Brachypelma emilia sling care

[ArvadaLanee]

Hello all. I am hoping to get some good advice on sling care for the Mexican red leg, brachypelma emilia, slings. I have found care sheets, but most of them discuss care of adults, or don't go into much detail on slings. I do have the tarantula keepers guide, which I will also be using for reference, but I was hoping to get some tips from those with experience raising them. I am trying to put together my own care sheet for a friend who doesn't use the internet much. He said he has tried raising them in the past, but didn't have much luck. He said he believes it was because he was caring for them the same as you would care for an adult. I'd like to be as detailed as possible, so please, share whatever you know. Thanks so much!

 

[Perentie]

Only difference between sling care and adult care I've noticed is they need a damp area in the substrate until they're large enough to use a water bowl. Other than that, they're a new world terrestrial from an arid area. Not much to it.

 

[Venom1080]

how do you mess up with a brachy?! your friend clearly didnt do much research.. care depends on the slings size. for say, a 1/2" specimen, a vial with a couple inches of sub will do. a few small holes in the lid, substrate slightly moist. absolute simplicity to raise a brachy sling. literally the only thing different from a adult is cage size and dry substrate.

 

[ArvadaLanee]

Okay. You should know, the guy is old, and this was likely many years ago. He only recently learned to use a smart phone, so it wouldn't be his thing to go online and research, or join a forum. So, I cut him a little slack when it comes to research. He has owned a ton of tarantulas over the years, and seems to love them, and do very well with them. He even saves, and mounts their molts. He's not a bad guy, I promise. Lol
So...since I don't really know about the Mexican red legs, let me just ask my questions point by point. I like to get my info from as many sources as possible, since there is often mixed information out there, so I will still read all the care sheets, and my book, but I still like to hear the opinions of the people who are currently working with the animals.
1. What size vial do you typically start with, and what size is the sling when you move it to a deli cup?
2. What type of substrate do you prefer for this species? How deep? I've read sand, but I've also read people suggesting sand can be bad for them. I've also read to wet half of it down until they can be in the adult enclosure. Do you agree with this?
3. Heating, how do you heat the vials/deli cups? I have read to keep them at temps of 70-80 degrees. Is that correct?
4. Humidity. My understanding is that they need humidity of 60-80%. Is this partly why you keep half the substrate wet? Is this accurate?
5. Prey items. What do you prefer to start out with? I've read to start with fruit flies while in the vial, and move up to baby crickets once they are in the deli cup. How often and how many do you feed? What about adding another food source for variety?
7. I have read that once they are big enough to be in a deli cup, you should add a hide, and and a water dish. What do you like to use for that?

These are the things I am looking for opinions on. When I rescued my rose hair tarantula, (reluctantantly, as I'd never owned a tarantula before) I asked around, and got a lot of different answers on my questions, but it was really interesting to hear all the different opinions, and learn why people did things differently. In the end, I felt good about the choices I made, and I learned a lot about my new little pet. I don't mean to bother anyone with my questions. I just enjoy learning, and hearing all the different ways people do what they do, and sharing what I've learned with my friend, who enjoys some of the same animals that I do.

 

[viper69]

I've raised a B emilia from tiny sling to 4.5" DLS female among others from this genus. None of them are hard or tricky etc. No secret sauce here.

There are no special requirements IME in raising a sling to an adult w/this genus and many other NW Ts.

The SINGLE most important factor is small Ts tend to dehydrate more quickly than adults, they are less massive. So, to prevent that, simply provide a water bowl. They won't drown, regardless of size. In fact, adult Ts have been shown to float on top of rivers in the wild in S. America.

If one is just too worried about drowning, you can do 2 things

1. Pay attention and feed it a lot to keep its abdomen full- slings job is to grow so this route is fine. Once the sling hits 1-2" in DLS, esp 2" in DLS, feeding a T food alone will not provide it with enough to keep it hydrated.
2. Moisten substrate in a corner perhaps- I've never done this method- always used a bowl.

Even Ts as small as 1/2" DLS have had water bowls, never a drowning here. They know how to drink and they know what to do to get water and prevent themselves from drowning.

At their small size, they are no different than adults in captivity, just miniature versions of adults (except they eat more and tend to be more careful roaming around as they are small- not all species, some are truly mini-adults)

they need a damp area in the substrate until they're large enough to use a water bowl.

Not exactly true, they need water, but they do not require damp substrate. They can have a small water bowl and they will be fine.

