Q about p cancerides

[sansoucie]

I have already searched and there just isn't much info on the Haitian. I know they have blue slings, but what color stages do they go through? Right now mine is a rusty brown with purplish hairs on the legs...

Thanks

 

[krtrman]

what size is yours at right now. i have several. they start out blue (til about 1 inch) then turn a dark navy almost black (until about 2 inches) and then they turn slightly more brown over the next few molts until they reach a weird brown color with purple highlights. the males tend to be more purple than the females. i have one that has some interesting markings on the "knees".

 

[sansoucie]

Mines at that muddy brown with purpley hairs It is pretty big, but I am horrible at judging. If I was crazy enough to set it on my palm, it's legs would hang off. Maybe 5 inch leg span and a huge butt.And the fangs.... lord, they're HUGE.

 

[krtrman]

they are quite fiesty. at the size your t is at the color will probably stay that way. darkening before a molt. you know the drill. i dont think they go through any more color changes as an adult.

 

[sansoucie]

Hmm looks like I will have to get a sling sometime as I am interested in seeing the blue babies! You're right... fiesty as heck! Not really overly defensive unless I invade her space though. Thanks for the info guys!!

 

[zahiro]

tomorrow I hope to receive a P. cancerides but non sling. She is some 2 years old.
then I will put a pic.

Is Phormictopus cancerides a Burrower?????

 

[sansoucie]

Mine has not burrowed.

 

[krtrman]

they all move some of the soil around a bit but no burrows per say. mine like to climb the walls at night. i assume (correctly or falsely) that this is their natural instinct to climb to the mouth of their burrows to wait for prey.

 

[sansoucie]

Climbing is pretty much all he/she does at night. it's made an indentation in the substrate in the corner of the enclosure with a web mat. It just sits and waits until nightfall and then it's VERY active. Do you think I should keep it as a troppical arboreal?You know, keep the humidity high and provide some climing material? Right now I have moderste humidity and there is no climbing aids... so it just climbs all over the glass and top.

 

[krtrman]

i dont keep anything in the enclosure to climb on. i just keep the substrate high in case of a fall. the less to hurt the t the better. i just keep a full water dish and for the slings and juvies misting about 2 times per week depending on how dry the enclosures get. they dont like wet soil so i pick a side to mist so they have water if they need it. i would say moderate humidity is fine. i dont do anything special to raise the humidity just whats in the room seems to work just fine for them.

 

[sansoucie]

Great! So I did the right thing ! WHEW! Thanks for the info!!