Citharacanthus cyaneus husbandry questions

[CommanderBacon]

Hello! I haven't posted much on forums (been more of a lurker), but I've had trouble locating husbandry information for a dwarf species I've ordered from Fear Not, Citharacanthus cyaneus. I haven't even been able to identify if they're fossorial or terrestrial, although from what I've read and a video I found of their native habitat, they are likely fossorial.

I was planning to give the sling a lot of substrate and some fake plants and a hide and see what happens, but does anyone have experience with these? I'm a fan of dwarf and small species and keep a handful of Cyriocosmus, but I am unfamiliar with this species or genus and I'd love some advice or observations on keeping them if anyone has them.

Thank you!

 

[Crone Returns]

Hello! I haven't posted much on forums (been more of a lurker), but I've had trouble locating husbandry information for a dwarf species I've ordered from Fear Not, Citharacanthus cyaneus. I haven't even been able to identify if they're fossorial or terrestrial, although from what I've read and a video I found of their native habitat, they are likely fossorial.

I was planning to give the sling a lot of substrate and some fake plants and a hide and see what happens, but does anyone have experience with these? I'm a fan of dwarf and small species and keep a handful of Cyriocosmus, but I am unfamiliar with this species or genus and I'd love some advice or observations on keeping them if anyone has them.

Thank you!

Why don't you call Fear Not and ask them?

Just sayin'.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

Interesting species, a bit on the "rare" side.

Just keep your sling just exactly you would do with a Cyriocosmus spp. and done

 

[CommanderBacon]

Why don't you call Fear Not and ask them?

So far I've popped the critter into an enclosure and it immediately started to dig, so I think we've checked the box on "fossorial"

Since Fear Not didn't mention breeding them in house, which they usually do, my guess was that they obtained them wholesale. I could reach out to them to see if they have more information, but I was really hoping to find other keepers who might have some feedback about their experiences with them.

Just keep your sling just exactly you would do with a Cyriocosmus spp. and done

Thanks! It is done. Have you kept them before?

 

[Chris LXXIX]

Thanks! It is done. Have you kept them before?

No, and I will never: I don't like 'dwarf' T's

 

[CommanderBacon]

No, and I will never: I don't like 'dwarf' T's

Oh, well. Do you know of anyone on the board here that keeps them?

 

[viper69]

I almost bought this cute, blue Cuban species a few years ago. Check with Arachnoiden, he’s had them. Can’t guarantee what type of knowledge he has on this one.

 

[CommanderBacon]

I almost this cute, blue Cuban species a few years ago. Check with Arachnoiden, he’s had them. Can’t guarantee what type of knowledge he has on this one.

Thank you, I appreciate it!

 

[Chris LXXIX]

Oh, well. Do you know of anyone on the board here that keeps them?

Not something I'm aware of... also because, as I've said, this is a species that 'lives' in the rare side, isn't (as you already figured out) a too much discussed one

With that said, probably someone here keep or kept those.

 

[CommanderBacon]

Not something I'm aware of... also because, as I've said, this is a species that 'lives' in the rare side, isn't (as you already figured out) a too much discussed one

With that said, probably someone here keep or kept those.

Yep. I have already reached out to people I have found who have kept them. Just was hoping to find someone here!

Do you think it will be useful if I share what I learn here?

 

[Chris LXXIX]

Do you think it will be useful if I share what I learn here?

Yes, of course

 

[Nightstalker47]

Do you think it will be useful if I share what I learn here?

And please post some pictures of your specimen and setup, always a good idea to double check here with us. Some of the moisture loving dwarfs can be fragile from what I hear, aim for good vent and keep it on a couple inches of moist sub.

 

[CommanderBacon]

Sure! I purchased it from Fear Not and received it Tuesday Feb 19. It was listed as a 1” sling and it’s about that size. Very leggy!

I put it in a HerpCult tall enclosure with coco fiber substrate up to the middle and added a small hide of cork bark with plastic foliage glued to it. The sling started digging almost immediately, which I have video of.

