I might have screwed up (Molting)

[TwinkleToes19]

Newbie here with my juvie T. Albo, Turns out when I got her she was in pre molt. I couldn't tell since there was no bald spots and other signs such as not eating I brushed off as her getting used to her new enclosure since it hasn't even been a week since I had gotten her. I dropped a cricket in bc it was about time to try and feed her, and when I checked tonight she started molting and the cricket was nowhere to be seen. Fearing the worst, I checked under her hide gently where she was molting and the cricket was no where to be found so it was probably eaten or dead. However, apparently her web bed was attached to the hide so when I lifted it I ended up tilting her a little. I'm scared I may have just wrote a death sentence for her. I've learned my lesson, but I hope not the hard way.

 

[TwinkleToes19]

Newbie here with my juvie T. Albo, Turns out when I got her she was in pre molt. I couldn't tell since there was no bald spots and other signs such as not eating I brushed off as her getting used to her new enclosure since it hasn't even been a week since I had gotten her. I dropped a cricket in bc it was about time to try and feed her, and when I checked tonight she started molting and the cricket was nowhere to be seen. Fearing the worst, I checked under her hide gently where she was molting and the cricket was no where to be found so it was probably eaten or dead. However, apparently her web bed was attached to the hide so when I lifted it I ended up tilting her a little. I'm scared I may have just wrote a death sentence for her. I've learned my lesson, but I hope not the hard way.

I'd also like to ask when I should check on her to see if she's done molting, to make sure she isn't dead after my mess up, and what advice in general on what to do now.

 

[TwinkleToes19]

I'd also like to ask when I should check on her to see if she's done molting, to make sure she isn't dead after my mess up, and what advice in general on what to do now.

Update: Still molting, but I can now see her beautiful face halfway out of her old skin. She's alright and I'm excited to sex her when she's done.

 

[TwinkleToes19]

Update 2: She's done molting and is chilling on her back resting. I'm not seeing any deformities, I stayed up all night to make sure she didn't have any complications.

 

[DustyD]

Well that is good news.

For now, let it be for awhile. Make sure there is water available. Don’t feed it until the fangs harden and turn black. It can be difficult to determine that sometimes so maybe wait a week to 10 days before feeding, depending on size/ age of the T.

Any pics?

 

[TwinkleToes19]

Well that is good news.

For now, let it be for awhile. Make sure there is water available. Don’t feed it until the fangs harden and turn black. It can be difficult to determine that sometimes so maybe wait a week to 10 days before feeding, depending on size/ age of the T.

Any pics?

Understood, also I'd love to take pics but she's on her hide currently and so is her molt. She's on her feet now, but I should probably wait for her to leave her hide so I can get her molt out of the enclosure.

 

[Enn49]

Sorry not to have seen your cry for help sooner.
These guys must get disturbed at times in the wild during a moult and stll manage to complete it.
I'm glad to hear all went well in the end.

 

[TwinkleToes19]

Sorry not to have seen your cry for help sooner.
These guys must get disturbed at times in the wild during a moult and stll manage to complete it.
I'm glad to hear all went well in the end.

It's all good, I got all worked up for nothing. The ironic thing is I remembered way later I removed the cricket awhile back bc I realized she wasn't hungry. I have learned a lot this past week of owning my T. Albo. I'm just excited to finally sex her once I have access to her molt.

 

[Papaya]

I love stories with happy endings

 

[nellyitchabelly]

Update: Still molting, but I can now see her beautiful face halfway out of her old skin. She's alright and I'm excited to sex her when she's done.

I'm glad to hear she is okay. I'm new too and I have an Aphonopelma moderatum and I am really nervous too. How long does it take for them to get settled in?

 

[MBullock]

I'm glad to hear she is okay. I'm new too and I have an Aphonopelma moderatum and I am really nervous too. How long does it take for them to get settled in?

it can take a couple of weeks sometimes. depends on how stressed the spider is

 

[Reptisect]

It's all good, I got all worked up for nothing. The ironic thing is I remembered way later I removed the cricket awhile back bc I realized she wasn't hungry. I have learned a lot this past week of owning my T. Albo. I'm just excited to finally sex her once I have access to her molt.

Even in their most vulnerable state, tarantulas tend to be tougher than they look. Not saying you should disturb them deliberately, but there is a reason tarantulas are so successful in the wild. Compared to captivity, nature is deadly and ruthless in a different way than we humans generally understand. I'm pretty sure most of us are quite nervous when a tarantula molts (myself included) and it takes time to turn that worry down to a manageable level. The hardest part is to have self control. Remember, we all make mistakes and that's ok. It's what you learn from those mistakes that counts
Btw Fingers crossed she's a female

 

[TwinkleToes19]

Molt was too messed up to be able to sex her, but I got a picture of her at least.

 

[I just need all the T's]

Happy to hear everything is ok. Beautiful spider.

 

[middy74]

I'm a fairly new keeper I've learnt that these tarantula's are tough little critters lol