Sling moulting

[Troopermk2]

Hopefully you guys aren't getting sick of my constant questions, but i really really don't want to screw anything up with my new T's.

So, my B.Vagans has been super chill and active, roaming the substrate, burrowing, he even ate a pre-killed cricket so hes looking super fat and healthy.

BUT, my A.Geniculata hasn't really been moving around much, hes been sitting in the same place for a good 24 hours give or take, hopefully the picture shows that it is quite humid, and im not sure whats up with him, just worried, could it be a pre-molt? what do you guys think?

 

[Mojo288]

Does it have a hide? As for the humidity, if you squeeze the substrate does water drip out? you don't want to over do it. Also T's will need some time to acclimate to their new environments, some more so than others. Personally when i got my genic sling he ate twice then disappeared for a month lol, but it looks like hes trying to hide judging by the fact that he has squeezed himself between the sub and the glass.

 

[Troopermk2]

Does it have a hide? As for the humidity, if you squeeze the substrate does water drip out?

The substrate doesnt drip with water when its squeezed but it definitley leaves my fingers wet, i don't actually have a hide for him, i have some bark handy but its a bit large, would it be alright to just break a bit off and use it? Hes still so tiny, barely my fingernail size

 

[Nightstalker47]

The substrate doesnt drip with water when its squeezed but it definitley leaves my fingers wet, i don't actually have a hide for him, i have some bark handy but its a bit large, would it be alright to just break a bit off and use it? Hes still so tiny, barely my fingernail size

There are some changes to be made. Slings need some moisture but not to that extent, the sub looks far too moist.

This can lead to a stuffy enclosure and stagnant air wich is not good for your sling. I would change out the earth and add in a small bottle cap as a water dish. Too much moisture is just as bad as not enough.

 

[Troopermk2]

There are some changes to be made. Slings need some moisture but not to that extent, the sub looks far too moist.

I will take it from the pros and prepare his new enclosure now, some advice i was given was that the Genics need slightly more humid environments, i guess i added a bit to much water to the substrate, thank you for your advice, anything else you can give me would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Mojo288]

The substrate doesnt drip with water when its squeezed but it definitley leaves my fingers wet, i don't actually have a hide for him, i have some bark handy but its a bit large, would it be alright to just break a bit off and use it? Hes still so tiny, barely my fingernail size

Breaking a piece of bark off will work just fine, that's exactly what i do with my slings. If your wondering how to tell if its enough, the substrate should clump when squeezed, but not drip at all, the substrate for my genic feels a bit cool if you know what i mean, but it doesn't feel wet per say.

 

[Troopermk2]

If your wondering how to tell if its enough, the substrate should clump when squeezed, but not drip at all, the substrate for my genic feels a bit cool if you know what i mean, but it doesn't feel wet per say.

Yea its definitely too wet, the problem is i watered it the same amount as the B.Vagans enclosure - then added another few sprays, totally my bad, glad you guys are here!

 

[Nightstalker47]

I will take it from the pros and prepare his new enclosure now, some advice i was given was that the Genics need slightly more humid environments, i guess i added a bit to much water to the substrate, thank you for your advice, anything else you can give me would be greatly appreciated!

They do well with some extra moisture but this is often exaggerated. You will soon figure out the right balance of moisture/ventilation, once that's done they're a piece of cake.

 

[Troopermk2]

They do well with some extra moisture but this is often exaggerated. You will soon figure out the right balance of moisture/ventilation, once that's done they're a piece of cake.

Rehousing was a success with no attempted escape, he was walking a bit slow from one container to the other, im not sure if hes just cautious or something, but he definitely seems to have slower mobility than the B Vagans who is quite the nippy little fellow, anyway he now has a little waterdish and a hide so i think ill just leave him alone for a a few hours and maybe offer him another pre-killed cricket if his behavior has improved much.

Thanks again for the advice this really helped a lot, the top layer of substrate wasnt too bad, but underneath it was almost like glue, you really saved my ass there

EDIT : I have no idea if my spiders are male or female...but i dont want to call them "it"

 

[Troopermk2]

Bumping this for any interest, He hasn't improved that much, hes pretty much sitting in the same spot as when he was first transferred, not really taken notice of the hide....well he hasnt moved so yea he hasnt really taken note of any changes, he is definitely alive, i didnt prod him with anything because i dont want to harm him incase something is up, i gently blew on him and he kind of shifted around so he was facing away....any ideas ?

