Tarantula Molting Process [Picture Heavy]

[Zuilu]

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]

Thats really cool.

[Wain]

Yeah, very cool

[Zuilu]

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

For size comparison:


View of the front:


And those massive fangs

[Rawr]

Is it weird that I want to stick my fingers in where the legs used to go? It just looks so silky smooth in there

[Zuilu]

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

[Lupis]

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

[Zuilu]

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]

She just ventured out of her burrow for the first time She's so pretty!

[Vephriel]

D'awwwww, what a pretty girl!

[Miacoda]

I agree with Lupis, exoskeletons are rather freaky!
she's so pretty, though!

[Acherontia]

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

(I had NO idea that spiders moult!)

[Vephriel]

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

Yep!

[GormanGhaste]

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]

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

[Acherontia]

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]

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.