Thanks for the continuing advice... here's another spidey ..

External Since: Apr 06, 2006 Posts: 6

Thanks again for all the help so far, it's been a huge help.

As I said, our red rump tarantula has burrowed under her piece of bark, but
lifting up the glass case we can see her, and she's fine. We checked on her
today, and she has definitely shed her skin - it quite worryingly looks like
there's two of her in the now.

We were told that we had to remove the shedded skin, and that this was quite
important. Our problem is we'd have to lift up the bark to get at it, thus
destroying her burrow, and probably bothering her a lot. So:

1. Is it as important as we've been led to believe to get rid of the shedded
skin?
2. Is her burrow pretty sacred, or will she just make a new one?
3. How soon do we start feeding her again after she comes out?

Any help and advice is very much appreciated - we are googling this stuff,
but there's so much conflicting advice we're going to still ask in here if
that's ok ;)

Many thanks,

Gavin

External Since: May 06, 2006 Posts: 1

You'll will want to remove the exuvia (shedded skin) within the next
couple days, as it can mold. As for her burrow, she will probably
rebuild anything you destroy, but try to be gentle. Don't feed her for
alteast a week, or until her fangs turn completely black. If they
don't harden, she can break them trying to eat. Don't disturb her
during this time, tarantulas are very sensitive during post-molt.

Hope this helps,
Andrew