Molting issue?

[hannah.tarantula.]

Hi there!

I’m a new tarantula keeper in the hobby and I’m a little concerned about my grammostola pulchra. He is a little smaller and has only molted once since I had him. I think he’s in the premolt stage but I’m concerned about his pose and his complete lack of movement-he has stayed in this position for a few days now.

I have made sure to keep him moist during the process. I am a little concerned of this pose and if anyone could help me out that would be wonderful!

 

[Lawrence b]

When there in premolt they don t tend to move a lot . Try not to spray on your little friend I have not got Grammostola pulchra but I have Grammostola pulchripes The ones I have don t enjoy getting wet or toughing wet subtrate .

 

[Lawrence b]

Sory that was touching not toughing.

 

[hannah.tarantula.]

Thanks a lot!

 

[m0lsx]

Looking at my molt book. My Grammastola Porteri had her first molt with me last year, after between 2 & 3 years with me & the rosea which I brought off the same person just prior to that, has still not molted with me.

Grammastolas are VERY slow growers & it can take a while, even at sling & juvi stages to get a molt off them.

As for misting a Grammasola Pulchra. It's a desert species. So spraying water on to them, is not ideal.

 

[Arachnoclown]

That's a "I got sprayed with water posture".

 

[hannah.tarantula.]

That's a "I got sprayed with water posture".

He was in this stance for about a day before I gave him water - he hasn’t moved at all for a few days now.

 

[x_raphael_xx]

My pulchra around the same size has molted twice in the last 18 months. They are ver slow growers.
In comparison my n.chromatus was 0.50 cm when she arrived same day, and has molted 5 times that I have seen (tiny molts) and is catching the pulchra up in size.

They create moisture between the old skin and new skin, so spraying the T won't do anything but spook it. Just make sure there is a water dish to drink from.

They do sometimes just sit still for ages.

 

[DustyD]

Here is my two cents, although the others have more experience. I keep my G. pulchra ( five of them including some small ones) in very dry conditions. I have an appropriately sized water dish in the enclosure and spill some water in the area. I personally prefer to keep the water dish away from the hide. I sometimes put some water in other areas or move the dish to other areas.

I don’t mist and I don’t worry about humidity. Where I live it has gotten up to 70 percent during the summers and down to 15-20 percent in the winter.