My First Moult

[Craig Mackay]

My newly aquired N. Chromatus moulted on Monday and it appears to have gone smoothly. Haven't been able to get a great look at him/her yet as I 'm leaving it to have plenty peace and quiet but its legspan seems to have increased a good inch or so. The abdomen, however seems to have got a bit smaller. Is that normal? It may be that it looks smaller compared with the new legspan. I got the cast out yesterday hoping to have a bash at sexing it but the abdomen wasn't attached. It isn't still attached to her either. Could she have eaten it? I thought they wouldn't eat due to their fangs been soft. I figured I'd see some remains either way. I'll get some pics up hopefully tomorrow if she comes out of her flowerpot.

[Colin D Wilson]

Quite normal for the abdomen to be smaller mate...nothing to worry about there.
The other bits of the moult "may" either be chucked out of her flowerpot or deposited neatly in a corner of the tank in the near future.

Glad all's well

[Craig Mackay]

Cool, thats peace of mind. She moulted in the corner above her flowerpot and now she's moved back home. Hopefully the abdomen will show up soon and I may still be able to sex her.

[Craig Mackay]

Woohoo! My 50th post!

[matthew spooner]

WooHoo!! my 300th lol

[Craig Mackay]

WooHoo!! my 300th lol

Ok, you win, hehe

[matthew spooner]

yay!! i never win nefin, do i get a prize?? lol

[Craig Mackay]

A years free BTS subscription? nudge nudge wink wink.

[matthew spooner]

that would be great, i won the one i have now in a raffle lol

[Craig Mackay]

I thought you never win anything

[matthew spooner]

oh and i won one of those comps u have to guess how many sweets in a jar. had a bit of an advantage since im the one dat put em in there tho lol

[Craig Mackay]

Haha!! Thats a major advantage! I don't think I'll ever enter any competitions that you organise.

[Kate Arbon]

Perfectly normal for a Ts abdomen to shrink with a moult, as they push fluid from their abdomen into their bigger legs.

Make sure you offer her water if you haven't already since the moult as they quite often get a bit dehydrated from it and will appreciate a drink.

Congratulations on your first moult

[Craig Mackay]

Thanks Kate. I think my C.Cyaneopubescen sling might be about to moult too. It's not eaten for a few days and its making a cradle of web on the substrate just now. Fingers crossed

[Craig Mackay]

I should also mention that it webs alot anyway being a gbb but its the first time shes made a web directly on the substrate and it looks very different to the webbing she normally makes. Its usually the clump of moss I have in the tub that it webs.