Jumping Spiders Molting

Have you ever wondered how jumping spiders grow and change throughout their whole life? If you are a pet owner or an enthusiast of these amazing arachnids, you might have noticed that they periodically shed their old skin and emerge with a new one. This process is called molting, and it is essential for their growth, regeneration, and exoskeleton maintenance. Let’s explore more about their molting stages and how to care for your spider during this process.

What is Molting, and Why Do Jumping Spiders Do It?

Molting is the process when they shed their old exoskeleton (the hard outer covering that protects and supports the spider’s body) and grow a new one. Like all other arachnids Jumping spiders also go through this process for many reasons:

Growth: With jumping spiders growth, their outer layer (exoskeleton) doesn’t grow with them. So, to make it fit with their increasing body, they must need to get rid of their old exoskeleton and replace it with a newer one. It allows them to keep growing without being limited exoskeleton.
Regeneration: If a jumping spider loses their body parts during an injury, molting can help them to repair and regenerate the lost body parts. When a spider sheds its old body layer, it will also regrow missing or damaged body parts. After a successive molt, the new parts will gradually reach their normal size.
Exoskeleton maintenance: To keep and maintain a healthy body spiders need a strong exoskeleton. With the passage of time the old exoskeleton loses their durability and effectiveness. The molting process can help spiders to grow a new and stronger body exoskeleton to maintain their body’s strength and stability.

Concerning to the above processes, molting is an essential for jumping spiders. It helps them to repair and regenerate the damaged, and maintain healthy body parts. It also enables them to adjust and adapt in the ever changing environments.

How Often Do Jumping Spiders Molt?

The frequency of molting in jumping spiders can vary and is influenced by factors such as age, size, species, and individual growth rates. Generally, jumping spiders molt every 3 to 4 weeks. However, this timeline can differ for each spider based on their unique circumstances. For example, younger spiders, such as spiderlings and juveniles, grow rapidly and may molt more frequently than older spiders. If you’re new to owning a pet jumping spider, it’s essential to monitor their growth, behavior, and physical appearance to identify when they are about to undergo a molt.

Signs when the Spider is Ready to Molt

If you notice the following changes, it means the spider is getting ready to molt.

Decreased appetite: When the spider is ready to molt, it stops eating.
Large abdomen: When a spider is ready to molt, it becomes larger than standard size and expands.
Thick web sack: Before molting, spiders create a dense web sack in which they will be molting.
Hiding behavior: Spiders tend to hide and become less active when they are about to molt.

Stages of the Jumping Spiders Molting

The molting process of jumping spiders can be divided into three main stages: pre-molting, during molting, and post-molting. Each stage has its characteristics and challenges and requires different levels of care and attention from the owner. Let’s take a closer look at each stage and what you can do to help your spider during this time.

Pre-Molting Stage

The pre-molting stage is the period before the actual molting occurs when the spider prepares itself for the upcoming changes. During this stage, the spider will spin a thick web sac, where it will hide and molt in peace. The web sac provides protection and stability for the spider during the molting process, as well as a place to store its old skin after shedding it. The pre-molting stage can last from a few hours to a few days, depending on the size and age of the spider.

During the pre-molting stage, the spider will also eat more than usual in an attempt to take in as much nutrition as possible before the molt. This is because the spider will not be able to eat or drink during the molting stage and will need to rely on its stored energy reserves. After the spider has eaten enough, it will stop feeding and retreat into its web sac, where it will wait until the new exoskeleton starts growing under the old one.

During Molting Stage

The molting stage is the most critical and delicate part of the process, where the spider actually sheds its old skin and reveals its new one. During this stage, the spider produces a special liquid that goes between the old and new exoskeletons, the liquid helps the spider to separate them and make the shedding easier. The spider will then carefully crawl out of its old skin, leaving it behind in the web sac. The molting stage can take from a few minutes to a few hours, depending on the size and age of the spider.

The molting stage is also the most vulnerable and risky time for the spider, as it can face several complications and dangers. For instance, if the spider fails to crawl out of its old skin in time, the new exoskeleton can harden prematurely, trapping the spider inside and preventing it from moving or breathing results in a serious injury or death of the jumping spider. Another potential problem is dehydration, which can cause the spider to lose its elasticity and flexibility, making molting harder or impossible. Dehydration can also affect the quality and strength of the new exoskeleton, making it more prone to damage or infection.

Post-Molting Stage

The post-molting stage is the period after the molting has occurred when the spider adjusts to its new skin and recovers from the stress of the change. During this stage, the spider will emerge from its web sac and explore its surroundings, looking for water and food. The spider will also groom itself and stretch its limbs, testing the functionality and fit of its new exoskeleton. The post-molting stage can last from a few hours to a few days, depending on the size and age of the spider.

The post-molting stage is also an important time for the spider, as it needs to replenish its energy and hydration levels, as well as strengthen and harden its new exoskeleton. The new exoskeleton is initially soft and fragile, making the spider more susceptible to injury or infection. The spider will gradually harden its new skin by absorbing moisture from the air and producing a protective layer of wax. The spider will also grow in size and color as the new exoskeleton expands and develops its distinctive patterns and markings.

