AboutJenna Expertise I am a pet store employee that cares for a variety of tarantulas. These include Zebras, Rose-Hair, Pink Toe and Cobalt. I am also knowledgeable in other types and can advise on care, housing, feeding, and behavior.
Experience 2 years of reptile care with research and hands on experience feeding, handling and housing 20 tarantulas.
Expert: Jenna Date: 5/21/2008 Subject: Boris Will Not Shed?
Question I have had my tarantula for about three and a half years now (during which I learned she was female, but refused to change her name), and am becoming increasingly concerned that she has shed only once in this span of time.
I learned today that I should be misting her enclosure, which I have surely not been doing. I bought her a personal spray bottle tonight and did a warm water misting, which she did not approve of very much (I tried not to spray near her, but I think she felt it on her legs nevertheless).
So I guess my question is, if I begin now to regularly mist her, will she have a more regulated shed cycle? Can I undo any damage I may have done? :(
It may also be important to include her past anorexia; she fasted for several months, ending about five months ago. During this time I had provided her with mealworms, crickets, moths from outside, and even one of my snake's pinkies, to no avail. She is eating now though, at least one large cricket a week, but I read that she should be eating 3-5 in a twice-weekly schedule. So, again, should I raise her humidity, will she have more energy, and be more willing to eat as much food as she needs?
Answer Hey Teneisha
There shouldn't be any permanent damage if any. An adult tarantula only sheds about once a year once they are done growing. It is kinda odd that she hasn't in this time...but then again I've taken care of 30+ tarantulas and only seen one shed regardless of me misting and keeping them in good health. Everyone is different.
If she was fasting for that long, she isn't going to get a monstrous appetite right away. It's normal for Rose hairs to fast and not eat for months up to years. And that might explain for the lack of sheds. You didn't include what kind of tarantula so I'll include for a few different kinds. The Rose Hair I have had range from 2-4 crickets a week to 4 crickets every two days at least. The pink toe is a light snacker, and didn't eat more than 2-6 small crickets every 4-7 days.
Keep offering the variety of food and do your best to keep the humidity up to a decent level. Keep in mind that a Rose Hair is a desert tarantula and we don't want really high humidity. Tarantulas are slower to recover than other animals but seem to be fairly resilient.
