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I have a green bottle blue (female I think) that is around 2-3 inches long. When I first got her this summer she was a very aggressive eater. She ate every cricket I gave her immediately. Then she stopped eating completely around a month ago and I figured she was getting ready to molt. She encased herself in her half-log and there's a very small space that I can shine a flashlight in. Well, finally tonight, when I checked on her, she was on her back. Is there anything I should do? I don't want to disturb her but it doesn't seem like there's enough room for her to molt. And how do I know if she's having trouble? I can only see a couple of legs so it's hard to know exactly what's happening? Should she be upright by the morning? Thanks for your help.

Just leave her alone, she'll do everythign on her own just fine. Molting problems usually arize form not being kept humid enough, but C. cyaneopubescens like it very dry and I've never seen a molting problem. Tight spaces are nothing to worry about either. I've had a few molt in very tight quarters.
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KJ Vezino
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Missouri Tarantula Enthusiasts Group

Okay. I'll just check on her from time to time. I guess when she eventually comes out, I can pick up the log to get the shed. I'd like to take it somewhere to make sure that she is a she. Thanks for your help.

At 2-3 inches you should be able to sex it yourself. If it is on the smaller side of that you may need a magnifying glass to help you out, but it should still be easy. If you can get the molt when it is fresh and still moist, then it'll be easy to lay it out and stretch out the abdomen to get to the area you want to look at. Just make sure you can see the parts inbetween the first pair (nearest the legs) of book lungs. If you don't know what you're looking at, take a picture and post it and I'll try to help you out.

Here's a pic of my female P. murinus. Notice the flap (the part with the red bits on top) inbetween the book lungs.

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KJ Vezino
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Missouri Tarantula Enthusiasts Group

Cool. I think I can do that. So, I want to get the shed when it's still fresh but how will I know I can do that without causing any problems. If I see that's she's right side up, can I lift the log up to get the shed?
Here are pics of my two.

That should be fine, just be careful, they are very fragile and vulnerable right after a molt. They can be injured easily if nudged the wrong way.
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KJ Vezino
My Gallery
Missouri Tarantula Enthusiasts Group

Hey TheVez2. Here's a picture of the shed. It sure looks like a male to me. The guy that I bought it from said if we determined that it was a male he would trade him for a female. Do you think I should do that since I don't breed them - I just have them as pets.

Dunno, sometimes it's hard to tell from a 2D pic. fish around on the furrow with a pin or toothpic and see if there is a flap. Or get a closer/clearer pic with the molt stretched out a bit more and maybe I can help more.
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KJ Vezino
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Missouri Tarantula Enthusiasts Group

I put the shed in a plastic bag but it dried out anyway. I really can't see anything now. I'll wait for the next time and get a better look. In the meantime, he/she won't eat. How long do they generally take to eat again after molting?

>>I put the shed in a plastic bag but it dried out anyway. I really can't see anything now. I'll wait for the next time and get a better look. In the meantime, he/she won't eat. How long do they generally take to eat again after molting?

If you wrap the molt in a moist paper towel and seal it in a ziploc for a few days it'll refresh and be workable again, if you want to.

I always wait a week before attempting feeding, but I've had some stubborn ones wait a month before they would eat.
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KJ Vezino
My Gallery
Missouri Tarantula Enthusiasts Group