Premolt question

[LeahThomas]

Hey, sorry to keep posting a bunch of threads, but I figure as long as I have questions I should keep asking!

I've had my little G. pulchripes sling for about a month now. It hasn't eaten since 1/19 and got pretty lethargic when it stopped eating. When I woke up yesterday morning there was a little webbed patch on top of the substrate, I was wondering if that's what people sometimes refer to as the "molting mat"? Since it's a sling it's hard to tell if the color is changing and if it's getting ready to molt, all I have to go off of is its behavior. I'm just trying to figure out if my sling is in premolt (because if so then it has been for a while...) and if it IS a molting mat, does that mean the molt will happen pretty soon or is it possible it could be a few more weeks?

I attached a pic of the little webbed patch, also you can see my sling against the edge where it's been hanging out for around 24 hours. Hasn't moved.

 

[Sabeth]

It could be a molting mat. Judging from your sling's food abstinence you most likely have a molt coming up.

 

[Christell Erasmus]

hi hi, my G. pulchripes always spins a molting mat only a few days before molting. And then after molting she eats the molting mat. (strange I know). These little creatures are so mesmerizing and interesting.

 

[LeahThomas]

That is so interesting! Mine still hasn't molted and looks like it kind of forgot about/destroyed the molting mat... Not sure what's going on.

 

[LeahThomas]

So I'm getting a little nervous... My sling hasn't eaten in about 3 weeks. Destroyed what I thought was her molting mat. She's either super lethargic, or very anxious-acting and climbing around. Still hasn't molted... Has anyone else had this kind of trouble with a sling?

 

[Spidro]

Not with a sling, and not with that genus but sometimes ts just go on fasts, my haitian wouldnt eat for a month, I thought he was molting but not the case. Although it is a little troublesome her being a sling as they do tend to eat more than adults actually. What are you feeding her? Make sure whatever it is is the size of its abdomin, no bigger or they wont eat them. Lathargic is normal, for my ts anyways, ones adult, ones juvanile, they chill around during the day and even at night so long as I have the lights still on, enclosures are in my recroom where I spend my evenings lol. Its winter where I am now and temps are about 60-70 f which I guess slows them down. Id just keep an eye on her, try to feed small food, if not eaten take out within a day and try again within 2 (just my general rule) keep an eye on her and unless her abdomin begins to shrivel or lose excessive hair she should be healthy Good luck with her!

 

[Christell Erasmus]

The G. pulchripes goes pitch black when it starts getting close to molting, you can notice the body of the tarantula underneath the outer exoskeleton as it gets darker and the outer exoskeleton starts becoming transparent. Behavior in this time seems unchanged but it IS a stressful time for them so be cautious and try AT ALL COSTS to avoid handling before a molt. Generally the specimen will go extremely dark brown, will not be shiny and will have a bald patch. Differently to my , B. vagans this tarantula shows a darkening on the abdomen from the joint between the prosoma and opisthoma down towards the spinnerets. Almost as if she was dipped in chocolate sauce head first. This I believe is a sign of the inter-molt phase where they will feed but not as actively. Try giving her very small food. T's do tend to go on fasting periods.

 

[LeahThomas]

I'm feeding her small crickets. I fed her a few days after I got her, she scarfed down three. She HAS eaten since then, but not as ravenously. Like I said above, she hasn't eaten since 1/19.

However I was giving her a closer look, and I noticed her abdomen looked kind of funny. Not shriveled but kind of fuzzy. I got my small paintbrush and brushed her abdomen, and the weird looking fuzzies came off... Now I've started to worry about mold. I was googling picture of mold in a Ts container and now I'm wondering if what I thought was a "molting mat" (posted a pic above) was actually mold... I'm attaching a few pics, one of her (where you can see her abdomen) and another of the fuzzy stuff that come off of it. What do you guys think? I'm starting to get really nervous about this sling. Feeling like a pretty horrible mother at the moment

 

[LeahThomas]

I'm hoping that the little fuzzies are just her losing hair and getting a bald spot before molting...

