Molting 101 - A Beginner's Guide

[@teas3998]

I would just like to thank you as a first time tarantula owner who impulsively bought 2 tarantulas of 2 different species. Thanks to you they survived their 1st molts with me, and I was able to successfully rehydrate their molts and confirm their sexes! I feel confident in owning more tarantulas in the future.

[@TarantulaHaven]

Awesome! You just made my day! 🤓👍🏼

[@teas3998]

@@TarantulaHaven They were the sexes I thought they were when I bought them too! Im looking to get a blue baboon or orange baboon within the next few years! I love my curly hair and pink toe, but I want something more visually stunning, and bright orange or blue/white all over is so appealing! Thank you so much for your content! ♡ Ive become a full-fledged tarantula mommy lol!

[@RevonChaoz]

I experienced my first successful molt tonight! Ive only been keeping about 7 weeks. My juvenile G pulchra who buried itself in the hide a few weeks ago (burrow viewable from side) finally flipped. I noticed when i did one of my checks. Did a quick shine a few hours later and saw it was mid process. Just leaving it alone now no more quick shines etc. Im so overjoyed to experience this! This week I aquired an rehoused a bunch of old worlds i finally felt comfortable to order, broke down and picked up a sub adult P miranda cooped up in a deli cup at a local store which turned out to be the easiest calmest rehouse ever with a specimen that literally took my breath away, and now experienced this incredible moment in one of my spiders lives. Nothing has brought me more joy and purpose than this hobby has. Thank you for educating people like me so we have the best chance to succeed raising these incredible animals!

[@tonilarocco854]

Mine just literally went on her back & i'm excited to see her 1st molt. I pray she has an easy transition. 🙏🏻

[@skoodledoo]

How did she do in the end?

[@infantryveteran2636]

Glad the cat made it! They're pretty tough. Hey Alex, glad to see you back!!

[@M.m.h4466]

Mine in getting bald n getting ready to molt soon can’t wait to see the process. I Owen a pink toe tarantula

[@themysteryman1144]

Hi Mr.G hope your doing good keep up the good work and take care

[@themysteryman1144]

Question how are the snakes that were in your classrooms doing

[@angelabarnett5175]

Great video Alex especially for beginners. P.S I’m glad your cat is ok.

[@ja5yart]

I've researched a bunch of tarantula molting videos and you were very informative and I appreciate it. This video answered all my questions and more. You did a great job and I thank you

[@carolynw7752]

Best molting video I’ve ever seen -thank you❣️

[@rockymountainspiderfreaks3722]

Your videos are always so informative and we love watching them ...very often your just in the background while we do our own tarantula maintenance!

[@Andrey-mm9mu]

LMAO those example questions are on point. Most posts are exactly those questions

[@billstokesbary6143]

I learned something new today, will have to keep an eye out for those shiny knees :)

[@TarantulaHaven]

Bill Stokesbary hey! You don’t know how happy this makes me. Thank you! 🤓👍🏼🕷

[@pzykhe]

Thank you for this video. I am not a tarantula caretaker, but I have a little friend on my porch that I've been observing. It's my little (literally, it is a very small spider) mosquito eater. I have observed it eating a lot of bugs lately, and then it disappeared. I originally thought it abandoned the web, but then I spotted it hiding behind an electrical cord, still in close proximity to its web. It's been two days now that it's been hiding. I think it may be preparing for a molt based on my research and your video. I know your video is about tarantulas specifically, but I think, and will further research to confirm, that this process is basically the same for all spiders. From one spider admirer to another, thank you.

[@alexisward22]

Brilliantly done!!! WOW! You covered every question I had! THANK YOU!!!🙏🕷🖤

[@joeblow578]

Same! This is the best video about what actually goes on in a molt that I have found! Very appreciative.

[@miguelstmartin5046]

I'm glad your kitty made it 😊😊. My young Caribena Versicolor died during the molting process. It molted 2 times in a month.

