Tarantulas, like other arthropods, must periodically shed their old exoskeleton to allow for growth. The new, softer shrunken exoskeleton is produced under the old exoskeleton. The frequency of this shedding (referred to as ecdysis or molting) varies. Young spiderlings shed numerous times during a year, while mature females, which may live up to 40 years, may shed every other year.
Nine image curly haired tarantula (Brachypelma albopilosum) molt sequence
March 2, 2012 by allthingsbiological
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged spider | 7 Comments
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[…] Tarantulas molting, courtesy of my high school biology teacher and ExploraVision coach extraordinare, Mr. Stone (his blog is cool too). […]
Simply stunning set of images and great commentary. Thank you! You say that mature females continue to molt throughout life. This is different from ‘moderns’ / araneomorphs, isn’t it, who do their final molt at maturity? I guess they don’t have another two years to live for the next molt.
Have any of your tarantulas not mad it through molting? I have watched my favourite house spiders here in Australia, the black house spiders (Badumna insiginis) molting, and a few have not survived the process.
I’m posting this to Facebook. Fantastic blog!
Oooops. Can’t spell: make that Badumna insignis. And ‘made it through molting’. Sorry. Pressed ‘post comment’ too fast.
Hi Lynne,
To the best of my (limited) knowledge you are correct, this is different than is the case for the moderns.
I think I lost my first tarantula (the Arizona blonde) during a molt in December. Otherwise the past three molts have gone well. Yesterday the tiny curly hair spiderling went through its entire molt in less than 15 minutes. Much less stressful on me!
[…] After emerging from the old exoskeleton, the tarantula remains on its back for up to a half hour, alternately flexing and pulling the legs back in tightly as seen in the fifth and six images in “Nine image curly haired tarantula (Brachypelma albopilosum) molt sequence.” […]
Loving all the info and photos!
I still have a question though. Is it possible for a spider (a curly hair tarantula approx. 1.5cm in leg span)to go into pre-molt and then not molt if it is disturbed/uncomfortable(for instance if its not warm enough/manhandled/fell etc?
I’m still rather new and my curly have been in pre-molt several days now and haven’t eaten since 2weeks ago.
Tanx for your patience.
I’ve seen what you are describing with my group of six young Mexican red knee tarantulas. They simply seem to work on their own schedule. If you leave the tarantula alone I’m certain all will be well.
You will notice that the pre-molt period will lengthen considerably as the spider becomes larger.