N. Chromatus Molt Trouble UPDATE

[Rick Stallard]

I have a male N. chromatus that will probably have his ultimate molt next time. Today I found him on a web bed, upside down. He will barely move when I touch a leg or abdomen. Almost no movement at all. I have never seen a T die in this position, so I'm assuming he is in molt. Problem is, he has not moved in 6 hours. I see no signs of a molt. All my other Ts have had great molts and never took much over 2-3 hours. Has anyone had one of these molt? My female is mature so this is the first time for a molt with them. Would an ultimate molt maybe take longer? I've never had a molt go bad, so I'm not sure what to look for.

 

[Rick Stallard]

I have a male N. chromatus that will probably have his ultimate molt next time. Today I found him on a web bed, upside down. He will barely move when I touch a leg or abdomen. Almost no movement at all. I have never seen a T die in this position, so I'm assuming he is in molt. Problem is, he has not moved in 6 hours. I see no signs of a molt. All my other Ts have had great molts and never took much over 2-3 hours. Has anyone had one of these molt? My female is mature so this is the first time for a molt with them. Would an ultimate molt maybe take longer? I've never had a molt go bad, so I'm not sure what to look for.

UPDATE... after over 6 hours of nothing, it was all over in 30 min. Successful molt. Bright beautiful colors. Soon as he makes a sperm web i will introduce him to the female.

 

[Ghost]

Hi Rick,
I was just about to post a reply saying not to worrie as I've seen some of my T's take a good few hours to molt especially some of the larger ones,but good to see that everything turned out fine.
Now the fun begins and you can have a shot at pairing him up with your female.

 

[tcrave]

hi rick looking at the molt pics you got up there looks to me like a female.

 

[Rick Stallard]

hi rick looking at the molt pics you got up there looks to me like a female.

When I got this pair they were already sexed as sub-adults. I know what you're seeing, but I don't see the "flap" that sticks up in a female. He does have "boxing gloves" at the end of his pedipalps and the other one(female) has smooth to a point. I'll get a couple pics and post them. But I do know what you mean. The more I look at it, the more I think you're right. Sexing is tough for anybody!!!

 

[MatthewM1]

I'm pretty sure those nubs your are seeing are actually male gonopores. They do make sexing tough.

 

[tcrave]

When I got this pair they were already sexed as sub-adults. I know what you're seeing, but I don't see the "flap" that sticks up in a female. He does have "boxing gloves" at the end of his pedipalps and the other one(female) has smooth to a point. I'll get a couple pics and post them. But I do know what you mean. The more I look at it, the more I think you're right. Sexing is tough for anybody!!!

ok i see it now. its hard to see im looking from my phone and i am blind

 

[Rick Stallard]

ok i see it now. its hard to see im looking from my phone and i am blind

I hope I'm right and I hope you guys are right. After is settled down, after the molt, what I thought at first looked like nice fat pedipalps, don't look so good anymore. The "female" does have nice smooth thin ones. "He" is a little different but not much. Way to skittish to see any hooks. He acts totally different than before the molt. Before he was fairly calm, now very defensive. This very well may have not been his ultimate molt, (thin looking pedipalps). He's 5 1/2-6". Guess I'll watch for sperm web and go from there.

 

[Rick Stallard]

New update, it's a female. No doubt about it. Photo shows two spermatheca. Just shows how hard sexing can be.