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View Full Version : Molt skin not eaten -- problem?

DanInSD
10/07/2007, 05:45 PM
My O. s. molted last week (fourth molt since I've had her). She usually eats her molt skin completely or nearly so. Usually all I ever find after exhaustive search is the last segment of the raptorial appendages.

This time, however, she unceremoniously deposited most of the molt skin right outside of the burrow. She has stuck her head out a few times since then to "look around" so I know she is generally OK. Here's the molt, by the way:

http://home.san.rr.com/dkgweb/images/Molt.jpg

Just wondering...

Dan
abrahamcho
10/07/2007, 07:39 PM
HEy dan I have a random question sorry. UM this is a peacock but you know here circled in blue.
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb7/freshmentosmaker/peacockmolt.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>

I thought these are smashers not spearers. Can you broaden my knowledge here. Thanks
~Abe
Gonodactylus
10/07/2007, 08:51 PM
All Odontodactylus have reduced spines on the inside of the dactyl. This ranges from 2-3 in O. scyllarus and O. cultrifer to 5-8 in O. japonicus and O. latirostris. All members of the genus have inflated dactyl heels mading them smashers, but all also have teeth on the inside of the dactyl which allow them to stab.

Roy
DanInSD
10/07/2007, 10:29 PM
Dr. Roy, do you think it's anything to be concerned about that the molt skin was not eaten? Perhaps I'm feeding her too well :)

However, she has gotten much less aggressive than before, during this last molt cycle. This is yet another piece of new behavior. I am "mildly concerned".

Thanks,
Dan
Gonodactylus
10/07/2007, 10:31 PM
It could be diet. Certainly not all O. s I've kept ate their moltskin.

Roy
JBrown
10/08/2007, 04:59 PM
mine just molted as well and I was able to recover most of the skin as well. My O.s is well fed with weekly additions of snails/hermits and the occasional treat from me. I have seen the shrimp so I know it's ok but it seems to have lost it raptorial appendeges they should grown back within 3-4 more molts correct?
Gonodactylus
10/08/2007, 05:15 PM
This is a common problem with O. scyllarus. If the animal gets enough soft food to eat and remains healthy, it will have functional appendages in three molts.

Roy
abrahamcho
10/08/2007, 05:46 PM
So these can stab... that is sooo cool thanks dr.ROy