Spiders

[sandrewn]

 

 

[Valkyrie]

[sandrewn]

 

 

 

[sandrewn]

 

Orange and black tortoise orbweaver (Encyosaccus sexmaculatus)

 

 

[Bill W]

2 hours ago, sandrewn said:

 

 

 

A crab spider (Misumena vatia, Arachnida, Thomisidae) perched on a closed flower of Leucanthemum vulgare (Oxeye daisy, Asteraceae). Found in Niel (Belgium, 26 May, 2022)

Despite their name, crab spiders are arachnids. 

 

First off, don't panic; crab spiders' venom is not poisonous to you (unless you are a bee or unless you happen to be allergic).

[sandrewn]

I was watching a video that was pretty neat. I thought you might find it interesting.

 

One in a Billion Moments in Nature - YouTube

 

You ask why, why are you seeing this video? Well, apart from being a fantastic video(in my opinion), fast forward  to the 21 min. mark for the answer to your question.

 

[Bill W]

Here's another video you might find interesting. 

 

[sandrewn]

 

Tarantula molt

 

[Bill W]

12 minutes ago, sandrewn said:

 

Tarantula molt

 

Tarantula Molting: What to Expect

By 

Lianne McLeod, DVM

 

Updated on 06/11/24

 Reviewed by 

Natasha Diehl

Reviewed byNatasha Diehl

•  

Dr. Diehl is a passionate veterinarian pursuing specialty medicine with over 6 years' experience with exotic pets. She now works with a team of other experienced vets to provide the best advice and care for their clients' pets.

Learn more about The Spruce Pets' Veterinary Review Board

 

 

Dave King / Getty Images

In This Article

• What is Tarantula Molting?
• Signs
• Care

 Back to Top

Tarantula molting is when a tarantula sheds its outer shell to grow. Most tarantulas will molt while lying on their backs (though some will molt on their sides). It can be quite alarming to find your tarantula lying in a seemingly unnatural position, but this is a normal process for tarantulas. If you find your tarantula lying on its back, do not touch it as it is extremely fragile at this time.1 Here's what to expect during tarantula molting and how to properly care for your pet during this time.

 

What is Tarantula Molting?

Tarantula molting is the process by which a tarantula sheds its exoskeleton so it can grow. Tarantulas, like other arthropods, have a hard outer covering called the exoskeleton that provides support and protection. As the tarantula grows, the exoskeleton becomes too restrictive, and molting is necessary to accommodate its increasing size.

 

Time: Molting usually takes anywhere from 15 minutes to a full day, so keep an eye on your tarantula but do not handle it. You should be able to verify molting by the evidence left behind in the form of the molt, which looks just like another spider.

 

Frequency: Young growing spiders will molt up to once a month while older spiders may only molt every year or two. Adult males will only molt one time after reaching maturity due to their shorter lifespans.

 

Signs of Tarantula Molting

There are several signs that a tarantula is about to molt, and some are more subtle than others. Note that some of these signs can occur for other reasons besides molting:

 

• Lying on Its Back: Many people think that if their tarantula is on its back, it means that it is trying to die. This is not the case, and it is quite rare that a tarantula would ever be found dead upside down. It is more likely to be found dead with its legs curled under it than to be found lying on its back.2
• Decreased appetite: A tarantula getting ready for a molt will usually stop eating, sometimes for as long as a few weeks before a molt.
• Decreased activity: A tarantula getting ready to molt will often become very slow and sluggish.
• Bald spot: Tarantulas also sometimes develop a bald spot on their abdomen that grows increasingly darker as the molt draws near (a bald spot can also occur in New World tarantulas that have been kicking off their urticating hairs). After molting, the bald spot will be gone.
• Increased use of webbing: Tarantulas may make a mat out of silk for molting.
• Dull coloration

 

While it may look like your tarantula is in distress, molting is a natural process. Tarantula molting is not painful, but it does make them fragile and vulnerable to injury for a few days.

 

A Guide to Tarantulas for Beginners

 

How to Care for a Molting Tarantula

If you notice the signs that a molt is impending, make sure the humidity in the tank is ideal and the temperatures are right for your specific kind of tarantula. A proper environment is important for a successful molt.

