Upside-Down Tarantulas Are Not Dead - Tips for Tarantula Owners

I was in the pet store purchasing yet another Rose-Hair tarantula (I had a few at the time) and the gentleman behind me told me to be careful when buying them from this place. When I asked him why, he responded that every tarantula he gets from this pet store dies soon after getting it home. I had to know more.

He told me that he's thrown THREE of them away that were found upside-down in the morning. I gasped! I informed him that if he is going to keep such exotic pets he really should read up on them. I told him that tarantulas MOLT upside-down, and that after a couple hours the thing would right itself and emerge bigger and brighter than ever. The look on his face was priceless, but didn't change the fact that he'd killed several perfectly healthy tarantulas.

Not only is a tarantula on its back not dead, it is very full of life indeed! I have had several die in their tanks, and they have never taken their last breaths upside-down. They simply fold their legs under them and stop walking. Almost always this is due to a lack of water. Water is essential to a healthy tarantula.

There are some signs to indicate that a tarantula is about to molt, and if you have one I highly recommend paying attention to it because sometimes the indications are slight. You may notice the tarantula become dull in color; previously bright and vivid areas of the spider may appear faded or sun bleached. Rest assured there is a "new" tarantula underneath, just waiting to come out!

Another pre-molt sign is a bald abdomen. On more aggressive species, such as the Goliath Bird Eater and some of the Baboon tarantulas, the abdomens may go bald quickly due to them becoming agitated and kicking off their "urticating hairs", or barbed, hair-like abdominal covering that when sent into the air is an extreme irritant to potential attackers - as well as humans! These hairs are very itchy when breathed or touched. On more docile species like the Rose-Hair or Pink-Toe tarantulas, a bald abdomen could indicate a molt nearing.

Sometimes a tarantula will build a silky web on the floor of its cage, even with no insects around. This is a strong indication that it is preparing to molt, and certain precautionary things that we as owners can do will make the transition to its "new" self as pleasant and safe as possible.

The tarantula may stop eating a couple weeks prior to a molt. If it is refusing to eat at all, be sure to take any insects out of its cage, as they can attack the tarantula if not eaten after a couple days. Also keep the tank humid at all times, but especially if you suspect the tarantula is headed for a molt. The humidity will actually help the tarantula separate from its old skin, making it a safer process overall. If the tarantula is dry and malnourished, it may not have the strength to shed its old exoskeleton, and its very life could be at risk.

If you are lucky, you'll get the see the tarantula flip itself over before it molts. This is a very cool site to see, I can assure you! However, if you walk in mid-molt and are able to watch it, pull up a chair, it's amazing! The whole process usually takes around two hours. In my experience, they normally molt late at night, however, and I've ended up missing it. I simply wake up to "two" tarantulas in the tank instead of one. One very pretty, hairy and BIGGER one, and another that is usually lying on its side and appears twisted in half. Remove its old shell from the tank as soon as you can.

It is best not to feed the tarantula for a week or so after a successful molt, as well. Their outer shell is very soft in this period and they aren't quite comfortable in it yet. They may refuse food, and allowing crickets or other insects to be in the cage during this time is an annoyance to the tarantula, at best. At worst, they could attack and hurt the spider, if it is not in the mood to eat.

As always, keep the tank humid after a molt, as well. Desert dwelling species such as the Rose-Hair or Mexican Red Knee can survive fine with 50 to 70% humidity, but arboreal (tree-dwelling) species and tarantulas from the tropics need much more. A hygrometer, or humidity gauge, can be purchased very cheaply at almost any pet store. So remember, an upside-down tarantula is far from trash; it's a brand new tarantula!