[@PETROCK-NROLL]

Love this Alex! So informative for beginners! I will definitely point people towards this video when questions arise! The time lapse at towards the end is brilliant btw and amazing that you featured arachnotube! Another awesome channel!! 💜

[@rkhnd51]

Very interesting video. Thank you. I didn't know about the hammock molt. My son has Fisher spiders where he lives and there was a huge molt by a hole in a tree by his house. When I told him that means the spider is bigger he freaked. Lol! I liked the scientific names.

[@joshuarosenblatt]

Glad the kitty is ok! Just came home from work and my new B smithi (I got about 9 days ago) had molted! I figured it may be coming as it refused food Saturday and Sunday. But didn’t expect it when I went to check. So proud and so excited! Thanks for all the info! My first molt!

[@allclades]

Glad to hear that he is okay.

[@josephgaspar5037]

Am so Glad I found this channel. Wow, very informative and vivid. Underrated keeper. Tbh

[@raspberrytears]

I have a B. Smithi that I think is going to be going through their first molt with me. They don't often take prey so I thought they were close as it was, and their bald spot on their butt is definitely darker than skin tone. I'm so nervous but also excited. (I also have a Pink Toe that molted two weeks before I got them and a G. Pulchra sling (my first sling). I can tell I'm going to be tearing through the rest of your uploads already, this was super informative.

[@amgtarantulas]

I stressed so much the first time I actually got to see one of my tarantula's molt but I was grateful to video my Mexican Fireleg (Brachypelma Boehmei) molting! It is such an interesting process to witness!!

[@mels1991]

I’m having heart palpations I’m going through my first molt With my brachypelma hamorii

[@amgtarantulas]

@@mels1991 yea its like such an intense worry seeing them on their back like that!

[@mels1991]

Update she’s doing great and her colors are beautiful I’m so lucky to own her

[@cleaninghouse2610]

Best motling video we've ever seen! We're beginners and our Tliltocatl albopilosus (curly hair) is in what we think the beginnings of a molt. Great information and awesome video!! We'll be looking forward to more videos.

[@pauljones8054]

I'm happy that Dobby is OK informative video learned loads thank you

[@dragolath62]

ive just heard of tarantula molting today, and the way he described it sounded fascinating, now watching was just terrifying! holy crap i love it. Such a beautiful creature!

[@canadiannavywife434]

From the Tarantula Collective. Great video and so happy that Dobby is doing better. Hugs from Halifax

[@keontyeferguson7918]

Thank you for this video!!!! I am a beginner Tarantula grandma and we check her everyday. She hasn’t ate since we got her and she’s always hiding ( I kno this is normal so I didn’t stress) but this morning when we went to check her she was on her back and I was like Ooooooo no! I immediately typed tarantula molt in youtube and found your video. Im so happy this video had bought me some ease. Now I’ll just leave her for 24 hrs and see what happens.

[@eaglesguy7421]

My greenbottle blue is getting ready to molt im excited and nervous at the same time and thank you for this video I learned alot from your channel.

[@sgtcoffee4243]

Very useful video thanks dude! First time T owner and my C Darlingi just surprised me with a molt. Having watched this I now know I missed the signs but know what I'm watching for in future!

[@ripyungbruh9816]

Just got back from vacation to see both of my Caribena versicolor slings have molted!

[@axldlima1938]

well made vid.thanks!.my sling seems to be in premoult.thanks for the info

[@Proximo-74]

Thanks for the information👍 Greetings from Germany 🙂

[@toodifficulttodance]

me - 'Hey boyfriend, wanna see a tarantula molting?' boyfriend - 'No, I was planning on sleeping tonight.' I bought one of your t-shirts and it arrived recently, super happy with it, I must admit I didn't know it was one of yours until after I paid for it, just really loved the design.

[@ChantalsCritters]

Great video as always

[@karebearsanimalhouse7195]

Great video! You answered all questions and gave all pertinent information regarding molting !

