Example of what pre-molt looks like

[Quazgar]

Since one of the common questions on here is whether or not such and such spiderling is in pre-molt, I thought I would put up an example of what pre-molt can look like. This is just one example, from one species, at one particular age, so other spiders at other ages will show pre-molt differently.

A couple of weeks, these two slings (B. vagans) looked practically identical.
B. vagans #1: (still has normal sling coloration, though it is quite fat)
http://i1165.photobucket.com/albums/q595/magriffith/RegSling.jpg

B. vagans #2:
http://i1165.photobucket.com/albums/q595/magriffith/PremoltSling.jpg

In case you're curious, these were taken on Feb. 8th. Sling #2 molted on Sunday (Feb. 12), and Sling #1 is now darkening, about where Sling #2 was in this pic.

Feel free to post more examples to help clarify for others.

[mmfh]

Nice examples. Thank you.

[Formerphobe]

Excellent idea for a thread. Here is another B. vagans, taken three days before it molted. Note that there is no bald spot as bald spots do not indicate pre-molt.
http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/uu258/Gone2Dogs4/24Dec11069.jpg

[Quazgar]

Nice examples. Thank you.

I hope it can be of help to people.

[Amoeba]

Okay I'll play this is my E. campestratus:

***NOT*** in premolt
http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i405/FLAmoeba/ThugLyfe.jpg

and a few weeks later ***HEAVY*** premolt
http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i405/FLAmoeba/DSC00709.jpg

[Fuma]

this helps alot... been waiting for my Brachypelma Smithi sling to molt... its been three days and it just sits and sits

[xhexdx]

It's not in premolt.

Fat, though.

I agree though, this was a great idea for a thread. :clap:

[Amoeba]

I'll have to agree with xhexdx on it not being in premolt and this being a great idea for a thread. I'd vote this for a sticky of some kind.

Another suggestion is for someone to get a good picture of a slings abdomen and circle and label the heart and urticating hair patch (mirror patch too if it applies).

So far everything is new world specimens where are the old worlders?

[xhexdx]

Old worlders are much harder to identify premolt with, imo.

[paassatt]

Nhandu chromatus:
http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j479/paassatt2/IMG_20110828_160831.jpg

Lasiodora parahybana:
http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j479/paassatt2/t.jpg

[Malhavoc's]

even with OW tarantulas one could take a hair brush and disrupt a small patch of setae on the abdomen for molt marker, if one was dedicated and wanted to endure the typical OW pissyness for such a thing.

[grayzone]

wait......how do all you know that the ts are in premolt?:sarcasm: im gonna have to be a follower and agree this is a Very good thread topic... maybe itll help weed out some of the more redundant questions.

[toast4nat]

Note how all the T's in premolt are very dark and almost shiny (especially noticeable with paassatt's LP)

I find that on larger T's, premolt is easier to determine when they do have a bald area from kicking, that way you can see the normally pinkish exo (non-premolt) turn black (premolt).

[mark e sic]

this is actually very helpful:)
so i know that brighter colored T.s get duller in pre molt but from what im getting in this thread. when in premolt T.s tend to have darker exo.?

[harmroelf]

There is another way to tell if OW species are in pre-molt.
Especially with the somewhat younger spiders, u a can see at the vental side (belly) The sternum. When this turns really dark, they are in pre-molt. I can tell exactly by looking at it if one of my spiders is in pre-molt.
BTW it also works on NW species, but usually its easier on them to see the bald spaces darken.

[chaco]

this was her in heavy premolt note the blackish blue showing =)great idea you guys and gals

[SamuraiSid]

Deffinately worth a bump.

I got a L. difficilus and B. vagans sling about a week and a half ago, and they both have the dark spot as seen in Pic #1. After using the search function, I read that a darkening of the abdomen, or even a "dark hairless spot" , is an indication of pre-molt.

Thanks for the pics.... now I have, what Im sure are, two hungry kids, after starving them for the last couple weeks.

live and learn.

[Nate4991]

Brachypelma Boehmei in heavy premolt
99443

[Nate4991]

Anyone else?

[Amoeba]

Nate I hate to create doubt (especially about something I have little knowledge in) but I do not think that spider is indeed a Brachypelma boehmei but instead a Aphonopelma bicoloratum.

Just so I'm able to sleep tonight read through this ( http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?157296-Boehmei-or-bicoloratum&p=1434630&viewfull=1#post1434630 ) and compare. Also if your T is a female and you have a molt check the spermatheca to confirm species.

On Topic: Ts in premolt start to lose grip and are not able to climb (smooth surfaces) very well.

One of my vagans slings fumbled as I picked up it's sauce cup and it ended up molting a few hours later.

