Why does a tarantula lay on its back

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. As mentioned before, make sure there are no crickets in the tarantula's tank and 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.

Since spiders have an exoskeleton, they must shed the old exoskeleton and form a new one in order to grow. Therefore, young growing spiders will molt more frequently up to once a month than older spiders who may only molt every year or two. Cowles, Jillian.

Amazing Arachnids. Princeton University Press, Fordham, Margaret, and Brian K. Elsevier Health Sciences, Tarantulas: Terrible or Terrific! Cornell University. Joined Jan 15, Messages Grael Arachnolord Old Timer. Joined Mar 3, Messages Joined May 17, Messages Does it look like its twitching its legs? Well, that sounds like a molt to me. But I could be wrong. I dont think its dying. And fliping "Him" back over is a no, no. Check on it in a few hours, if nothing changes, wait a little longer.

Then gently blow on it. If it moves with a jerk then I would think its a molt. But, watch out for the death curl. Thats the shocker! SpiderTwin Arachnoangel Old Timer.

Joined Mar 17, Messages Leave it alone!!!! T's don't die on their back, they only turn on their back when they are ready to molt. Don't disturb it, just sit back and watch. Good luck. Don't worry, There is no such thing as asking a dumb question here, you did the right thing by asking the question.

Before you asked you didn't know what to do. Is it dead? So what should you do? Do not move the tarantula. If you have already moved or flipped your tarantula, leave it alone and do not disturb it further. Most tarantulas aren't quick to bite, but if someone tries to approach a tarantula in this state, the intruder will likely feel some angry fangs.

Old World tarantulas from Africa and Asia are more likely to bite than New World tarantulas North, Central and South American species because Old World tarantulas don't have urticate hairs to use as a defense.

If a tarantula faces his back legs toward you and rubs his legs against his abdomen, he's releasing urticating hairs in your general direction. Urticating, or irritating, hairs are a means of defense for New World tarantulas. These hairs cause a stinging sensation on the would-be attacker's skin or mucous membranes.

It's important to avoid getting these hairs on you, because they can cause serious irritation. The species Brachypelma smithi is known for resorting to this defense mechanism more quickly than others.

The Goliath Bird Eater Theraphosa blondi , aka the largest spider in the world, has extremely irritating urticate hairs. Another of the tarantula's defensive postures is to tighten all his limbs toward his abdomen. This stance is taken when the spider opts to hide from a predator rather than attack.