[@mvp_health-n-beauty]

Excellent video. This video brought me to subscribe. Thank you for keeping it simple with excellent explanation ✌🏻

[@redaacheache6868]

I discovered your channel after I watched your recent podcast. Great content!

[@debbiemcclure2874]

I'm so glad your kitty is ok. We lost our beloved Frankie last summer to feline leukemia. We were devastated. My granddaughter could do anything she wanted to him and he didn't retaliate... anyone else he would tear them a new one. To say the least, she took it the hardest. First couple nights she go to sleep crying and wake up in the middle of the night crying for him. He was one of a kind cat. Hey, I happened to like the other video🤨. Would Alex really make a horrible video??😲 Prolly not🤣. Tyfs God bless you

[@loispadgett6306]

Thank you for this great video on molding I am new and have 3 slings. 2 have molded and did well but I was nervous about it. Now after this I know more what to watch out for. God Bless and have a great day.

[@TeknoPandaOriginal]

We miss u AleX! Big Up for your Meooow!

[@Tanya-lp4im]

Great Job! Will be suggesting this video for those who are new to tarantula husbandry along with Richard Stuart, Tom Moran and Petco from Dark Den. Very informative and well done.

[@JustAndreaEdna]

Thank you for this video I can't find anything about the subject. I'm going to get my very first T and I want to know everything I can beforehand.

[@elizabethnelson6778]

Thank you so much for this video! It’s exactly what I needed to watch today!

[@SuperLoops]

i rly like when after they have finished moulting but are still flip and they are doing their bunching and stretching their legs turning one way then the other, their spinnerets do the same

[@72spikey]

Gracias! Great educational video on molting. I have to rewatch and save this for reference. Thanks!

[@HelenaGLongbottom53]

Thank you for this wonderful informative video! Just found my juvenile Mexican red knee on her back and I know she’s moulting but just needed reassurance. Hopefully she moults successfully

[@langy1416]

Great to see that he is doing good :-)

[@danevans740]

Amazing and informative 😁😁😁 thanks a bunch dude! 🕷🕷🕷

[@alyn6653]

What an informative video! Great Job!!! I have been watching your videos for months now and I have to thank you for all of your hard work and wonderful videos because I went from never thinking about owning a tarantula to now I have 3 and I have found a hobby that I love and I can’t wait to continue to build my collection. I am watching this video because my aphonopelma seemanni looks like he/she is doing something I have never seen before which is that it is making the motions of eating with its front legs and fangs but it doesn’t have any food in its mouth. I don’t know if that makes sense but I have never seen this behavior before. Thanks again for your great videos and I look forward to seeing more of them.

[@A.TAYLOR]

Your videos have been so helpful! 🕷️🕸️🖤

[@michaelnancyamsden7410]

This is a very good video. Thanks.

[@tarantulas_pt]

Great Video Alex. Thanks for sharing

[@edgufler1122]

Very nice video Alex. I enjoyed it.

[@noonars1]

This is very useful if I decide to get a spider someday. I have always been interested from a child spiders are very entertaining the way they move and make me laugh

[@ohminsun]

Super video, thank you for summing all of this up!

[@dorothywinklepleck8374]

Thank you, i found this very helpful. I have a Arizona blonde that's been acting weird. So thinking possibly a molt, or even preening.

[@ronfults3844]

I'm thinking that regardless what your tarantula does most likely it's certain it doesn't like you. Lol!

[@AlternativeInverts]

Great informative video Alex as always dude 🤘🤘

[@PsyDexOfficial]

Brilliant informative video as always my friend

[@rosalocalinda]

Reg bald abdomens, both of my larger t albos had bald spots when they arrived from the breeder, fleshy and pale. Probably from the stress of shipping. The bald spot turned black and then when they molted their butts were fuzzy again. 🖤

[@klaskristian1]

That is one reason i am not active on arachnoboards anymore. The same questions pops up again and again. Mistly regarding moulting. I have nothing against newbees. We all have been there. But it seems that most people does zero research. Even though hundreds of these questions are easy to find with a click on the dsshboard

[@goldiemum3991]

Just what I thought as well. I prepared myself for several month before I actually bought my first T. And I research every species I'd like to buy BEFORE actually buying it. I wish ppl would prepare themselves better instead of just buying one, only to freak out all the time, asking the same newbie questions over and over. Most newbie questions are practically answering themselves just by researching the species or Tarantulas in general.