How to Care for Your Jumping Spider During Molting

Molting is a natural and necessary process for jumping spiders, but it can also be stressful and dangerous for them. As a pet owner, you can help your spider during this time by providing a safe and comfortable environment, avoiding disturbing or handling your spider, keeping the humidity and temperature levels optimal, and removing any live prey or uneaten food from the enclosure. Here are some more details on how to care for your jumping spider during molting:

Provide a Safe and Comfortable Environment

Providing a safer and more comfortable environment during molting is essential for your spider to molt with peace and without any interruption. Make sure the enclosure is spacious enough for the spider to molt and grow and that it has enough hiding places and webbing materials for the spider to create its web sac. You should also make sure that the enclosure is secure and escape-proof and that it is free of any potential predators or pests that could harm your spider.

Avoid Disturbing or Handling Your Spider

During the molting stages, avoid disturbing or handling your spider, as it can cause stress and damage to your spider. It means refraining from opening the enclosure, touching the spider or its web sac, or moving the enclosure around. You should also avoid shining bright lights or making loud noises near the enclosure, as this can startle or irritate your spider. You should only observe your spider from a distance and let it melt at its own pace and in its way.

Keep the Humidity and Temperature Levels Optimal

Keep the humidity and temperature level optimal during the molting stages. The humidity and temperature level depend upon the origin and species of your spiders. Normally, a humidity level of around 60% to 80% and a temperature level of around 20°C to 25°C is best fit for your spider. You can achieve this by misting the enclosure regularly, using a humidifier or a heat mat, and using a thermometer and a hygrometer to monitor the levels.

Remove Any Live Prey or Uneaten Food

Remove the uneaten food and prey from the enclosure during molting stages, as this can pose a threat or a distraction to your spider. Usually, spiders are not interested or able to eat during the molt stages, so do not feed your spider for a few days before and after the molt. You should also check the enclosure for any leftover food or dead insects and remove them promptly, as they can attract mold, bacteria, or parasites that could harm your spider.

Common Molting Complications and Solutions

Despite your best efforts, sometimes things can go wrong during the molting process, and your spider may face some complications or difficulties. Here are some of the most common molting problems and how to deal with them:

Dehydration

Dehydration is one of the most common and serious molting complications, as it can affect the spider’s ability to molt and harden its new exoskeleton. Dehydration can be caused by low humidity, high temperature, or lack of water. To prevent dehydration, you should keep the humidity and temperature levels optimal, mist the enclosure regularly, and provide a shallow water dish for your spider. If your spider is already dehydrated, you can try to rehydrate it by gently placing it on a moist cotton pad or a wet Q-tip and letting it drink the water. You should also move your spider to a smaller and more humid enclosure and monitor its condition closely.

Incomplete or Stuck Molt

Incomplete or stuck molts are a serious threat to your spider, where the spider fails to shed its old skin completely or gets trapped inside it. It can be caused by dehydration, injury, stress, or genetic factors. To prevent an incomplete or stuck molt, you should avoid disturbing or handling your spider, keep the humidity and temperature levels optimal, and remove any live prey or uneaten food from the enclosure. If your spider is already experiencing an incomplete or stuck molt, you can try to help it by gently moistening the stuck parts with a wet Q-tip and carefully removing them with tweezers. However, you should be very cautious and gentle, as you could injure or kill your spider if you pull too hard or damage its new exoskeleton.

Injury or Infection

Injury or Infection is a serious molting complication where the spider sustains damage or disease to its new exoskeleton. Predators, pests, parasites, mold, bacteria, or improper handling can cause it. To prevent an injury or infection, you should provide a safe and comfortable environment for your spider, keep the enclosure clean and secure, and avoid disturbing or handling your spider. Suppose your spider is already injured or infected. In that case, you can try to treat it by applying some antiseptic or antibiotic cream to the affected area and moving your spider to a smaller and more sterile enclosure. You should also consult a veterinarian or an expert for advice and assistance.

Final Words

Molting is essential for jumping spiders to grow, maintain and regenerate their exoskeletons. However, the molting process can be stressful and dangerous for them, as they can face various complications and challenges. As a pet owner, it’s your duty to provide them a safe and healthy environment and take care of them during the process. By doing so, you can ensure a smooth and successful molting process for your spider and enjoy watching its transformation and development.

FAQs

Let’s answer some common questions asked by people, and you have to be aware of the situations when things go wrong. If you have any other questions, please ask. We will try to at our earliest.

The molting process can take from a few minutes to a few hours and a few hours to a few days, depending on the size and age of the spider.

The signs of a jumping spider, when it is ready to molt, are spinning a thick web sac, eating more than usual, stopping feeding and retreating into the web sac, becoming lethargic and inactive, changing color or appearance, and curling up into a ball.

Some signs that your jumping spider has molted successfully are emerging from the web sac, leaving behind the old skin, looking larger and brighter, grooming itself and stretching its limbs, and resuming feeding and activity

Suppose your jumping spider is having problems during molt. In that case, it can not be emerging from the web sac, having parts of the old skin still attached, looking smaller and duller, having difficulty moving or breathing, and showing signs of dehydration, injury, or infection.

Suppose your jumping spider is having molting problems. In that case, you can rehydrate it with a moist cotton pad or a wet Q-tip, moisten and remove the stuck parts with a wet Q-tip and tweezers, apply antiseptic or antibiotic cream to the injured or infected area, move it to a smaller and more humid or sterile enclosure, and consulting a veterinarian or an expert.

Don’t feed your spider until it comes out from the hammock because the live insects can harm it as its exoskeleton is not solid yet. You can feed it when it becomes more active.