Burrowing

[TheHound]

I posted before about how it pleased me that my T Sabulosum went with the starter burrow I gave it. For about two days after that I kept coming back and finding new piles of substrate outside the hide, which I kept removing, wondering where it could all be coming from. How deep was the spider burrowing? Well, rotating the enclosure today I saw right in the bottom corner a big gap in the substrate. Looks like my T burrowed all the way down to the bottom corner for some reason.

I'm entertained by this, but also curious as to why it would burrow so low! Substrate depth is about 10cm and it's gone all the way to the bottom. You can see the hide entrance in Pic 1 and the gap in the substrate where it burrowed to in Pic 2.

I know Sabulosum can like to burrow, especially prior to adulthood, but I (admittedly from my position as a beginner) would have more expected such extensive digging from a fossorial species.

 

[Edan bandoot]

slings dig so they dont get eaten.

 

[TheHound]

Well yes, I realise that. Just surprised at the extent to which he's done it! Not content with just deepening the starter burrow, he's gone all the way down to the bottom corner. Maybe it's normal. Dunno. Made me smile, though.

 

[tincan1999]

i'm not knowledgeable about anything like this but wow!! it really dug wayyy down there! thats really cool to me haha

 

[Sterls]

Totally normal. Many slings will burrow like this, doesn't necessarily matter whether they're fossorial/terrestrial/arboreal.

 

[Matt Man]

my sling dug a tunnel close to triple that in relation to its body size to tunnel and yours.

 

[Jess S]

Burrowing slings (and burrowing tarantulas in general) in captivity will often dig until they hit the bottom. In the wild their burrows can be much deeper than what we provide.

This is the reason I don't give slings more than a couple inches to dig as they can hide excessively, which makes it hard to check on them, often leading to problems.

Your enclosure looks ok for the size of your sling, so no need to worry or change anything.

It's amazing how such a small animal can move so much dirt though!

 

[TheHound]

Burrowing slings (and burrowing tarantulas in general) in captivity will often dig until they hit the bottom. In the wild their burrows can be much deeper than what we provide.

This is the reason I don't give slings more than a couple inches to dig as they can hide excessively, which makes it hard to check on them, often leading to problems.

Your enclosure looks ok for the size of your sling, so no need to worry or change anything.

It's amazing how such a small animal can move so much dirt though!

He's pretty good about chilling outside the burrow. Likes to sit just outside it, on top of his hide, or sometimes near his water bowl. Was investigating the sides of the enclosure a bit today as well. But he definitely makes use of it - and also so far scurries there when he feels the small jerk from me sliding the magnetic-locking lid of the enclosure open.

 

[tyrael113]

Just got some slings recently (t. vagans and g. pulchripes) and first thing they did upon rehousing was dig all the way down to the bottom in one corner. Over time they've also made more and more tunnels and spend probably 90% of their time underground.

 

[RoachCoach]

A good gauge for diggers is to put a waterline about 5x below their body length. They won't usually dig farther. If they are fossorial add an extra inch per body length. They want a safe moist spot to molt and not get dug up and eaten.
Oh ya, a butt ton of springtails is necessary for any of them. That much soil is just wishing for a fungus lord to smite you.

 

[TheHound]

A good gauge for diggers is to put a waterline about 5x below their body length. They won't usually dig farther. If they are fossorial add an extra inch per body length. They want a safe moist spot to molt and not get dug up and eaten.
Oh ya, a butt ton of springtails is necessary for any of them. That much soil is just wishing for a fungus lord to smite you.

It's pretty much dead on 5x body length already so hopefully all good there.

On the fungus - can that happen with coco fibre then?

 

[Arachnophobphile]

would have more expected such extensive digging from a fossorial species.

Completely normal behavior like what everyone has already stated, T. sabulosum isn't fossorial. It's behaving like many terrestrials.

 

[winter]

On the fungus - can that happen with coco fibre then?

Absolutely, fungal outbreaks and mold are common in coco fiber. Best to keep plenty of springtails to keep them in check.

 

[TheHound]

Completely normal behavior like what everyone has already stated, T. sabulosum isn't fossorial. It's behaving like many terrestrials.

I know they're not fossorials - I wasn't posting out of shock that a tarantula that is known to burrow did some burrowing; just commenting on the depth! Maybe I should have posted in Tarantula Chat instead.

Except now...

Absolutely, fungal outbreaks and mold are common in coco fiber. Best to keep plenty of springtails to keep them in check.

I would say that the enclosure is very well ventilated and most moisture is what goes in the bowl, maybe a little in the corner also every once in a while. Is mold a strong likelihood then?

And if so, may I ask, what are the logistics of springtails? What quantity would I need for a tank that size (150x200x150cm), how do they sustain, and can I simply add them to the enclosure?

 

[viper69]

I posted before about how it pleased me that my T Sabulosum went with the starter burrow I gave it. For about two days after that I kept coming back and finding new piles of substrate outside the hide, which I kept removing, wondering where it could all be coming from. How deep was the spider burrowing? Well, rotating the enclosure today I saw right in the bottom corner a big gap in the substrate. Looks like my T burrowed all the way down to the bottom corner for some reason.

I'm entertained by this, but also curious as to why it would burrow so low! Substrate depth is about 10cm and it's gone all the way to the bottom. You can see the hide entrance in Pic 1 and the gap in the substrate where it burrowed to in Pic 2.

I know Sabulosum can like to burrow, especially prior to adulthood, but I (admittedly from my position as a beginner) would have more expected such extensive digging from a fossorial species.

What makes you think that is very deep? What's your experience for comparison is what I'm getting asking?

 

[TheHound]

What makes you think that is very deep? What's your experience for comparison is what I'm getting asking?

None - that's kind of my point! It was just deeper than I expected.