Take two, they're small

I just dropped two small crickets into the bowl last night. She nabbed one within a very few minutes, even though she wasn't in the dark like she likes. I suspect there will be no sign of crickets in the morning.

---

I was right, she scarfed down the crickets by morning. She was also apparently quite thirsty. I'll be more vigilant regarding her water.

Food & Water

Nothing left from the last cricket. I gave her more water last night and dropped another cricket into her bowl. I wounded this cricket pretty bad catching it, though, so wondered if she would be disinterested.

As of morning, there were no identifiable cricket remains in Anansi's container.

Lunch

Once I finally caught another cricket (let it out on the floor first, dang it), I fed Anansi again. I didn't try to wait it out this time, I put her right back down on my desk. I sat for a while talking and then thought I'd check. I leaned in close trying to see if she had the cricket in her grasp yet. I noticed the cricket a little way in front of her... then she suddenly pounced (as much as a T pounces). It was like she was jumping right at me. I couldn't have timed it better without a lot of patience. lol

I bet the remains are gone again. I swear I need to set up a video camera or something to see what she is doing with them!

Dinner!!! First meal since molt

I gave Anansi a cricket last night. I covered her bowl with a white cloth napkin since I had her up in the dining room (I always feed up there). The light is more than she likes, so I covered her. I kept checking every few minutes, but she was staying on the wall of the container. I went about my business and forgot about it for a while. When I finally remembered and looked again... she was feasting!

By this morning... no cricket to be found! What does she do with them?!

Jumpy

She's a bit jumpy lately. If I touch her container, she moves suddenly. She has also been digging today! She really stirred up the substrate in one spot, but now she is crouched down in a different spot. She looks like she has tried really hard to cram herself into a small space. Goofy girl.

Active Post-Molt

Anansi had, I guess, slowed down a bit to prepare for molting. She is a busy girl now. She has been literally climbing the walls. lol She hasn't done that in a while. She was all the way at the top yesterday! I can hardly wait to hold her again, though she's quick again! lol I'll wait until after she has eaten, later this week.

Streeeeetch

Anansi seems to be enjoying spreading her legs way out. She looks comfy. I decided to wait on the crickets once I'd talked to Eric today. I originally thought I should wait, then I kept seeing where folks are feeding their Ts right after molts. All the books say not to do that. Eric said not to do that. I'm gonna hold off a week, per Eric's advice.

Anansi is moving quickly when she does move.

---

Tarantulas will stretch out as far as they can after molting so that they can grow as much as possible while their new exoskeleton hardens.

Molt Photos

This time the model really is Anansi.

Here she is on her side, starting her molting process.

Here is Anansi molting.

Anansi & her fresh exuvium

Yay! Fresh, healthy Anansi!

Anansi's old shell

She is already darker today. I can see a bit of the square shape on her cephalothorax. Cool! Now I need to take more pictures! lol

Time Lapse Molting Video

No, this is not Anansi's molt. It is, however, a really cool representation of a spider's molt. I wanted to have the link saved somewhere...

Lasiodora parahybana molting

All done... and BIG!

I was beginning to worry because she hadn't done anything since laying down. I left to pick up kids from school and when I got back, she was well out of her old skin!! I forget the name for it, but the little spot at the center of her carapace or cephalothorax (head) is pumping like a vein. Her head is much lighter... for now at least.

I want to sit and watch her, but I have to leave! It's time for Brownie's and I'm the co-leader. I just hope I'll have plenty of time to come home and stare at her before the baseball game tonight!

Yay, my baby is molting!!

---

I didn't have time to stop at home after Brownies, I had to go straight to the baseball game (I keep score). So after half an hour of "are we going to play?" because of the rain, tornado sirens rang and the game was called. So I'm home now and my baby is all done molting and she is huge (comparatively)! I am so excited! It drove me nuts to leave her. I must take more photos... while there is still some natural light.

Exciting Update

Really, it's exciting when she does anything I haven't seen her do yet.

She hasn't eaten in weeks... she's displayed average movement. I think she's getting darker. I just got home and found her putting her front legs up in the air and then bouncing her butt around... she's using her spinnerets. I can't see any web yet, but I know it's hard to see until some is built up. Maybe she's making a web-bed for molting! (One can hope.) I'm excited about the prospect, but nervous too. I know spiders can die if they have a difficult moult.

Hrm... she stopped. Maybe she doesn't like the light. It was dark in here until I got home... so I've draped a cloth napkin over her container. It's either that or move her somewhere else. I need the light on to work.

---

OMG OMG OMG

One hour later she is trying to roll over! She's just kind of laying on her side... sorta... I gotta get the camera! I want pics and to watch, but I don't want to disturb her with a bunch of light! Darnit!

No Go

I gave Anansi two days to eat the cricket. I think it died on it's own, but she didn't eat it. She's still plenty active. When I opened her container to remove the cricket, she was moving pretty fast. She hasn't eaten since March 13^th.

Food & Water

I just gave water to Bunny and Anansi. I also put another cricket in with Anansi. She's still movin' around, so I assume she's alright. I think Bunny only has one cricket left now. I'll update when Anansi eats the cricket (or doesn't).