How long on back before molt?

sparular

Arachnoknight
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Jun 20, 2007
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I have a 1.5-2" Cyriopagopus sp. (blue) that has been on its back for at least 12 hours. I found it about noon today on its back with the legs spread wide. Now just after midnight, it is still on its back wit the legs curled. I misted the tank and covered the mesh with saran wrap. How long should I wait before I assume something is wrong and what do I do then (if anything)?
Spar
 

WARPIG

Arachnoangel
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Jun 29, 2007
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my 2" B smithi took 11 hours b4 the actual molt took place. GL.
 

matthias

Arachnobaron
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I would watch it very carefully. If there is absolutely no movment I would be conserned.
Does it look like it has atleast started the molt?
 

sparular

Arachnoknight
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No signs that the molt proper has begun. Just hanging out on its back. No popped top, no movement.
 

Alice

Arachnoangel
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uh, then it doesn't look good. she might still molt, but for a t as small as that 12 hours without anything happening is a very long time. when you say curled legs, do you mean like in a death curl? good luck with her!
 

sparular

Arachnoknight
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OK I'm pretty sure its dead because when I pulled it out the spinnerettes looked weird. Upon closer inpection they looked infected. Does anyone know what causes this and how to avoid it.

substrate: coco bark
temps: 75-85 F
humidity: no meter, water dish and misting.
on breaking down the tank there was no mold or anything noticable. It smelled fine. Tank and spider have been set up for about 4 months.
Thanks
 

JMoran1097

Arachnoangel
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May 14, 2007
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I have a 1.5-2" Cyriopagopus sp. (blue) that has been on its back for at least 12 hours. I found it about noon today on its back with the legs spread wide. Now just after midnight, it is still on its back wit the legs curled. I misted the tank and covered the mesh with saran wrap. How long should I wait before I assume something is wrong and what do I do then (if anything)?
Spar
if you covered the mesh with saran wrap, wouldn't that suffocate it within the 12 hr period?
 

sparular

Arachnoknight
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Jun 20, 2007
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No. tarantulas don't use nearly as much oxygen as us and it wasn't a tight seal. The mesh is on the side of the tank and I held it in place at the top with a jar and I weigted the bottom with a chopstick so it wasn't even clinging to the sides.
 

Jmugleston

Arachnoprince
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Jul 31, 2007
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Just my two cents

First off, if you did lose the spider, sorry for your loss.
I am not sure on expected time for molting with that species, but the longest mine have ever taken has been I think up toward two days from initially flipping until the newly molted spider righted itself. This was a large T. blondi ( molt measures ~9 across). My smaller spiders are usually done within a number of hours. Second, I noticed you mentioned covering the cage with plastic wrap. It would be better to make sure your humidity levels are good before the spider takes on a stressful process like molting. Personally I like to eliminate as many potential husbandry issues as soon as possible. For tropical species I keep the humidity high at all times by having reduced air flow. This works for my reptiles as well as my inverts. Keep enough for proper ventilation though. Now I may be rambling. In short, be sure conditions are right before the spider molts. I don't know why your spider had a problem so I am not trying to say that is the only thing that may have caused this, just one possibility.
 
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