Hi all,
Well, our A. Genic has recently molted and all appears to have gone well (I think at least). Some features of the event seemed not though entirely as I expected, but as a newbie to all this what do I know anyway! This is our (first time) experience of this fascinating process - just for interest and because I found it quite exciting really!
She went into pre-molt a for a couple of weeks or so, stopped feeding, and took to spending much more time in her hide. Also, her abdomen appeared about ready to burst (not over-fed) and had turned from pinkish to indigo/black. She was also more nervous and sluggish than usual, and had become rather dull coloured.
In the event my wife noticed some activity of sorts in the hide and upon closer inspection saw that she was on her back apparently taking her old coat off. The whole process seems only to have taken 2-3 hours but, interestingly, there was no sign of a webbing mat, or an attempt to lay one. We didn't see too much of the process unfortunately because we were mindful of the advice not to disturb or stress the T unnecessarily during this time. As newbies this was a bit of a worrying time for us because I had (unnecessary as it turned out) concerns regarding there being sufficient space in the hide for her to 'undress' - after all I have no idea how smart (or thick) a T. is regarding these matters?
Eventually we peered into the hide again (tentatively and briefly with a torch) to see her right-way up but wedged between the hide wall and the newly shed exuvium. What we could see also was her shiny new legs and abdomen (no baldy patch), which was quite bit smaller that the pre-molt 'bulb'. Well, we worried again how we were going to get the old coat (exuvium) out but left her to her own devices. However as it turned out there was no need for concern as, peering in to her tank, we saw that she had tossed it out herself.
Great I thought as I carefully picked it out with the tweezers, now I can confirm she is a 'she' (which is what I bought her as). No such luck! Although the exuvium was in almost perfect condition this was true only at the exclusion of the abdomen. The bulb, and bit where one sexes a T. (as far as I understand this) was completely scrunged up, like a balloon that had burst in fact!. Oh well, have to wait till next time I guess! This brings me to a puzzle or two the experts here might be able to help me with, as follows;
If, before a molt, the new exo-skeleton is inside the old one how does a T. get to be bigger, post-molt, than that which it was smaller than previously? (it seems like Tardis thing!)
Also, when she eventually emerged from her hide (three days later) she stood in a somewhat odd pose - the four rear legs positioned quite normally but the four forward one close together, draw in, so as to cover her pedipulps and fangs - any idea why?
And lastly, as juvenile, roughly 3-3.5 inches, how long should I wait before offering food?
Thanks for any help and advice and apologies for the long post.
- Geoff
Well, our A. Genic has recently molted and all appears to have gone well (I think at least). Some features of the event seemed not though entirely as I expected, but as a newbie to all this what do I know anyway! This is our (first time) experience of this fascinating process - just for interest and because I found it quite exciting really!
She went into pre-molt a for a couple of weeks or so, stopped feeding, and took to spending much more time in her hide. Also, her abdomen appeared about ready to burst (not over-fed) and had turned from pinkish to indigo/black. She was also more nervous and sluggish than usual, and had become rather dull coloured.
In the event my wife noticed some activity of sorts in the hide and upon closer inspection saw that she was on her back apparently taking her old coat off. The whole process seems only to have taken 2-3 hours but, interestingly, there was no sign of a webbing mat, or an attempt to lay one. We didn't see too much of the process unfortunately because we were mindful of the advice not to disturb or stress the T unnecessarily during this time. As newbies this was a bit of a worrying time for us because I had (unnecessary as it turned out) concerns regarding there being sufficient space in the hide for her to 'undress' - after all I have no idea how smart (or thick) a T. is regarding these matters?
Eventually we peered into the hide again (tentatively and briefly with a torch) to see her right-way up but wedged between the hide wall and the newly shed exuvium. What we could see also was her shiny new legs and abdomen (no baldy patch), which was quite bit smaller that the pre-molt 'bulb'. Well, we worried again how we were going to get the old coat (exuvium) out but left her to her own devices. However as it turned out there was no need for concern as, peering in to her tank, we saw that she had tossed it out herself.
Great I thought as I carefully picked it out with the tweezers, now I can confirm she is a 'she' (which is what I bought her as). No such luck! Although the exuvium was in almost perfect condition this was true only at the exclusion of the abdomen. The bulb, and bit where one sexes a T. (as far as I understand this) was completely scrunged up, like a balloon that had burst in fact!. Oh well, have to wait till next time I guess! This brings me to a puzzle or two the experts here might be able to help me with, as follows;
If, before a molt, the new exo-skeleton is inside the old one how does a T. get to be bigger, post-molt, than that which it was smaller than previously? (it seems like Tardis thing!)
Also, when she eventually emerged from her hide (three days later) she stood in a somewhat odd pose - the four rear legs positioned quite normally but the four forward one close together, draw in, so as to cover her pedipulps and fangs - any idea why?
And lastly, as juvenile, roughly 3-3.5 inches, how long should I wait before offering food?
Thanks for any help and advice and apologies for the long post.
- Geoff
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