[@irisravenhild9060]

It's actually not as easy as you think. For example, I am a dyslexic and therefore also get a headache every time I read. And I have tried to find information in my native language, but without success, and trying to read in English will only give me a bigger headache. Therefore, episodes like this are actually very helpful, and you can recommend beginners to follow good youtube channels, like this and Tarantella Collective, instead of rolling your eyes and getting angry, because some are terrified that they are doing something wrong that will kill the animal they have acquired.

[@klaskristian1]

@@irisravenhild9060 Yes there are always exeptions. But in most part i thin people are just too convinient to make research. This was not the main reason i left. There where a couple of guys that were assholes

[@dankauffman8568]

Thanks Alex . Good one . Do you think the hot , humid weather in the Northeast would affect frequency of molting ? Mine have been going crazy lately .

[@mekanik164]

Great Video - Very Informative.

[@klaskristian1]

Good imformative video btw!

[@jodowse1918]

Glad cat is ok 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@flavaa9494]

my brachypelma boehmei started blocking the entrance of his burrow which is rare because she never go in her burrow. then she came out a few hours later and started flicking her urticating hairs around and i started to worry but good thing everything that this guy says matched what she was doing and kinda see her bold patch now

[@kidtrunkssd]

This video is perfect!!!

[@JOHNANTHONYRSAULONJENIFERCSAUL]

Sir your video is very helpful thank you

[@angelandtomsarachnids8275]

Very informative thank you alex

[@SmallTownXotics]

Thanks for the info 🤘🏻

[@jimmysjamin1]

Alex I'm about a year late but I'm so glad Dobie is good he's extremely cute. I'm a noob and very glad I found you I have a Skeleton Tarantula I picked her out along with a juvenile Red Island bird eater but I worry about the Skeleton day and Night because of the humidity issue been struggling to keep the humidity between 60 and 70 percent not sure that's enough will she sleep a lot cause that's what she's been doing along with the not eating maybe she's dehydrated she was ravinious before. I'm hoping for the best maybe I'm just a worry wart but I'm so afraid I'm making a mistake ughhhhh any extra tips would sure be welcome also she was in a very small container and I moved her into a 10 gal sized tank could she maybe feel overwhelmed with all the extra room I'll shut up don't want you to be overwhelmed lol thanks for the great info bless you brother.

[@goldiemum3991]

My G. pulchripes (now 4.75 " DLS) molted two days ago at 8 in the morning. Took her two hours to molt and another two hours still on her back, stretching her legs and fangs before she flipped. My C. versicolor molted yesterday and my B. hamorii juvenile is getting more seclusive again. Guess she's gonna molt within a few weeks as well. ^^

[@Mikah234]

Awesome post that I needed to watch. Just ordered my 1st 2 Ts. And they should here next week. I've never had a trantula so this video and others I've watched are good resources for me. So thank you. One question I had. And that's because I saw you have Gooty Sapphire Ts. Mine that I purchased is around 1 inch sling. I think those would still be considered slings? When they Molt do they do it in their burrows or in the open? And if they do molt in the burrow you mentioned they will kick out the molt? Do the Gooty Ts do that as well? Or do I have to move the bark to take the molt out. I'm really hoping to put my Ts in their enclosures and leave them alone as much as possible. Only to disturb them when feeding and cleaning their enclosures. So they will he only observational pets. Have no desire to handle or mess with at all. :) just watch and enjoy them growing. Thanks for any info. Jesse

[@hammertow7408]

Hey Alex! New to the hobby, any suggestions of what T's to get? I currently have a curlytoe but I want to grow my collection and hopefully one day have enough to do my own KZbin channel. Thanks!