This species even swims underwater

 

[viper69]

Okay. You should know, the guy is old, and this was likely many years ago. He only recently learned to use a smart phone, so it wouldn't be his thing to go online and research, or join a forum. So, I cut him a little slack when it comes to research. He has owned a ton of tarantulas over the years, and seems to love them, and do very well with them. He even saves, and mounts their molts. He's not a bad guy, I promise. Lol
So...since I don't really know about the Mexican red legs, let me just ask my questions point by point. I like to get my info from as many sources as possible, since there is often mixed information out there, so I will still read all the care sheets, and my book, but I still like to hear the opinions of the people who are currently working with the animals.
1. What size vial do you typically start with, and what size is the sling when you move it to a deli cup?
2. What type of substrate do you prefer for this species? How deep? I've read sand, but I've also read people suggesting sand can be bad for them. I've also read to wet half of it down until they can be in the adult enclosure. Do you agree with this?
3. Heating, how do you heat the vials/deli cups? I have read to keep them at temps of 70-80 degrees. Is that correct?
4. Humidity. My understanding is that they need humidity of 60-80%. Is this partly why you keep half the substrate wet? Is this accurate?
5. Prey items. What do you prefer to start out with? I've read to start with fruit flies while in the vial, and move up to baby crickets once they are in the deli cup. How often and how many do you feed? What about adding another food source for variety?
7. I have read that once they are big enough to be in a deli cup, you should add a hide, and and a water dish. What do you like to use for that?

These are the things I am looking for opinions on. When I rescued my rose hair tarantula, (reluctantantly, as I'd never owned a tarantula before) I asked around, and got a lot of different answers on my questions, but it was really interesting to hear all the different opinions, and learn why people did things differently. In the end, I felt good about the choices I made, and I learned a lot about my new little pet. I don't mean to bother anyone with my questions. I just enjoy learning, and hearing all the different ways people do what they do, and sharing what I've learned with my friend, who enjoys some of the same animals that I do.

If you pay attention to care sheets, your T will be dead sooner not later.

1. I started with a 1/2" emilia in a 16oz deli cup- no hard fast rules when to move it up to a new size container. Some people keep their Ts in "prisons" some people keep them in more spacious containers
2. Don't use pure sand alone, bad idea! Don't agree with wetting down substrate (see previous post). Substrate choice is totally personal for too many reasons to list. I use cocco fiber, some use top soil, some use a mix of peat moss, top soil and vermiculite or cococ fiber.
3. That temp range is fine, however I and most knowledgeable T owners do not use additional heat to keep Ts warm, UNLESS owners live in a cold climate. Generally speaking, ambient temps are fine, if you are comfortable so will your T. I have raised mine on 68 night time/70-75 day time its entire life, and she's an eating machine. DO NOT use undertank heaters, as used for reptiles, nor use heat lamps for reptiles. You will cook your T dead.
4. Don't worry about humidity, unless you live in the Mojave Desert, you will drive yourself crazy. I've lived in dry climates and very humid climates (100%), but inside my home it's fairly dry. The wetting of substrate is done for increased humidity by some people, others to water their T. AF B. emilia was never subjected to either and she has grown like a weed.
5. No on fruit flies, if you cannot get pinhead size crix, you can try scavenge feeding, like dropping a small cricket leg. OR cutting up small mealworms and putting sections in there, or mashing cricket head and letting it scavenge feed that way. OR just get pinhead crickets and feed it one. They are miniature adults and will do not necessarily need pre-killed prey.
Variety is fine! I feed the T as often as it will eat. There's no formula, like substrate, people feed their Ts for a variety of different reasons.
6. You can use all sorts of things for hides, I suggest you look around the forum. For small Ts and large Ts, I'm a big fan of cork bark.

P.S.

I raised my rose hairs exactly as I raise my emilia and other Brachys. Raising them is not rocket science, nor does one need a H.S. diploma. One only needs to be patient, observant, conduct the proper amount of research, attentive and receptive to constructive criticism on the forum.

