Molting
Process
So how does a Tarantula spider grow?
Tarantulas are invertebrates,
they possess no internal skeletal structure. Instead
their outer skin/covering acts as their skeleton. In order for Tarantulas to
grow, they must go through and incredible process known as "molting". In
short, they must grow a new skin/covering inside of their current one. At
the right time, when the new skin has finished growing inside, an
incredible transformation will occur. In many cases they
will flip over on their back. This a delicate and vulnerable time for a Tarantula,
it is completely helpless. You might even think your Tarantula is dead.
Don't panic, leave it be, and all things going well, over the next few to
several hours they will start to break from their old skin and slowly work
their way out. Below are some photos of a Tarantula going
through the various stages of the molting process. |
This photo depicts a young
Tarantula with the typical bald abdomen caused from kicking urticating
hairs. Tarantulas from the "Western Hemisphere" kick these
specialized hairs normally as a form of defense to ward-off predators or
when irritated. |
This photo depicts the same Tarantula on the left, a few months later. You
can now see the bald area has turned a dark color, indicating the spider
will be shedding its skin soon. This dark coloration is actually the new
skin growing underneath. |
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Several days or weeks after the
abdomen turns dark, this Tarantula flips on it's back and lays
almost motionless for a few
hours. Then a miraculous event begins to unfold. |
Once the Tarantula begins to
withdraw it's new skin from the old one, it must finish...or die. The
process cannot be stopped at this point. This is a critical time, especially when pulling the leg
joints
through. This spider is a little over half way out in this photo. |
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Here is the final product. The
Tarantula has molted and is sporting her new look, and a beauty she is.
Notice I said "her". After examining the exoskeleton, it was clear this
spider was a female. |
Send us your Molt
for FREE sexing ! |
Send us a shed skin of your
Tarantula, and we will
determine the sex of it for
no charge. The spider must
be over 2 inches for an
accurate determination.
Wrap the molt
lightly with
moist paper towel and pack
it into a ziplock-type bag.
Place
inside of a padded envelope
or small box and send to:
Dean Pittman
707 Roxe Drive
Forest Grove, OR 97116
USA |
*Please include your contact information
so that we will be
able to inform you of the results. |
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