[@goldiemum3991]

I'm a newbie as well, entered the hobby about half a year ago. I started with a curly hair (mine is an eating machine, always hungry). And a Grammostola Pulchripes. She's an awesome grower, chill and slow moving, even when small. Got her as a 2 " sling. She molted two times and is now 4.50 " and is now the second largest T in my collection. Third one was a B. hamorii. Her temperament changed after molting. She's kicking hairs now and even gave me a threat pose while refilling her water dish. XD Will say: Hamorii's are beautiful but they can be bitches at times. Next came a Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens, "GBB", sub-adult. An awesome, heavy webber but VERY fast. She's in premolt for at least two months now and slowed down quite a bit but I usually feed her with the terrarium lid closed and only throw food in through the small hatch in the top cover. Then I bought a Nhandu Tripepii. Heavy burrower, that one. Don't waste your time decorating her enclosure, she rips out everything, re-arranging her decorations into a messy pile in the corner, slowly covering everything with dirt, lol. She's my largest T. A beautiful girl, rather curious but a little nervous as well. She comes running when hungry, drumming the glass of the enclosure with her paws when hungry and bolting into her underground hide when not interested in food. Loves to sit on her stone (a reptile stone, made of plastic and screwed tight to the sight of her enclosure to prevent it from dropping down and smashing my "Pepi". She's gonna get big and mine is out every evening for a few hours. N. tripepii hates light, so make sure her enclosure is facing away from the window. She also needs it more moist than the other species I have. B. Emilia, 1.5 " sling came next. She's burrowing like crazy and won't come out of her hide. She intercepts food on the way down into her burrow, lol. Last one is Caribena versicolor. She's arboreal and needs a fake tree inside her enclosure to be happy. I made one from cork bark and fake plant branches, securing them in place with silicone. Cannot say much about her yet. She's part of my collection for two weeks, so far. And I also own three Lasidora parahybana babies. Tiny slings that came as freebies with the C. versicolor. They eat well and I feed them pre-killed prey (crickets cut in half with small scissors) every 3 - 4 days. Also: Alex here, Richard (Tarantula collective) and Tom Moran (tom's big spiders) are the best in terms of information, husbandry and care. Their insight and information value's incredible.You can learn a lot by watching their clips, especially the ones about the species you wanna buy. And at last: don't buy Tarantulas only because you want to have many. I have ten and they're more than enough to care for as a beginner. it takes me between one and two hours every day to care for my Ts AND their feeders. Especially the feeders need a lot of care to ensure that they stay healthy. I'm feeding my T's with crickets, dubia roaches and superworms. They also get locusts from time to time but they're more difficult to be kept alive.

[@werner1]

Yesterday I found my Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens sling on it's side I panicked but then realized it's likely going to molt lucky I know most/all the signs and apart from the lid the tarantula was not disturbed the "hind leg's?" were moving in a strange way but I suspect it was kicking hair today it's on all legs waking normally but no molt it was refusing food /abdomen is darker than normal so I hope the little bugger molt's soon it hanging around a damp part of the substrate. I'm happy your cat is doing well! I have 42 tarantulas and never witnessed the actual molting process they apparently prefer to molt when I sleep lol.

[@broomlesswitch5474]

Thank you! 😊

[@darrenmortera4663]

My GBB tarantula after I fed her she went hiding the same night in his barrell and blocked off the front door. Im worried now cause I haven't seen her come out for 3 weeks now. Im not sure what to do?

[@danpahati8538]

my first tarantula is now molting it's not the same as he is not turned upside down... is it going to be ok?

[@kathyprusak2762]

Wow!!! Thank God I don't have to do that 🤯😵

[@voodooreptiles3553]

Thank you, I'm sitting with my Theraphosa tonight while it molts.

[@nicholagraan7192]

Wishing to have one and watch molting in real 😍❤️

[@josephcaliri6536]

Which species is on the 2nd to top shelf on the left? Look at that webbing!!

[@shsd7579]

am i supposed to show this video to my tarantuila or can i learn to molt to?