 

[cold blood]

 

[Venom1080]

Okay. You should know, the guy is old, and this was likely many years ago. He only recently learned to use a smart phone, so it wouldn't be his thing to go online and research, or join a forum. So, I cut him a little slack when it comes to research. He has owned a ton of tarantulas over the years, and seems to love them, and do very well with them. He even saves, and mounts their molts. He's not a bad guy, I promise. Lol
So...since I don't really know about the Mexican red legs, let me just ask my questions point by point. I like to get my info from as many sources as possible, since there is often mixed information out there, so I will still read all the care sheets, and my book, but I still like to hear the opinions of the people who are currently working with the animals.
1. What size vial do you typically start with, and what size is the sling when you move it to a deli cup?
2. What type of substrate do you prefer for this species? How deep? I've read sand, but I've also read people suggesting sand can be bad for them. I've also read to wet half of it down until they can be in the adult enclosure. Do you agree with this?
3. Heating, how do you heat the vials/deli cups? I have read to keep them at temps of 70-80 degrees. Is that correct?
4. Humidity. My understanding is that they need humidity of 60-80%. Is this partly why you keep half the substrate wet? Is this accurate?
5. Prey items. What do you prefer to start out with? I've read to start with fruit flies while in the vial, and move up to baby crickets once they are in the deli cup. How often and how many do you feed? What about adding another food source for variety?
7. I have read that once they are big enough to be in a deli cup, you should add a hide, and and a water dish. What do you like to use for that?

These are the things I am looking for opinions on. When I rescued my rose hair tarantula, (reluctantantly, as I'd never owned a tarantula before) I asked around, and got a lot of different answers on my questions, but it was really interesting to hear all the different opinions, and learn why people did things differently. In the end, I felt good about the choices I made, and I learned a lot about my new little pet. I don't mean to bother anyone with my questions. I just enjoy learning, and hearing all the different ways people do what they do, and sharing what I've learned with my friend, who enjoys some of the same animals that I do.

ok that answers some stuff.
1. whatever i have lying around, nothing bigger than 3-5 times its legspan cause than finding it in there is sometimes tough.
2. substrates pretty controversial around here, but topsoil and eco earth are the favorites of most people.(topsoil for me cause its very cheap.) also, sands bad. it can get into book lungs and once wet, never drys out. no i dont agree with that, once theyre big enough for a deli cup a water dish is all they need.(a bottle cap for example.)
3. i keep my room at 70-80 at all times. NO heat mats, heat lamps or heat tape. space heaters are whats best.
4. nah, sling cages can not be allowed to completely dry out however. they do not hold mositure in them as well as juvies and adults. just keep the sub damp until its big enough for a cage that can hold a small water dish without sacrificing half the enclosure. dont go chasing magic humidity numbers, its useless and fruitless.
5. fruit flies are a waste of time, once the slings outgrow them, and they will quickly, they will be useless. small crickets work for Ts of all sizes. just kill the cricket first, the sling will find it and scavenge it. Ts under 3" i feed about 1-3 times a week, the smaller, the more it gets fed. 3"-5" about once every other week. adults like once a month or so. as long as the abdomen is bigger than the carapace on the tarantula its fine. variety can only help. i feed superworms to spiders that can handle them and sometimes chop them up for muitiple baby spiders.
6. honestly, nearly all NW slings(B. Emilia included) burrow when theyre young, thats all the hide they need. once they are in a cage big enough for a hide and a water dish put them in there. a waterdish is the more important of the two as the sling will probably still burrow.
need any clarification or more questions, dont hesitate to ask.

 

[cold blood]

I like to get my info from as many sources as possible, since there is often mixed information out there, so I will still read all the care sheets, and my book, but I still like to hear the opinions of the people who are currently working with the animals.


1. What size vial do you typically start with, and what size is the sling when you move it to a deli cup?
2. What type of substrate do you prefer for this species? How deep? I've read sand, but I've also read people suggesting sand can be bad for them. I've also read to wet half of it down until they can be in the adult enclosure. Do you agree with this?
3. Heating, how do you heat the vials/deli cups? I have read to keep them at temps of 70-80 degrees. Is that correct?
4. Humidity. My understanding is that they need humidity of 60-80%. Is this partly why you keep half the substrate wet? Is this accurate?
5. Prey items. What do you prefer to start out with? I've read to start with fruit flies while in the vial, and move up to baby crickets once they are in the deli cup. How often and how many do you feed? What about adding another food source for variety?
7. I have read that once they are big enough to be in a deli cup, you should add a hide, and and a water dish. What do you like to use for that?

I caution your desire to get info from as many places as possible, you shouldn't be looking for care opinions, you should be looking for care facts. Most places online, and in fact, nearly ALL online care sheets are wrong, bad or just plain inaccurate. Completely ignore them for your and your tarantula's benefit. Like you said, you want to hear from those that keep them, this is really the only place to look, and this is one of the best places for that information anywhere.