My A. metallica made no effort to climb the container it came in, but readily was on the top of the cork bark I provided, it molted that night.

[Nate4991]

Post molt
99510

[Jared781]

I'll have to agree with xhexdx on it not being in premolt and this being a great idea for a thread. I'd vote this for a sticky of some kind.

Another suggestion is for someone to get a good picture of a slings abdomen and circle and label the heart and urticating hair patch (mirror patch too if it applies).

So far everything is new world specimens where are the old worlders?
Good call bro!!

i was just going to point that out!! weird how it stretches accross the oposthoma!!

---------- Post added 02-20-2012 at 08:31 AM ----------


Since one of the common questions on here is whether or not such and such spiderling is in pre-molt, I thought I would put up an example of what pre-molt can look like. This is just one example, from one species, at one particular age, so other spiders at other ages will show pre-molt differently.

A couple of weeks, these two slings (B. vagans) looked practically identical.
B. vagans #1: (still has normal sling coloration, though it is quite fat)
http://i1165.photobucket.com/albums/q595/magriffith/RegSling.jpg

B. vagans #2:
http://i1165.photobucket.com/albums/q595/magriffith/PremoltSling.jpg

In case you're curious, these were taken on Feb. 8th. Sling #2 molted on Sunday (Feb. 12), and Sling #1 is now darkening, about where Sling #2 was in this pic.

Feel free to post more examples to help clarify for others.
I am definitely book marking this thread!!! Dominant Topic son!

[InvertFix]

This is such a wonderful thread! I'm loving it.

Now that I have more time to do things since I've cleared out some tiresome jobs, I'll have to post some photos as well when I get off of work. :)

Bravo! Great idea on the OP's end.

[moghue]

Just wondering if my G.rosea is in premolt. her underside is pretty black right now unfortunatly i cant get a pick of it. here are a few i could get as shes a bit cranky right now.

[Simon83]

I agree, excellent thread and interesting to compare pictures :-) I do have a genus specific question though - how can you tell when a g.pulchra is in pre-molt, besides not eating? Given that they're black as adults you can't really use the darker rule.

[advan]

Old worlders are much harder to identify premolt with, imo.

Agreed 100%

Here is one that I could actually see.

1st pic= premolt
2nd pic= post

[Curious jay]

Hi I recently brought a b.Vagans I believe it's in premolt but if I could get confirmation it would be greatly appreciated http://m1074.photobucket.com/albumview/albums/jaylong1/inverts/DSC00131.jpg.html?o=4 if u need a better picture lemme know edit also how do I embed links?

[xhexdx]

Hmm...I'm not sure the purpose of this thread is for people to post pics and ask if their spiders are in premolt or not...I think it would be best suited specifically as a reference thread. Kind of like the 'sexing for dummies' thread in Chat.

[Chris_Skeleton]

Hi I recently brought a b.Vagans I believe it's in premolt but if I could get confirmation it would be greatly appreciated http://m1074.photobucket.com/albumview/albums/jaylong1/inverts/DSC00131.jpg.html?o=4 if u need a better picture lemme know edit also how do I embed links?

Not premolt. And you need more substrate.


Hmm...I'm not sure the purpose of this thread is for people to post pics and ask if their spiders are in premolt or not...I think it would be best suited specifically as a reference thread. Kind of like the 'sexing for dummies' thread in Chat.

+1

[Storm76]

Hmm...I'm not sure the purpose of this thread is for people to post pics and ask if their spiders are in premolt or not...I think it would be best suited specifically as a reference thread. Kind of like the 'sexing for dummies' thread in Chat.

Question: Would it maybe be possible to have such a section on the forum for new T owners to post and ask? Like the sexing section? Just curious...


That way, this thread could be "cleaned" of questions and such and made a sticky for example...just as an idea.


EDIT: Oh, and does anyone have a pic of a P.irminia in pre-molt? I think they're kinda hard to see, too?

[xhexdx]

Start one and see how it goes. :)

[Storm76]

Was more thinking of a section, instead of a thread. And can't create -that- :)

I'll put up a "pre-molt" thread for now, though, so at least anyone willing to can post their pics of their T's into there to have them looked at. Can anyone make that a sticky then, please?

