Tarantula Molting Process [Picture Heavy]

Zuilu · **Posted:** Mon Jun 11, 2012 2:55 am

Just thought I'd post this here since I found it very interesting to watch :3

This is a Lasiodora parahybana (Brazilian salmon pink birdeater). She is female and approx. 7" before the molt. The entire process took about 10 hours. (Yeah, seriously.)

I woke up to find her flipped over in her hide, on a silk mat she made during her month long premolt:

The fangs emerge:

Carapace and abdomen start to emerge:

Legs are coming out:

Nearly there!:

Legs are almost completely out, she's pulsing them now to get the juices flowin:

Legs are entirely out, soft white fangs are visible:

Flipped over: (For clarification, she did this on her own, no time during the molt process was she touched, poked, flipped, etc.)

The exoskeleton:

Bonita · **Posted:** Mon Jun 11, 2012 3:54 am

Thats really cool.

Wain · **Posted:** Mon Jun 11, 2012 4:01 am

Yeah, very cool

Zuilu · **Posted:** Mon Jun 11, 2012 4:26 am

Here's some more pictures of the actual exo if anyone is interested.

For size comparison:

View of the front:

And those massive fangs :shock:

Rawr · **Posted:** Mon Jun 11, 2012 5:06 am

Is it weird that I want to stick my fingers in where the legs used to go? :lol:

It just looks so silky smooth in there

Zuilu · **Posted:** Mon Jun 11, 2012 5:38 am

Rawr wrote:

Is it weird that I want to stick my fingers in where the legs used to go? :lol:

It just looks so silky smooth in there

They're very soft! Touching the exo I almost couldn't believe how incredibly silky the hairs were, much softer than any cat or dog I've felt. It's almost comparable to..a silky rabbit. XD

LupisDarkmoon · **Posted:** Mon Jun 11, 2012 4:48 pm

That exoskeleton is just a teensy bit freaky, but wow, she's so pretty in her new molt!

Zuilu · **Posted:** Mon Jun 11, 2012 11:16 pm

She is

I can't wait until she comes out of hiding so I can measure her, she should be at least an inch larger.

Zuilu · **Posted:** Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:47 pm

She just ventured out of her burrow for the first time

She's so pretty!

Vephriel · **Posted:** Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:26 pm

D'awwwww, what a pretty girl!

Miacoda · **Posted:** Fri Jun 15, 2012 6:44 am

I agree with Lupis, exoskeletons are rather freaky! :lol:

she's so pretty, though!

Acherontia · **Posted:** Sun Jun 24, 2012 5:23 pm

So... They grow a fully-furred, complete body WITHIN the current body? Or am I misunderstanding?

(I had NO idea that spiders moult!)

Vephriel · **Posted:** Sun Jun 24, 2012 6:11 pm

Acherontia wrote:

So... They grow a fully-furred, complete body WITHIN the current body?

Yep!

GormanGhaste · **Posted:** Sun Jun 24, 2012 6:23 pm

Acherontia wrote:

I had NO idea that spiders moult!

Yep, all arthropods (spiders, centipedes, lobsters, insects, etc.) have to moult to increase their size, as their hardened skin (which also serves as a skeleton) doesn't stretch.

Zuilu · **Posted:** Mon Jun 25, 2012 10:22 pm

Yep

they even molt their booklung lining, stomach, throat and eyes.

Acherontia · **Posted:** Thu Jul 05, 2012 6:00 am

That is CRAZY, lol. I knew that lobsters and so forth moulted, but hadn't a clue that spiders did. I hope those tarantula- or scorpion-in-amber paperweights are just moulted bits then >.>

I am so used to thinking of the furry part as THEM, you know, and now that I've found out that it's more like a suit... mind=blown :O

Rhyela · **Posted:** Sat Jul 07, 2012 9:58 pm

I love when they molt! I love inspecting the exuvium once it's shed, too, especially when trying to find the spermethecae. I've had to sex a couple of mine because they were so young when I got them that it was hard to tell except via molt. ^_^

I also love their fangs. It's amazing how huge they are on such a small creature! Well, except your girl is a pretty good size.

WoW Petopia Community

Tarantula Molting Process [Picture Heavy]

Who is online