Sorry if much of this parrots viper, but here's my take:

1. Vials, you shouldn't feel required to use them, in fact I think they offer more potential difficulties for the newer keeper, as their ventilation restrictions require more specific care IME. I would suggest starting them out in condiment cups, like 2 or 3 oz. They are easily ventilated and provide enough room, but not so much that they have trouble finding food or that they burrow away out of sight (which can be distressing for a new keeper with a small sling).

2. There are many substrate options that all work just fine, nothing specific is required...I will say, sand, pebbles, rocks, or bark chips are inappropriate. Coconut fiber, jungle mix, peat moss or just plain cheap top soil are all fine choices used by successful t keepers all over the world. I basically care for ALL small slings the same, I keep part of the sub dampened until they start to show adult colors, then its just a water dish....But all still get a water dish as soon as their enclosures will allow for it (size wise).

3. They should be kept at a minimum or 70, at least until they reach that 1.25" range or so as they are indeed more delicate. A space heater is the preferred method, although with only a few slings, a great alternative is a heat bath. It basically consists of heating water to 80 with an aquarium heater and submerging the bottoms of the deli cups, vials, etc., in the heated water, No hot or cold spots or direct heat and economical to run, way more so than a space heater. I've achieved great growth rates using this method.

4. Ignore humidity numbers, this is an issue with care sheets (if not the biggest issue), as they always want to stress that species x requires some magical number specific humidity to survive. NOT TRUE! Its much better to just focus attention on moisture in the substrate. As slings lack the waxy layer that they will eventually acquire, they are less resistant to dry, but its as easy as restricting ventilation in the deli/condiment cups....if you have condensation forming, you need more ventilation, if the sub is drying out very quickly, you need less. I personally wouldn't keep a sub 1" Brachy sling (or any aside from baboons) on completely dry sub, even with a water dish....just leave part of the area dry to give the sling options.

5. They will eat anything they can over power, and as a tiny sling those things are limited...you can deal with fruit flies, but its really not worth your effort to do so as they are nutritionally deficient and should only be used as a supplement. Good thing is that they will readily take pre-killed prey and this is by far my preference when they are small. You can dice a cricket in pieces, feed just a cricket leg or dice up mealworms into appropriately sized pieces.

Because pre-kill allows you to feed larger items, you can feed less and still achieve great growth rates. I feed every 6-7 days. Once they get a little more size and the prey is more appropriately sized, you can bump it o twice a week if you so desire.

7. I see you skipped 6.... Anything that won't break down can be used for a hide, even a flat piece can work...Anything they can get under and burrow is just fine, heck for small slings that could be as basic as a leaf or wood chip.

Op, where in WI do you live?? I'm in Oak Creek, if you are ever in that area I would be happy to help you out, sometimes seeing what others do can help facilitate ideas of what you might like to do.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

[

I have to admit, my man i love your minimal posts! There's nothing and everything at the same time inside.

Evviva cold blood, hip hip, hurra!

 

[cold blood]

I have to admit, my man i love your minimal posts! There's nothing and everything at the same time inside.

Evviva cold blood, hip hip, hurra!

Ha, I started my post and in my manipulation of the op's quotes, I inadvertently erased one of the quotation brackets ([), when this happens, it encapsulates the post in with the quote, where it can easily get lost...so I erased the entire thing and started over....because AB no longer allows one to delete their own post, I left the [, which I then altered to the funny icons merely for aesthetic purposes

 

[viper69]

I have to admit, my man i love your minimal posts! There's nothing and everything at the same time inside.

Evviva cold blood, hip hip, hurra!

He's a Steve Jobs fanboy, even his T containers are designed in curved glass and aluminum.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

Ha, I started my post and in my manipulation of the op's quotes, I inadvertently erased one of the quotation brackets ([), when this happens, it encapsulated the post in with the quote, where it can easily get lost...so I erased the entire thing and started over....because AB no longer allows one to delete their own post, I left the [, which I then altered to the funny icons merely for aesthetic purposes

Uhm "Sembra interessante" "Sembra interessante" lolz good old classic Homer voiced by Tonino Accolla (R.I.P)

Translate (aside from Marge) "Seems interesting" "Seems interesting" lol

 

[TarantulasWorld]

how big is your sling? Brachys are hardy animals. vials should do the trick just fine. lightly misting and perhaps keeping a fake piece of silk plant to catch water droplets. feeding should be done once a week and small pinhead crickets should be fine. i like to crush the heads of these crickets before dumping them in the vials to prevent the cricket from being able to hurt the T in any way. and thats pretty much it. as slings they molt a lot more so if your t isnt eating take the cricket out to prevent any stress it could be your sling is in premolt.

good luck.