 

Make sure there is no uneaten prey in the tank, as even a cricket can seriously injure—or even kill—a molting tarantula.3 Do not feed a newly molted tarantula for at least a week to prevent new crickets from biting your tarantula before the exoskeleton has time to harden. The newly molted tarantula is so sensitive that even an innocuous little cricket can cause serious harm to them.3

 

As the old exoskeleton is shed, the tarantula's body will be soft and extremely vulnerable. Though the actual molting usually takes a few hours, the tarantula's body will also be soft and vulnerable for several days before the new exoskeleton completely hardens. For this reason alone you should never handle a molting tarantula, or handle it right after it molts.4 You should also try not to startle or scare your tarantula during this time.

 

The molt they leave behind is harmless and can be left in the habitat. Some tarantulas will move the molt or even curl up in it, but these are normal behaviors. It may appear as if the tarantula is eating the molt if they use their fangs to handle it.

 

How to Care for a Pet Tarantula

If you suspect your pet is sick, call your vet immediately. For health-related questions, always consult your veterinarian, as they have examined your pet, know the pet's health history, and can make the best recommendations for your pet.

Edited April 24, 2025 by Bill W
to delete unwanted items

[Bill W]

This is Ocho. Ocho lives in my bathroom and hangs out on my orchid plant. Every day I soak a Q-Tip in water and put it down for him wherever he is (on the plant or behind the toilet or on the vanity) and he comes running over and gets a drink. Was my first reaction to smash him? Nope. To flush him down the toilet? Nope. To “burn it to the ground”? Nope. He’s literally a fraction of my size. I could easily k**l him, but I choose to be kind. He deserves to be on this earth as much as I do. In fact, he contributes way more to the natural order of life on earth than I do. It’s so easy to choose kindness. I encourage everyone to take a moment and make sure the language you use when it comes to spiders, insects, rodents, etc. is kind and not fearful or disgusted. None of these beings are pests or threatening. Let them be. Help them if you can. Be kind. It’s so simple

[TalonRider]

The jumper looks like an alien.

[Bill W]

7 minutes ago, TalonRider said:

The jumper looks like an alien.

I remember either a movie or TV show about "The War of the Worlds", or maybe it was on the movie poster that would have been in the theaters, but wherever I saw it, the mechanical Martian weapons looked very similar to that jumping spider.

[TalonRider]

That's what I was thinking.

[sandrewn]

3 hours ago, Bill W said:

I remember either a movie or TV show about "The War of the Worlds", or maybe it was on the movie poster that would have been in the theaters, but wherever I saw it, the mechanical Martian weapons looked very similar to that jumping spider.

The War of the Worlds (1953 film) - Wikipedia

War of the Worlds (2005 film) - Wikipedia

I agree with the both of you.

The 1953 version is still my favorite.

 

[sandrewn]

 

 

8 Facts About the Black Widow Spider

 

 

[sandrewn]

 

Bolas spider, dorsal view - Mastophora leucabulba

 

 

[Bill W]

3 hours ago, sandrewn said:

 

Bolas spider, dorsal view - Mastophora leucabulba

Looks like a view of Skull Island! 

[sandrewn]

 

This Is All We Have to Say About the Goliath Birdeater

It's the size of a puppy and it makes hissing noises

 

[Bill W]

4 hours ago, sandrewn said:

 

This Is All We Have to Say About the Goliath Birdeater

It's the size of a puppy and it makes hissing noises

Damn, that thing looks as if it's the size of a grown dog, not a puppy.  😲  😵

[sandrewn]

 

 

 

 

[sandrewn]

 

 

I don't know either, so don't bother asking.

 

 

[TalonRider]

Reminds me of the neighbor just down the street from me that put a big spider on the side of a utility pole.

[sandrewn]

 

A dock spider enjoying a fish for dinner.

 

Fish-eating SPIDERS discovered by scientists | Daily Mail Online

 

 

[TalonRider]

On 5/23/2025 at 8:47 AM, sandrewn said:

 

A dock spider enjoying a fish for dinner.

 

Fish-eating SPIDERS discovered by scientists | Daily Mail Online

 

 

Somebody's going to have bad case of fish breath later. 

[Bill W]

On 5/23/2025 at 8:47 AM, sandrewn said:

 

A dock spider enjoying a fish for dinner.

 

Fish-eating SPIDERS discovered by scientists | Daily Mail Online

I wonder what type of lure it was using?  🤪