Tarantula Molting: What to Expect

Tarantula molting occurs when a tarantula sheds its outer shell to grow. Most tarantulas will molt while lying on their backs, though some may molt on their sides. While it can be alarming to find your tarantula in a seemingly unnatural position, this is a normal part of their process. If you find your tarantula lying on its back, do not touch them as they are extremely fragile at this time. 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 through which a tarantula sheds its exoskeleton to facilitate growth. Like other arthropods, tarantulas have a hard outer covering called an exoskeleton that offers support and protection. As tarantulas grow, the exoskeleton becomes restrictive, making molting essential to accommodate their increasing size.

Time: Molting typically takes anywhere from 15 minutes to a full day, so observe your tarantula without handling them. You can confirm molting by the presence of the molt, which resembles another spider.

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

Signs of Tarantula Molting

There are several signs indicating a tarantula is about to molt, some of which are subtle. Note that these signs can also occur due to 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.
• 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 your tarantula may appear distressed, molting is a natural process. It is not painful, but it does make them fragile and susceptible to injury for a few days.

How to Care for a Molting Tarantula

If you notice signs that a molt is impending, ensure the tank's humidity and temperature are suitable for your tarantula species. A proper environment is essential for a successful molt.

Ensure no uneaten prey remains in the tank, as even a cricket can seriously injure—or kill—a molting tarantula. 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.

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. You should also try not to startle or scare your tarantula during this time.

The molt left behind is harmless and can remain in the habitat. Some tarantulas will move the molt or even curl up in it, which are normal behaviors. It may seem like the tarantula is eating the molt if they use their fangs to handle it.