It made a sizeable burrow under the cork bark and stopped digging. It’s just hanging around in its burrow now, which is luckily next to the acryllic wall. I dropped in a decapitated mealworm last night, which is gone today.

So far it seems to be doing well

 

[Chris LXXIX]

View attachment 300830 Sure! I purchased it from Fear Not and received it Tuesday Feb 19. It was listed as a 1” sling and it’s about that size. Very leggy!

I put it in a HerpCult tall enclosure with coco fiber substrate up to the middle and added a small hide of cork bark with plastic foliage glued to it. The sling started digging almost immediately, which I have video of.

It made a sizeable burrow under the cork bark and stopped digging. It’s just hanging around in its burrow now, which is luckily next to the acryllic wall. I dropped in a decapitated mealworm last night, which is gone today.

So far it seems to be doing well

I've recognized Bruce Lee, at the right of the pic in your pic -- am I right?

 

[CommanderBacon]

I've recognized Bruce Lee, at the right of the pic in your pic -- am I right?

Yep

 

[viper69]

View attachment 300830 Sure! I purchased it from Fear Not and received it Tuesday Feb 19. It was listed as a 1” sling and it’s about that size. Very leggy!

I put it in a HerpCult tall enclosure with coco fiber substrate up to the middle and added a small hide of cork bark with plastic foliage glued to it. The sling started digging almost immediately, which I have video of.

It made a sizeable burrow under the cork bark and stopped digging. It’s just hanging around in its burrow now, which is luckily next to the acryllic wall. I dropped in a decapitated mealworm last night, which is gone today.

So far it seems to be doing well

Where did you get that acrylic box from? Looks like a sliding top door??

View attachment 300830 Sure! I purchased it from Fear Not and received it Tuesday Feb 19. It was listed as a 1” sling and it’s about that size. Very leggy!

I put it in a HerpCult tall enclosure with coco fiber substrate up to the middle and added a small hide of cork bark with plastic foliage glued to it. The sling started digging almost immediately, which I have video of.

It made a sizeable burrow under the cork bark and stopped digging. It’s just hanging around in its burrow now, which is luckily next to the acryllic wall. I dropped in a decapitated mealworm last night, which is gone today.

So far it seems to be doing well

Be curious if it’s male given they max out at 2” generally

Do you think it will be useful if I share what I learn here?

No, we believe in hiding knowledge here

What have you learned?

 

[CommanderBacon]

Where did you get that acrylic box from? Looks like a sliding top door??

Box is from HerpCult. It has a sliding top with a magnetic closure, which works fine for fossorial slings or juveniles. I am using their smaller terrestrial enclosures for two small terrestrial slings and they’re great. Holes aren’t too big and it has good circulation for what I need. Also, they’re stackable.

I paid either $7 or $8 each for that size, I can’t remember. They offer other sizes.For a high quality acrylic enclosure, I think they’re pretty reasonably priced and worth me not having to spend an hour or two drilling holes into an amac box. HerpCult sells on Ebay, but I got them at a reptile show here in SoCal and they’ll be at another one I’m going to next weekend.

So far, this sling has dug a roomy burrow and is staying in it, but I’m not seeing the deep tunnel networks like I see with Cyriocosmus. It has eaten - a little timid at first, but pounced on the cricket once it realized it was food.

 

[Minty]

What is the rough leg span of this species, as an adult?

 

[CommanderBacon]

@Minty from what I've read, 2 inches or so! This species has eaten well, molted once, and has sealed up its burrow whenever it needed to molt, but hasn't shown any propensity for digging like my Aphonopelma or Cyriocosmus. I'm inclined to say it's an obligate burrower, but not necessarily a deep burrower at this time. Only a little more than an inch legspan after the molt.

 

[Minty]

@Minty from what I've read, 2 inches or so! This species has eaten well, molted once, and has sealed up its burrow whenever it needed to molt, but hasn't shown any propensity for digging like my Aphonopelma or Cyriocosmus. I'm inclined to say it's an obligate burrower, but not necessarily a deep burrower at this time. Only a little more than an inch legspan after the molt.

Thanks, saw them for sale and was tempted. Think I'm going to get a couple of the big NW terrestrials first though.