Cotztetlana sp

Sarkhan42

Arachnoangel
Joined
Dec 29, 2015
Messages
901
What can anyone tell me about this genus as far as habits and care? I'm intrigued by the pronounced back legs on a new world, and the coloration for the species I've seen is honestly gorgeous. Not to mention I love the genus name :). Asking really because there isn't much of anything out there, hopefully someone has some experience with them.
 

boina

Lady of the mites
Active Member
Joined
Mar 25, 2015
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2,217
Never knew they even existed! Fascinating spiders.
 

Andrea82

Arachnoemperor
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Jan 12, 2016
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3,686
Looks like an E.pachypus but in color :D
Are they sexually dimorphic as well?
 

Sarkhan42

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Dec 29, 2015
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901
I'm very excited, hopefully I'll have 3 little slings coming my way early next week!

Unsurprisingly 2 of the 3 slings I received are HEAVY burrowers. I'm going to need to move them into deeper vials, they've dug down to the very bottom and cleaned it out completely, filling the rest of the vial with the moved dirt in the process, all the way to the lid. The third isn't doing as well unfortunately, hasn't eaten at all and no burrowing or settling in, while not being as plump as the others. Hopefully just a finicky individual.

The other interesting thing is the abdomen elongates much like an old world but in a loaf of bread shape when heavily fed, unlike the usual ballooning you get from new worlds.

I'll see if I can get some half decent pictures tonight.

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Unfortunately it’s pretty much impossible to get a good picture of the sling itself, but you can see just how much this one has cleared out.
 

Sarkhan42

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Update!

They’ve now molted twice since I received them and put on just a little bit of size. As you can see no adult coloration yet, but the abdomen shape and the abnormal back legs are visible even now. The legs may be more difficult to see properly in the photos, but from the side they’re very obviously different.
 

Sarkhan42

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Dec 29, 2015
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Well it seems that one sling is decently ahead of the others, and has molted once again, much darker now.

So far these guys have been lovely for me. They burrow extensively but I always find them on the surface, and they take prey without hesitation, even as large as themselves.
 

Nils S

Arachnopeon
Joined
Jan 4, 2016
Messages
3
I've had two slings for about a year. Have grown from 1/8" to 1/2" in that time. Keep the same as Brachy/Aphonopelma/New World Terrestrial. Mine are big burrowers as well--I give them 3-4" of substrate. They're good eaters and a pleasure to have. No leg warmers yet, looking forward to it though!

Sorry, just saw the dates on this. Looks like yours are doing great. Cheers
 

Sarkhan42

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Dec 29, 2015
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901
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Just used a microscope to determine that this beautiful freshly molted sling is a female!!
:p:D That’s definitely the best feeling.
 

Teal

Arachnoemperor
Old Timer
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Jan 11, 2009
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4,096
I've never even heard of these! Keep the updates coming... what a neat looking species!
 

Sarkhan42

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Dec 29, 2015
Messages
901
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One female has dug to the bottom of a 32 oz deli and closed herself off, being 1 feeding after a molt... Thankfully the other female and the male are happy to pose for photos, and are hungry as can be!
 
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