[ArachnoEvans]

Another, LP http://m1056.photobucket.com/albumview/albums/ChileRose97/002.jpg.html?newest=1&pbauth=1_uLEBonVPfaLdh1h3YMYz2a1HS2cTrNXVpeb%2FgLj JY%2BDsvlKGOOcFNCaRrS904SLAfZVM35pv%2FiXU%2F1P2K6M AfuZM%2FrvwE6t99BlSdl22hTo6svKlmnVk%2Ff%2FVsZzff%2 FAtXskphySe929y%2BwXC8U%2Bvmb3W8YwakBvEGl5yGxafG74 %3D

[ElevenBravo]

I agree, excellent thread and interesting to compare pictures :-) I do have a genus specific question though - how can you tell when a g.pulchra is in pre-molt, besides not eating? Given that they're black as adults you can't really use the darker rule.

In my experience it is easy to tell if G. pulchra is in pre-molt. The jet black shiny beautiful velvet color changes to a more brownish color it seems more dull.

My G. pulchra also eats anything and everything so if s/he refuses a meal I know to expect a new larger prettier T soon.

[fatich]

Hysterocrates gigas - female

Pre molt
http://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x340/fatich00/DSC06285.jpg

Post molt
http://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x340/fatich00/DSC06433.jpg

http://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x340/fatich00/DSC06428.jpg

[ArachnoEvans]

http://s1056.photobucket.com/albums/t365/ChileRose97/?action=view&current=002.jpg Lasiodora Parahybana

[TZach]

its weird, i have had one of my Ts have a black ring on its abdomen instead of a blob. it was a sign of premolt though, cuz she molted later in the week

[Storm76]

its weird, i have had one of my Ts have a black ring on its abdomen instead of a blob. it was a sign of premolt though, cuz she molted later in the week

What genus/species was that one? Never heard of anything like that before...

[Curious jay]

B. vagans non premolt:
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w414/jaylong1/inverts/DSC00132.jpg

Premolt:
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w414/jaylong1/DSC00270.jpg

L. parahybana in premolt:
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w414/jaylong1/DSC00166-1.jpg

[grayzone]

where are all the OW arboreals at???

[Curious jay]

where are all the OW arboreals at???

would also be good to get a few Avicularia species up there as there seem to be a few threads being made about how to determine pre molt for versicolor etc. so far these are the only Ts in my possession that have molted/showed premolt signs.

i agree on your comment though, dont you have some pics of any of your OW Ts? some people on these boards own hundreds of Ts someones got to have some!! lol I thought id update a pic and bump it up as I saw someone posted the link in another thread and I had looked for this exact thread before but had no joy finding it (as im crap with the search function).

[grayzone]

yeah jay, however none of them are really visible during premolt. they tend to hide a lot.
besides, all my OW are tricky to tell at times.. they usually just appear real scruffy/dingy and get noticeably darker and swollen looking near a molt. A person with limited exp. in OW ts could have trouble identifying premolt... My huge regalis actually fits the bill for premolt, and has even been webbing a TON, but actually ate a cricket today for the 1st time in 2 months.. she COULD have just ate it due to annoyance though. Time will tell

[Theist 17]

This is my Grammostola Pulchripes sling, at an inch DLS, in heavy premolt. I expect it to molt in the next week.

[RozenMaidenGirl]

any one have any more pictures of sling premolts?

[Formerphobe]

Brachypelma schroederi pre-molt
http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/uu258/Gone2Dogs4/11May2012009.jpg
B. schroederi post-molt
http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/uu258/Gone2Dogs4/17May2012007.jpg
Ephebopus murinus pre-molt
http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/uu258/Gone2Dogs4/Emurinus006.jpg
E. murinus post-molt
http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/uu258/Gone2Dogs4/Emurinus014.jpg

[Storm76]

any one have any more pictures of sling premolts?

Here's a premolt pic of my Avicularia azuraklaasi sling (2")
104919

Note it getting a darker abdomen while the colors are fading out...4 weeks later she molted and gained her adult coloration.

[le-thomas]

G. pulchripes
http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff399/tmsreptiles/DSC03524.jpg

[Lenxx]

Brachypelma albiceps juvie female, in heavy need of a molt... but still not in premolt, unfortnetly. Theres still a long wait.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y200/Leneth/Krypende%20krek/IMG_0861.jpg

Premolt, finally.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y200/Leneth/Krypende%20krek/IMG_0428.jpg

Post-molt
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y200/Leneth/Krypende%20krek/IMG_0453.jpg

Just to get a clear pic of "in need of one" (but still in for a looong wait), premolt and finally postmolt.

[hamhock 74]

T. ockerti, flash reflector:

http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p498/hamhock74/IMG_0439.jpg

[TreF68]

I dont want to flood the boards with new posts, so I thought this may be a good place to put my question... Is my Boehmei sling in premolt?

he does not appear to be in premolt to me, but is exhibiting premolt behavior, IE not eating, and shutting itself in his little den. My G. pulchripes is most definetly in premolt, but cant get any pics of it to put it on here.

anywho. What do you guys think... premolt or no?

http://i1080.photobucket.com/albums/j334/TreF68/Premolt2.jpg

http://i1080.photobucket.com/albums/j334/TreF68/Premolt1.jpg

Im sorry this is the best picture I could get of him.

