, after my GBBs last molt it seems like it took over two weeks for that insane GBB feeding response to return and your girl is stunning indeed! My GBB Icarus. Raised from a sling! These spiders are so cool to raise from a baby.

Your GBB is lush. As my first Ingrid was a juvenile. I was in shock when she came out of the travel pot, her tiny legs. I was too nervous to start with a sling though I love slings now and have far too many for my age.