Paint and Pixels

A New Ruby

Roxanne and I have been spending a lot of time together lately, ever since Rocket started school. She really resents having to spend time with me and being separated from Rocket for so long. She says "when Rocket is at school, I get a headache". Lonliness will do that to you. But today, Roxanne knows she was lucky to be home while Rocket was at school, because me and her got to witness something fascinating that only happens once a year (and we all missed it last year). Ruby molted.

When we got home from dropping Rocket off at school, and we went to check on Ruby, we found her lying silently flat on her back, in a meditative state. Had I not done my tarantula research, I may have thought she was dead. But I knew that this meant she was about to shed her skin. Here she is on her back (a position I've never seen her in before). Notice that you can see her fangs:
Then, over the next hour, she slowly emerged from her old skin. This picture may be hard to understand, so I included some labels that might help. It all happened in slow motion. One at a time, she pulled each of her eight legs out of their old skin sockets, kind of like fingers coming out of a glove.

This is her new self. Her face has a shiny irridescent pink glow to it now. This coloring is why this species is reffered to as "Chilean Rose". It really is beautiful. Her "fur" is also much softer and longer than before.
This is her old skin. The penny is there to show size. Notice the eight concentric segments in the center from which she withdrew her legs. It's amazing.
And Roxy gave Ruby a soft kiss to congratulate her on this new stage of life! Note: I didn't tell her or force her to do this. She has just adopted my affectionate attitude towards Ruby. Remember: prejudice ideas are learned.... she hasn't learned them. But other people in this house have.