Drinking Before Moulting

[Richard Goram]

Last week my T.blondi shed but over several weeks before I noticed her drinking several times. After the first time, I thought maybe the humidity wasn't high enough for her (though it was around 80%). I covered some more of the ventilation holes in her tank and humidity went up to around 100%, but I still noticed her drinking, right up til the day before she shed.

My question is, is it common for tarantulas to drink more before a moult? I've had alot of my spiders moult but I've only ever once seen one drink, H.lividum, and this was not before a moult.

(I refer to her as 'her' as the exuvium shows it's a girl. )

[Colin D Wilson]

I've noticed a few spiders drink before moulting, particularly a G rosea who went through her normal fasting before moulting period. I would imagine that if they dont eat (i.e. take on food and fluids) they may need to drink and hydrate themselves to prepare for the moulting process.

Saying that i have a L parahybana that eats like a horse and also drinks from it's dish. the humidity is within a few percent for the species in general.
Each spider to it's own i think