Avic. avic not eating???????

[JBoyer]

My A. avic molted over a week ago and I have offered large and small crickets and it is not going after them. This is my first experience with arboreals and I am not sure if this is normal. It is about 2" and has not made a web yet, but seems to hang out in the same place in the enclosure. I am wondering if there is something that it is unhappy with in it's house. I have it set up in a 3.5 gal. pet pal on its side and I have given it cork bark and fake plants to climb on. Is it possible that the enclosure is to large for a 2" sling? Any suggestions??

 

[greensleeves]

How do you offer the crickets? Do you just let them hop around?

If your spider doesn't seem interested, you might try offering it the crickets with a pair of tweezers. Sometimes they will surprise you and just grab your offering even if they seemed indifferent before.

Greensleeves

 

[JBoyer]

I do just toss them in. I thought about using tweezers, but I dont have any long ones and I was a little worried about Sock's (thats her name) aim. I don't want to get nailed on accident!

 

[greensleeves]

Originally posted by JBoyer
I do just toss them in. I thought about using tweezers, but I dont have any long ones and I was a little worried about Sock's (thats her name) aim. I don't want to get nailed on accident!

Chopsticks maybe?

I feed my 1 inch sling with regular tweezers, but he doesn't tend to jump anything. I just give him the cricket right in his face and he either refuses it, or grabs it right away and stuffs it in his mouth. When you hold it close to them it eliminates the need for them to do fancy striking to get at it. All the same, I would do what is most comfortable for you.

Also, how big is Socks' butt? If it doesn't look like a teeny little nub, she'll probably be okay without food for awhile. But I know it's so cool to watch them eat, so I'm disappointed when Bungee doesn't want food right away too.

Greensleeves

 

[JBoyer]

Her butt is not tiny, I just worry when a sling doesn't eat well after a molt! The rest of mine all eat like little piggies!

 

[greensleeves]

Originally posted by JBoyer
Her butt is not tiny, I just worry when a sling doesn't eat well after a molt! The rest of mine all eat like little piggies!

From my admittedly limited experience, Avics don't tend to be really ferocious hunters as babies... Mine won't even take live food, and spazzes if an even slightly moving but otherwise dead cricket is offered to him. They have to be stone cold dead (I freeze them and then thaw in warm water) before he will consider them.

Greensleeves

 

[RugbyDave]

you can always try the food ICU if you're really worried (which you shouldn't be) -- remember, not every T eats ALL the time... though alot do

peace
dave