b.emilia bald patch

[Poxicator]

Originally Posted by Becky

It's a common misconception that the loss of hair on the abdomen is an approaching moult. Before the spider moults the skin will go dark, getting blacker and blacker and then shiny as the skin stretches and becomes to small. It's at this point the spider will flip over and moult. If the skin is pink/white and has a black stripe down the middle then it's just from flicking and not from a moult due

totally agree, once people keep repeating things they soon become "internet truth".
Although Brachypelma are known for flicking its the Mexican Fireleg which has the worse reputation. All new world tarantula are capable of flicking hairs and some do so to cover their substrate area to warn off predators - any sniffing rodent is likely to get a nose full or irritating hairs. Losing hair to the point of baldness could suggest somethings wrong. Perhaps you're leaving live food in for too long (remove after a day or 2), perhaps the substrate is too moist or maybe you're disturbing it too much?
As suggested above, when the moult approaches the bald patch will get darker which is a sign of the growing hairs underneath, so at least you'll get a very obvious indication of an inpending moult, although these can take quite a while with Brachypelma, and once its moulted it will be all new, bright and no more bald patch. Wish my head would work like that!

[Becky]

LOL on the head comment Peter!!

None of my Brachys are bald

[debcot1]

my brachypelma emilia has developed a bald patch on her abdomen which is the reddish (same colour as her legs). it started a few weeks ago and has got alot bigger. is this because she is coming up to a molt or because she has flicked them off. (ive only seen her do this once though)

thanks in advance

[selina20]

If she was coming up for a moult this would be darker. Shes prob flicked them all off so nothing to worry about. Brachys are very good at this.

[debcot1]

Originally Posted by selina20

If she was coming up for a moult this would be darker. Shes prob flicked them all off so nothing to worry about. Brachys are very good at this.

i read that if the bald patch is due to an inpending moult then it will turn darker as the time approaches...is this true?

if its the flicking will they grow back because she looks really sillly and is there anything i can do to prevent it? by the way i dont handle her unless i need to.

[selina20]

Originally Posted by debcot1

i read that if the bald patch is due to an inpending moult then it will turn darker as the time approaches...is this true?

if its the flicking will they grow back because she looks really sillly and is there anything i can do to prevent it? by the way i dont handle her unless i need to.

The bald patch will go black and she will prob lose all the hair on her abdomen when shes due for a moult.
Sadly they wont grow back until her next moult. Some Ts just do it and it has been known for some to flick the hairs off when they web the substrate and their hide so shes prob done this. Just leave her be and enjoy her lols.

[debcot1]

thanks

[Becky]

It's a common misconception that the loss of hair on the abdomen is an approaching moult. Before the spider moults the skin will go dark, getting blacker and blacker and then shiny as the skin stretches and becomes to small. It's at this point the spider will flip over and moult. If the skin is pink/white and has a black stripe down the middle then it's just from flicking and not from a moult due

[Lucifus]

Originally Posted by Becky

It's a common misconception that the loss of hair on the abdomen is an approaching moult. Before the spider moults the skin will go dark, getting blacker and blacker and then shiny as the skin stretches and becomes to small. It's at this point the spider will flip over and moult. If the skin is pink/white and has a black stripe down the middle then it's just from flicking and not from a moult due

Dont tarantulas line the moulting matt with hairs as well?

[Toeboe]

My A genic is about to moult anytime time now.
It stopped eating a couple of weeks ago, which is a prime indicator. It has a tiny bald patch where hairs had been flicked a while ago when I had to move some decor out of the tank. This has gradually, over the 2 weeks of fasting, grown darker and is now fully darkened. Last night it lay its web mat (i dont think it lay hairs into it though) and I'm just waiting for the moult to start.
Last moult I managed to photograph each stage of the process,,amazing stuff.