How does the tarantula of a tarantula fly?

Exotic pets are increasingly found in our homes. It is already difficult to surprise anyone with a bright bird or a lurid lizard. Another thing - a spider-tarantula. This pet is so pet! For many, the heart fades from one glance at the "wild beast." But even such a quiet and unpretentious pet demands from the owner courage and some knowledge and skills. Owners should not only understand the behavior and nutrition of hairy pets, but also understand how the moulting of a spider takes place, to provide him with the most comfortable conditions for this period.

Why do we need molting?

The body of the spider-tarantula does not have the usual internal skeleton. It is covered with an exoskeleton, which protects it from external influences. To the outer skeleton, in which chitin and sclerotin are composed, internal organs and muscle tissues are attached. The skeleton itself is an alternation of hard and soft parts with tactile hairs. The outer shell of the exoskeleton was called the cuticle. The presence of the shell facilitates the life of the arthropod, but the rigid structure does not allow the arachnid to increase its size. This means that at some point the tarantula must drop a hard shell to continue to grow. By the way, the shell, dumped during molting, is called an exuvia.

General information on molting

Moult spider-tarantula is divided into 4 stages, which pass one into another:

• Pre-line stage;
• Directly molting;
• Postleink stage;
• The interlacial interval.

From these stages the whole life of the spider is formed. The most noticeable for others is the molting process, but the longest life in the life of a tarantula is an interlining stage.

Predlinka

In Latin, this stage of molting is called proecdysis. The process can take 2-3 weeks. At this time, under the old shell formed a new exoskeleton.

Predlinku activate complex hormonal processes, which have not been sufficiently studied.

At the prelink stage the behavior of the tarantula changes dramatically. He stops taking food (he does not even react to the most favorite treats). The outer cover becomes dim. If the spider-tarantula of light color, it becomes much darker (especially it is noticeable in the area of the abdomen). The spider hides and freezes, its mobility is greatly reduced.

To moult the spider successfully, it weaves a spider's rug or seals the cobweb in the hole (nest).

Moulting

When the moulting phase begins, the tarantula spins on its back. Between the old hard and new soft exoskeleton, the exuvial fluid begins to emerge. This is a kind of lubricant, designed to slightly soften the old shell.

Moulting spider-tarantula, the photo of which is often spread in the network of hosts, begins with the creation of a shell inside the overpressure. The process is poorly understood, as it happens to the end - it is not established. The old skeleton bursts, and the spider begins to release the cephalothorax. Then the shell on the abdomen bursts.

Further, the molting of the spider continues with the gradual release of the appendages. These are paws, pedipalps, chelicera. For a tarantula, this is the most difficult moment, if you can not release the appendage, then the spider has to drop it. Dropping the old exoskeleton is accompanied by wave-like contractions of the muscles of the posterior part of the body.

Postlinka

The Latin name of the stage is postecdysis. The immediate moulting of the spider seemed to end. But the post-laying stage for the animal is very dangerous. The soft shell of the new exoskeleton is not able to protect its master. Spider is very easy to injure. First time, the tarantula spider continues to lie on its back, hunched limbs. Having rested, the animal turns over on a stomach and is compressed in a lump. The discarded excuse is lying side by side. Then the spider stretches out and starts to move its legs. This helps to restore motor activity and stretch the soft exoskeleton. A few days a tarantula spider does not require food. His chelicers are not able to grind food. In fact, at this stage it would be possible to consider that the molting of a tarantula spider has ended. How long does the pet refrain from food? It depends on how fast the new shell hardens. Food can be put when the spider starts actively running around his home.

The interlining phase

The transition to this stage occurs as soon as the spider resumes activity. The pet returns to the usual rhythm of life. Eat well, gaining lost weight during forced abstinence.

It is very interesting to observe how the molting of a tarantula spider passes. How often this will happen depends on the age of the arthropod and the conditions of its maintenance. Note that the age of the tarantula is determined not by years, but by the number of lines. Recording L3, for example, means that the spider survived 3 molts. Young individuals moult every 3-4 weeks. More adults - every 2-3 months. Once the male reaches puberty, it ceases to molt. The last moulting of a male is usually called the dinitic, which means "finite". But sexually mature females do not stop molting. They have to change a tight exoskeleton 1-2 times every year.

Errors of inexperienced hosts

Inexperienced employers forget to artificially maintain a high level of humidity and further increase it, noticing the approach of molting. Because of this error, tarantula spiders grow worse and experience a shell change more difficult. They can be injured, lose limbs or die.

The second mistake is trying to help get out of the old exoskeleton. It seems to the owners that the spider is stuck and suffering. Yes, it is difficult for an animal, but any interference in the moulting process can lead to the death of a spider.

The third mistake is experiencing and panic after losing limbs. A spider can discard a limb during molting if it is injured or a spike of external and internal exoskeletons has occurred. On this occasion, you should not worry. In tarantulas, regeneration is developed, after 2-3 lines the lost limb is restored.