 

[Nightstalker47]

Bumping this for any interest, He hasn't improved that much, hes pretty much sitting in the same spot as when he was first transferred, not really taken notice of the hide....well he hasnt moved so yea he hasnt really taken note of any changes, he is definitely alive, i didnt prod him with anything because i dont want to harm him incase something is up, i gently blew on him and he kind of shifted around so he was facing away....any ideas ?

Just leave him be, no need to worry. He just got rehoused and needs time to settle in. Patience is key with Theraphosids, blowing on him or even just constantly checking up on it will needlessly stress it out.

 

[PidderPeets]

Bumping this for any interest, He hasn't improved that much, hes pretty much sitting in the same spot as when he was first transferred, not really taken notice of the hide....well he hasnt moved so yea he hasnt really taken note of any changes, he is definitely alive, i didnt prod him with anything because i dont want to harm him incase something is up, i gently blew on him and he kind of shifted around so he was facing away....any ideas ?

As already stated, he's probably still adjusting. Just give him time to get used to his new surroundings. But even still, my Ts are very well adjusted to their homes, and they'll stay in the same spot literally all day, so don't necessarily take staying still as a bad thing. It's just what they do.

 

[mconnachan]

EDIT : I have no idea if my spiders are male or female...but i dont want to call them "it"

I like to use this - (s/he) then your covered - at this size there's no way of telling, what are the sizes of your T's, if they're under an inch then there's no way to tell, for a hide especially for small slings - sphagnum moss is great, they can hide in it and get a drink from the moss, if you keep it moist, like has been said not too much and not too little, you'll find the perfect balance, once you've got that down, it really is a piece of cake.

 

[mconnachan]

just worried, could it be a pre-molt? what do you guys think?

It doesn't look like pre-molt, a better shot would help, but it just looks to be hiding between the glass and the substrate, don't be overly worried, they can take a little time to settle in and become acclimated to their new surroundings.

 

[Troopermk2]

Just leave him be, no need to worry. He just got rehoused and needs time to settle in. Patience is key with Theraphosids, blowing on him or even just constantly checking up on it will needlessly stress it out.

Seems a bit odd that hes been here for i think 4 days now and hasn't settled into either enclosure, and 12 hours from the time of the last post he still hasnt moved an inch whereas the B Vagans has already eaten and made a burrow, again im probably being over worried, most places i go i read that A.Genics are super hardy, so i really do hope its just adjusting.

As already stated, he's probably still adjusting. Just give him time to get used to his new surroundings. But even still, my Ts are very well adjusted to their homes, and they'll stay in the same spot literally all day, so don't necessarily take staying still as a bad thing. It's just what they do.

Thats good to hear that they will generally sit in the same spot all day, but i thought a rehoused sling would immediately run for the hide, but he hasn't moved at all since he crawled into the enclosure

I like to use this - (s/he) then your covered - at this size there's no way of telling, what are the sizes of your T's, if they're under an inch then there's no way to tell, for a hide especially for small slings - sphagnum moss is great, they can hide in it and get a drink from the moss, if you keep it moist, like has been said not too much and not too little, you'll find the perfect balance, once you've got that down, it really is a piece of cake.

Unfortunatley the store i ordered from had a few things not in stock...the moss was one of them, but they both have little water dishes, and size wise the A.Genic is around the size of my pinky nail, so yea imagine hes really to small to tell.

It doesn't look like pre-molt, a better shot would help, but it just looks to be hiding between the glass and the substrate, don't be overly worried, they can take a little time to settle in and become acclimated to their new surroundings.

Unfortunatley i have a really crappy camera, but im looking onto getting another one, ill try my best to get better shots today


So, it took me about 10-15 mins to write this post and at the start took out his enclosure and laid it on the table infront of me, and good news, i managed to see him dunk his face in the waterdish then waltz away under the hide.

But he is still super slow and he doesn't walk normally its a really jerky non fluid motion.

Im not sure what to make of it