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So is all the gear off or is only his back left? Water is important. Is all nicely wet? A normal moult should last no longer that 12 hours from the time it rolls onto its back. Nevertheless, an attempt should be made using a soft, damp paintbrush to try and gently ease away the old skin.

Sometimes the old skin sticks to the abdomen and this can be removed again, by using a damp brush. Spiders that are totally stuck and beyond help should be euthenised by placing them in the freezer until dead. It is thought that sometimes a spider will moult prematurely and this is also fatal. For some reason the area around the carapace splits prematurely and the spider slowly dies as it has not made adequate preparation for the upcoming moult. Sign of a premature moult are the carapace has lifted while the spider is in the upright position (see photo below). There is usually no moulting pad present either. Premature moult spiders almost always die.