Mutilated Molts...

[melamii]

We have a GBB or Greenbottle Blue, about 1.5". Everytime he/she molts, the molt gets partially mutilated, or gets partially eaten. Is there a reason for it? Do they think it's an impostor? Or is it similar to geckos, where they eat the molt because of predators...

 

[Fuzzball79]

I don't know why they do it, but I have not been able to get a hold of an intact molt from either my A. Versicolor (bar once where at least the "important" part was still intact) and my T. Gigas. They're completely ripped and crunched by the time they push them out of the web.

 

[Phil]

Must be an individual thing, on my 3rd GBB and always been in tact. Avic molts tend to be a little more broken up but they usually molt within a tube web and push out rather than lying on their back like terrestrial Ts do so they have to go through a bit more before we are able to look at them. In my experience, the smaller the specimen the more the molt seems to be damaged too. That could be partly down to my sausage like fingers too.....lol

 

[Enn49]

When my OBT moults I get a ball of bits pushed out at some point but she uses some of the old exo to decorate her cave inside and out.

 

[melamii]

After our GBB molted he/she was on top of it for a good day... So, I know they were chewing it up... But I wonder why.

 

[kormath]

I've never seen either of my GBB's, or any of my T's, eat their molt. Pushing it out of their web usually pulls off a leg or 2 and I have yet to get an abdomen intact from any of my T's to sex them. Never fails it rips the abdomen when the push it out of the burrow or web tunnel..

 

[Meludox]

I've read that tarantulas "chew" on their molts to retrieve lost moisture. I'm not 100% certain whether this is true or not, though.

 

[RedCapTrio]

My 3-inch GBB's molt is intact within its web hammock. He did not move for a couple of days and stayed right in the hammock with the molt. When he was moving around again, I took the liberty to surgically removed the molt from within the hammock. I have posted the molt here (in my picture thread I think).

 

[RedCapTrio]

Now my Pmet is a different story. It has hanged it exudium at the base part of its branch hide and in the front. At the back of this hide is where it has been webbing and adding substrate to its webbing.

The exudium is dangling in there and it is almost over the water dish. I have not yet found a way to remove the molt without disturbing the webbing, which I hate to do.

 

[kormath]

Now my Pmet is a different story. It has hanged it exudium at the base part of its branch hide and in the front. At the back of this hide is where it has been webbing and adding substrate to its webbing.

The exudium is dangling in there and it is almost over the water dish. I have not yet found a way to remove the molt without disturbing the webbing, which I hate to do.

I think it gives the T's something to do when you disturb a part of the webbing. they're just sitting there bored waiting for their next meal anyway right?

 

[Zurchiboy]

Now my Pmet is a different story. It has hanged it exudium at the base part of its branch hide and in the front. At the back of this hide is where it has been webbing and adding substrate to its webbing.

The exudium is dangling in there and it is almost over the water dish. I have not yet found a way to remove the molt without disturbing the webbing, which I hate to do.

It is a warning. For other Ts who get to close

 

[RedCapTrio]

Could be. I'll take a photo of it after work. My T really gave effort in placing it there, it molted at the back of the branch where it is currently hiding. Curiously, the molt is now in front where it is displayed for everyone to see.

 

[RedCapTrio]

And it is freely dangling. Makes you think of the hangman or the gallows.

 

[Phil]

And it is freely dangling. Makes you think of the hangman or the gallows.

Are you dangling freely to the left or the right......lol

 

[RedCapTrio]

Hahaha, LOL.

 

[RedCapTrio]

Clearest photo I can get of the molt. The plastic of the enclo makes for bad photos.


It is at left near center

 

[mrclownprince]

Our B. Verdezi just molted. She put the molt at the back of her hide, and then pushed it to the front.