G. pulchripes

@Ian1980 geez, I think I have explained this 100 times by now in various threads.

In a larger enclosure, you will get a similar response to that of a wild t...that is a lot of hiding and timid behavior...often hiding to an extreme level, as they know everything is dangerous for them and open spaces are not a forgiving place. This excessive hiding doesn't just mean you see it less, it means its out to feed less, so it feeds less often and less aggressively, which leads directly to much slower growth rates.

In captivity we can offer a small enclosure, which in essence, becomes adopted by the t as its burrow, so its less inclined to hide and burrow, which not only makes it easier to monitor, but much more food aggressive, which leads directly to significantly faster growth rates, and the faster you get a sling out of the sling stage (and the easier it is to monitor), the higher chances of long term survival.

This is why in the wild you may see a 1-3% survival rate to adulthood, whereas in captivity, we can easily attain a 95-99% survival rate, basically flipping the script. The wild is not what you want to emulate, as wild ts just don't survive consistently. The wild is not a forgiving place.

I've actually done experiments with several hundred slings (NW terrestrials are most greatly effected by this and became the target of the experiment), and in almost every single account, the slings in over-sized, well appointed enclosures grew at a rate of about 1/4 that of those housed in small, basic enclosures.

When my experiment ended, the ones raised in condiment cups... were all 2-3 inch juvies showing full adult colors that were going on a second re-house...not one of the slings kept in over size, nicer looking enclosures were over 1", most were 3/4", and a few looked like no growth had occurred at all.

All were kept at warm temps, all were offered the same food, at the same frequency....the ones excessively hiding rarely even came out to eat the pre-killed food at the mouths of their burrows. I would feed 150 in condiment cups, and only a few would refuse food (almost always pre-molt), I would feed the 50 in larger deli cups, and I would be lucky if one or two would eat.

When these slings were transferred to condiment cups, instantly they began eating regularly, molting regularly, and started to catch up to their siblings.

Emulating the wild isn't something people should be striving for, at least not with slings. Save those larger, well appointed enclosures for your adults.

@cold blood Never thought of it like that before. Thank you.