 

[Spidro]

Its hard to tell in the picture if it could be mold or just webbing. And hopefully the lost hairs are a sign of molting and not illness, she looks nice and fat which is a good sign haha. Although I see in the picture of her that some substrate looks to be extremely damp, what r u doing for misting and water? If it is as damp as it looks in no way does it need to be, and with such a small amount of substrate there that dampness, (if it is) would probably cause mold. As for being a horrible mother, ur only learning, we're here to help \m/

 

[LeahThomas]

I had JUST put some water droplets in there, hadn't sunk in much... She likes to let it sink in a little and then goes over and drinks from it. I use a little syringe to drop it in there, instead of misting. Her container is so small at the moment it's impossible to mist and NOT get it on her, which she really hates... I'm hoping it's not mold but if it IS.... What should I do? Do I just change the substrate and that's it? Or do I need to do anything more?

Bye the way I REALLY appreciate all the help from everyone!

 

[Spidro]

With such a small container id say ur right with the no misting, in fact id scrap the whole water on the substrate altogether. Get a small tupperware lid thats shallow, put that on the substrate and drop water onto that instead. Its possible with the container that size and the substrate being damp, with little ventalation, it could mold. And yes If it were me I would change the substrate, thats it. Again hard to tell what u have in there but for my t, who looks about the same size, I have at least 2-3 inches of substrate for her. Also if u r deciding to change the substrare, for now, since all is unknown, id try to get her out with as little handling as possible as not to stress her out. I was a little gung-ho in updating my ts setups so I transfered them like 2-3 times in a 4 week period... probably not recommended by most but they handled it ok. Id say ur best bet is to do that and start fresh even if it risks stress for her with whatever is going on. Hope shes better and eating in no time. Cheers \m/

 

[BossRoss]

loads of good advice on this thread already!!

You live in the states so I am sure you have good exotic pet stores near by and if not you have the internet so find your Ts a nice home. Almost from word go I moved my Ts into a nice glass home with a plastic plant/decoration which my curly hair has made her own little trap/home

 

[LeahThomas]

Thanks everybody! I'm not home at the moment but I'll be sure to change the substrate first thing in the morning. The only thing local pet stores sell as far as containers for Ts are critter keepers, and the smallest size is too big for her. I initially put her in that and she hated it (so now it's the home of my new Mexican fireleg). But I'm thinking I could probably find SOMETHING a little bigger that isn't so big that she'll get lost...

Again, thanks for the help. I'll keep you guys updated

 

[Christell Erasmus]

Dont feel like a bad mother, we where all new at some stage. I dropped my first T, container and all. I felt horrible but she survived, T's are much tougher then we think. If you are scared that your T will drown if you put in a water dish, you can always put a small stone in the middle for her to get out if she accidentally falls in. that way you have moisture but no mold.

 

[LeahThomas]

All right, I've updated her home.... Attached a pic I tried feeding her a cricket a few hours ago, it's still alive and I watched it crawl over her a few times.. All she did was act pissy and turn around. Totally uninterested. I'll leave it in there til tomorrow though and see if she eventually goes after it... I'm getting a room heater soon as well and I'm hoping that'll help her out. I live in a pretty cold place and the temperature in my room averages somewhere between 60-70 Fahrenheit. Maybe a higher temp will encourage her to eat a little more.

 

[Spidro]

Looks great! Sure she'll love the hide. My ts sit at about 60-70 temp right now as well, and they tend to let the cricket pass by like 9 or 10 times b4 they eat it lol. Sounds normal, good to see shes in a refreshed tank. Oh did u have a little bottle cap or something for water for her?

 

[LeahThomas]

Yes! I put in a little cap that will be sufficient for her until I can find something a bit better.

 

[Spidro]

Good to hear I hope shes doing better soon \m/ and just a side note my ts barely move at all right now, my pink toe, which I say is about the same size especially. But shes webded her little log i got in there for her, and eats, otherwise they r very lazy creatures lol.

 

[LeahThomas]

Just thought I'd post an update... I threw a cricket in her container and the next morning it was gone, and she scarfed down two more crickets later the next day! I'm thinking she really appreciated the change of containers. Things seem to be going well for her now, she loved her new little hide and is eating well. Thanks for all your help guys!