0.5cm slings eating etc

[deyean]

Hello,

I've got a Cyriocosmus elegans and a Hapalopus sp. “Colombia” that are both around 0.5-1cm. they're both burrowing but have no distinctive burrow opening, they're just under the substrate somewhere, I've had them for around 2/3 weeks, misting them every other day (no water bowl, they're in vials), and putting in a tiny killed dubia (with guts hanging out) twice a week, removing it after 24 hours.

With that said, how do I know they're doing well without digging them out/disturbing them? As well as knowing if they're eating etc.

I'm sure they're fine, just curious!

 

[A guy]

Hello,

I've got a Cyriocosmus elegans and a Hapalopus sp. “Colombia” that are both around 0.5-1cm. they're both burrowing but have no distinctive burrow opening, they're just under the substrate somewhere, I've had them for around 2/3 weeks, misting them every other day (no water bowl, they're in vials), and putting in a tiny killed dubia (with guts hanging out) twice a week, removing it after 24 hours.

With that said, how do I know they're doing well without digging them out/disturbing them? As well as knowing if they're eating etc.

I'm sure they're fine, just curious!

Stop misting every other day, that would kill them. Once a week and just leaving small droplets would be more than enough.

If they're hidden , that's a "don't disturb" sign.

 

[viper69]

Hello,

I've got a Cyriocosmus elegans and a Hapalopus sp. “Colombia” that are both around 0.5-1cm. they're both burrowing but have no distinctive burrow opening, they're just under the substrate somewhere, I've had them for around 2/3 weeks, misting them every other day (no water bowl, they're in vials), and putting in a tiny killed dubia (with guts hanging out) twice a week, removing it after 24 hours.

With that said, how do I know they're doing well without digging them out/disturbing them? As well as knowing if they're eating etc.

I'm sure they're fine, just curious!

You don’t. Stop misting you’re killing them literally.

 

[Mustafa67]

Hello,

I've got a Cyriocosmus elegans and a Hapalopus sp. “Colombia” that are both around 0.5-1cm. they're both burrowing but have no distinctive burrow opening, they're just under the substrate somewhere, I've had them for around 2/3 weeks, misting them every other day (no water bowl, they're in vials), and putting in a tiny killed dubia (with guts hanging out) twice a week, removing it after 24 hours.

With that said, how do I know they're doing well without digging them out/disturbing them? As well as knowing if they're eating etc.

I'm sure they're fine, just curious!

WAIT

 

[TheraMygale]

I've had them for around 2/3 weeks, misting them every other day (no water bowl, they're in vials)

If its in a vial, how much ventilation do you have?!?

That is too much water. Unless you live in extreme dry hot place. The water will create way to much humidity. It doesnt have time to dry out.

You can add water droplets with a pipette. Check your substrate, if its water saturated you need to stop the misting.

They might be suffocating.

Pictures of your vials?!

Even if they could be full, dealers dont overfeed their slings. Some feed once every 15 days.

If they were in premolt when you got them, thats something else. It happens.

Did you see the tarantulas when you got them? Pictures of the tarantulas?

 

[Brewser]

When they Reemerge is a good sign they've settled in, and may be on the hunt.
Patience.

 

[deyean]

Just to clarify, I'm squeezing the trigger of my spray bottle like a quarter of the way, I'm not misting the substrate; just providing a bit of water to drip down the side. There's adequate ventilation, the substrate isn't soaking (it's mostly dry), and there's not condensation or moisture build up... If I should still stop doing it let me know, but again I'm not drowning them!

Thanks for the advice otherwise

 

[kingshockey]

Hello,

I've got a Cyriocosmus elegans and a Hapalopus sp. “Colombia” that are both around 0.5-1cm. they're both burrowing but have no distinctive burrow opening, they're just under the substrate somewhere, I've had them for around 2/3 weeks, misting them every other day (no water bowl, they're in vials), and putting in a tiny killed dubia (with guts hanging out) twice a week, removing it after 24 hours.

With that said, how do I know they're doing well without digging them out/disturbing them? As well as knowing if they're eating etc.

I'm sure they're fine, just curious!

use a syringe better to drop water onto one side of the vial becareful not to turn things into a swamp. far as how to tell if they are eating doing good etc. you cant/dont you gotta put trust in the research and reading about sling care you did before purchase. you can also just spy on them during the late or early morning hours before suns out and might catch them out wandering about. for feeding just use tiny mealworm chunks or the back legs off a cricket and then look to see if the bits have been moved etc or you can just do like i do with tiny slings buy a cup of meal worms and cut one into bits and leave it there for them every night then remove in the morning. gets rid of the wondering if they eat or not cause the foods there each night for em

 

[cold blood]

I've got a Cyriocosmus elegans and a Hapalopus sp. “Colombia” that are both around 0.5-1cm. they're both burrowing but have no distinctive burrow opening, they're just under the substrate somewhere

This is a housing problem. Its advisable to NOT give small terrestrial slings the substrate to burrow away like this. It significantly decreases prey drive and makes it impossible to monitor the slings.....having a sling burrowed away, there is no better recipe for slowing down your growth rates.

I've had them for around 2/3 weeks, misting them every other day (no water bowl, they're in vials)

Misting isnt a good idea, especially in a vial, which are notorious for getting stuffy quick. You never want to be adding water on any schedule, schedules will get you into trouble....instead add water only after the enclosure has dried out for a day or two.....in humid environments this could mean almost never adding moisture, in super dry conditions you will need to add water more often obviously. Unless I am mistaken, England isnt a place known for being super dry.

and putting in a tiny killed dubia (with guts hanging out) twice a week, removing it after 24 hours.

The problem is that a burrowed away sling, will often never bother coming up to look for food, which is why its so important to not give them the depth to do so.

With that said, how do I know they're doing well without digging them out/disturbing them?

you cant...which is another reason to house them differently, in a manner that prevents them from burrowing away indefinitely.

IMG_0472

• cold blood
• Feb 7, 2017

Keep your small terrestrial slings like this.

I'm squeezing the trigger of my spray bottle like a quarter of the way, I'm not misting the substrate; just providing a bit of water to drip down the side.

Thats not as bad as it originally sounded....but still not your best method.

 

[TheraMygale]

This is a housing problem. Its advisable to NOT give small terrestrial slings the substrate to burrow away like this. It significantly decreases prey drive and makes it impossible to monitor the slings.....having a sling burrowed away, there is no better recipe for slowing down your growth rates.

Misting isnt a good idea, especially in a vial, which are notorious for getting stuffy quick. You never want to be adding water on any schedule, schedules will get you into trouble....instead add water only after the enclosure has dried out for a day or two.....in humid environments this could mean almost never adding moisture, in super dry conditions you will need to add water more often obviously. Unless I am mistaken, England isnt a place known for being super dry.

The problem is that a burrowed away sling, will often never bother coming up to look for food, which is why its so important to not give them the depth to do so.

you cant...which is another reason to house them differently, in a manner that prevents them from burrowing away indefinitely.

IMG_0472

• cold blood
• Feb 7, 2017

Keep your small terrestrial slings like this.

Thats not as bad as it originally sounded....but still not your best method.

They said it better then i did.

thats why i wanted pictures. To be able to explain why this and that.

those tiny condiment cups are so much better then vials. Plus, they make great water dishes in the futur.