[@ceopet]

Whaat gets me is my G. rosea sling will be in pre molt for a month! It's also only molted 4 times and I've had it for about a year and a half. It also doesn't look any larger lol Why oh why did i pick such a slow growing species as my first one? Luckily I have three others now, but sometimes they all go into pre molt at once. I need more tarantulas lol

[@TarantulaHaven]

Charlotte Olson that’s exactly it with the G. rosea. They grow so slow. My H. chilensis are the same way.

[@edgufler1122]

I have have G. Rosea slings .. my favorite. And they are slow growers.

[@goldiemum3991]

That's why I don't buy slings and always pick my fuzzy babies with at least 2 inches in size. ... Except those three Lasidora parahybana slings I got as a freebie. Ugh. Stress factor ten thousand, lol. They're about half an inch now in size.

[@ceopet]

@@goldiemum3991 Sometimes when you really want a species all that is available is slings.

[@thereptiledude7247]

Yay kitty!! My Hapolopus sp Colombia Lg just molted. She built this amazing bubble and molted inside of it. My P regalis and E murinus just kicked out molts. I was surprised by that one! My A seemanni was off food and in pre-molt for 8 months! It was crazy! I noticed my T. violaceus sling (1/8”) is missing a leg. It’s so tiny I’m worried about it

[@thereptiledude7247]

I also have amazing pictures of my seemanis bald patch that was there a week before she molted.

[@matthewpedrotty7156]

Cool vid

[@victorg7036]

I think my Kochiana brunnipes had a wet molt. Its walking like garrs tarantula

[@xdiamondzxxdiamondzx703]

Hey my curly hair been in premolt for 3 weeks bit worried her tank is moist etc. iv took out today her big log hoping that was the issue she aint flipped on her back. Any advice would help.

[@projectjayme1109]

My salmon bird eater is flipped on its back outside its enclosure. I can’t stop staring at it... I’m so afraid that it’s dead. Tarantulas usually don’t die on their back though? Right? Looking for signs of life. Ugh. Usually my tarantulas molt in isolation, not right outside its hide!! 😬😬 STRESS

[@pacobregman692]

My tarantula has molted for like 3 weeks ago but it wont take any food... is this something to worry about? Its a juv redknee

[@go-joe2929]

My first t ever just molted and I’m nervous about this? How do I truly tell it’s alright and everything went ok and it was just upside down one second and now it’s back on all 8 on its web mat with all of its legs stuck really close together. I have a gbb. This is nerve racking

[@LloydBlake89]

My Avicularia has been webbed in for almost a month now! Should I drop some water on the web?

[@thatmombielife]

Is there an update on Gar’s wet molter?

[@iBLaCKOuTxZ]

I bought a Golden Red Rump a day passed pre made here house at first she was on glass i guess she was getting familiar with her house. Afterwards she decided to go in her pre made hole and now she is barricaded in there its been about 6 days now and idk whats going on??

[@tracietaylor4917]

I think my mexican red knee is molting. It is on its back and hasn't taken food but it didn't make a web mat and its not moving at all

[@gothicmatter9123]

I didn't know that they molt as crabs do. Question do all spiders do this ,like a common house spider like a daddy long legs?

[@TarantulaHaven]

Yes. Not in the same manner. Many true spiders will hang from their web and molt but yes all spiders molt.

[@gothicmatter9123]

@@TarantulaHaven ok, wow I didn't know that they molt 🧐. Every interesting thank you .

[@enriquesexotics9095]

That cat is a savage

[@sherylo994]

My versicolor just molted he or she lol, was a spiderling, it is sad I cant see to be able to keep a vericolor alive

[@jeremyvalentin1828]

My curly hair is on its side slowly moving it legs in the beginning i thought it was a death curl now i dont know do T's molt on their sides?

[@Tater4200]

how long can my T go without food? it's been over a month. she DID molt. but it's been about 5 days since and she still wont eat. her abdomen is almost non existent....