Here is a photo of him the day I got him... which was 2 weeks ago or so...

http://i1080.photobucket.com/albums/j334/TreF68/Boehmei-Nikita2.jpg

[Storm76]

Doesn't look like premolt to me, yet. That it's starting that time though, doesn't mean the abdomen turns instantly blackisch, it takes some time. I'd assume that T is just full and not interested in food maybe...

[TreF68]

His abdomen is pretty large, so im sure he is fine. The barricading himself in his hole is what is strange to me /shrug.

[Armpit]

Brachypelma albiceps juvie female, in heavy need of a molt... but still not in premolt, unfortnetly. Theres still a long wait.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y200/Leneth/Krypende%20krek/IMG_0861.jpg

Premolt, finally.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y200/Leneth/Krypende%20krek/IMG_0428.jpg

Post-molt
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y200/Leneth/Krypende%20krek/IMG_0453.jpg

Just to get a clear pic of "in need of one" (but still in for a looong wait), premolt and finally postmolt.

this is a very very helpful post, thank you.

also still curious about some more OW photos.

[jwlp]

One of my Grammostola Pulchripes slings in heavy pre-molt. The abdomen was all crusty and cracking. It molted a day or two after this pic was taken.

106248

[Curious jay]

Just posting to re-up this thread as there is a lot of 'is my T in premolt' threads cropping up lately.

[McGuiverstein]

Just posting to re-up this thread as there is a lot of 'is my T in premolt' threads cropping up lately.

Thanks for doing that. Perhaps the mods should sticky this. If I see "My spider's abdomen has a bald spot. I think it's about to molt." one more time.... Sheesh.

[Curious jay]

Thanks for doing that. Perhaps the mods should sticky this. If I see "My spider's abdomen has a bald spot. I think it's about to molt." one more time.... Sheesh.

Lol I know what you mean. Considering how many users have to reiterate 'you're looking for darkening of the abdomen NOTa bald spot' its suprising how many people still say 'my T is bald, premolt?' Lol too many threads with great info on this board for them to be constantly buried by repeat thread (sometimes 2-3 on the first page in the same day). I bet this will be buried again within 3 days and another thread will ask lol.

When I was new here I wondered why some people come off as harsh/very blunt with responses to certain threads.... Now I've been here for a little while I completely understand haha.

[McGuiverstein]

Lol I know what you mean. Considering how many users have to reiterate 'you're looking for darkening of the abdomen NOTa bald spot' its suprising how many people still say 'my T is bald, premolt?' Lol too many threads with great info on this board for them to be constantly buried by repeat thread (sometimes 2-3 on the first page in the same day). I bet this will be buried again within 3 days and another thread will ask lol.

When I was new here I wondered why some people come off as harsh/very blunt with responses to certain threads.... Now I've been here for a little while I completely understand haha.

Haha I thought the same thing when I started. I try to be polite when people do the whole "Oh no my G. rosea isn't eating. Is it going to die??" thing, but come on, look around before you bug people with dumb questions. Sometimes it's hard to sift through all the redundant threads to find some interesting information. Like you said, there can even be two or three of essentially the same thread on one page. People are just lazy :/

---------- Post added 02-21-2013 at 12:13 PM ----------

We should be the crusaders for anti premolt questions haha. I say we bump this thread every day until it's stickied X)

[Curious jay]

Haha I thought the same thing when I started. I try to be polite when people do the whole "Oh no my G. rosea isn't eating. Is it going to die??" thing, but come on, look around before you bug people with dumb questions. Sometimes it's hard to sift through all the redundant threads to find some interesting information. Like you said, there can even be two or three of essentially the same thread on one page. People are just lazy :/

---------- Post added 02-21-2013 at 12:13 PM ----------

We should be the crusaders for anti premolt questions haha. I say we bump this thread every day until it's stickied X)

Better way to do it would be to bump it when you have a decent shot of a T in premolt and upload the picture. Talking of which my B. boehmei is in premolt right now and would make a good picture for the thread ( but its not heavy heavy premolt and still has a large patch of u-hairs left which may may cause some confusion lol) I woulda got a shot of my Hapalopus sp 'Columbia' large in premolt as 1 of the 4 molted yesterday but my cam just refuses to focus on a 8mm DLS spider lol.

[goodoldneon]

This thread, or the link to this thread, should be tattooed on the arm of every member who starts a "When is my spider molt?" thread.