Glasgow Andrew Has A Question

[Andrew Murdoch]

As some of you guys know I have a Mex Red Knee and a Chile Rose. The Red Knee has molted twice succesfully and when it did this it was a private affair. It did so in its burrow and before it did this it made silk at the enterance of its burrow. Both molts went ok.
So this is my question, my Chile Rose has produced lots of silk in the viv, mainly in one half of the viv where it appears to spend most of its time. Its almost like a mat. It has a burrow in a corner which it really an open type burrow and I can see it clearly. It has at times covered its open type burrow with silk. Does this indicate a pre-molt behaviour? Also when I feed my Chile Rose the crickets have a hard time getting around the various stands of silk. Its just there is or appears to be very different types of behaviour between the two types of T's that I have, I am aware that there has to be because they are different. Can people share there experiences with me please and keep me on the right tracks, thanks, Andrew.

[Roy Patten]

Hi Andrew

Yes different species do go about the moult on different times, most will make a webbing on the floor of the tank to lie on while their on their backs.

Don't you think it's great watching them when moulting, marvalous thing the Tarantula.
Roy

[Clinton Hogben]

Hi Andrew

You got it mate
They all have there own way of doing things I have had several types of "T"s over the years some hide away and some lay out the silk mat in one corner,most moult on their back but some will stand upright etc etc
Some spiders even seem to change character after a moult my current L Para has gone mad in the webbing dept since her last moult but never did this before putting silk all over everything in sight I think thats what makes them so interesting

Clint

[Nicola Dolby]

Hi Andrew,
the quickest way to tell if a spider is about to moult is to offer it a cricket. If the spider is off its food that usually indicates a moult is coming. However this is not fool-proof. I've had tarantulas go off foodfor a fortnight, start eating again and then a day later finish their current cricket and go and moult there and then (like they needed a top up). When they're young most spiders 1cm to 6/7cm will moult once a month. by the time they get to 15cm its once, maybe twice a year!

[Roy Patten]

Moults.

Yip your right Clint, Tarantulas are exceptionaly facinating to me. I got rid of a collection a while ago but I'm gradualy building my collection back up now. I missed them that much, the things they get up to.

Have you ever watched them wash them selves, I bet you have their like a cat in that respect first one leg then the other. It made me laugh when I first saw them doing it.
Speak soon
Roy.

[Clinton Hogben]

Have you ever watched them wash them selves, I bet you have their like a cat in that respect first one leg then the other. It made me laugh when I first saw them doing it.
Speak soon
Roy.

Hi Roy
I still wait for her to pick up the wrong leg when she is washing and fall in a big hairy heep
never seems to happen though te he

Clint