Cyriocosmus species experience

[lunashimmer]

Hi all! Long time, no post!

I am REALLY wanting a Cyriocosmus (dwarf T). I've been doing a bit of researching here on AB as well as on the interwebs and there's not a whole lot of info out there. I know a few of you experts here have Cyriocosmus and would like your take on their care.

The thing I'm most worried about is feeding. Since I would most likely get a Cyriocosmus sling and they're so small, I'll have to get a supply of pinhead crix, but my LPS doesn't carry them--the smallest they get in is 1/4" to 1/2", and then of course when you bring these home, they grow pretty darn quickly. The smallest qty I can find online are 500 which with only 5 Ts is a LOT!!! And I absolutely cannot do roaches--have a phobia so that is out of the question. Are fruitflies good to feed the C. slings?

Any info you can give me is good. I've read the threads here on AB already so no links to those please.

Thanks in advance!!!

Amy

 

[dianedfisher]

I have Kochiana brunnipes spiderlings which are even smaller than most Cyriocosmus and you can feed flightless fruit flies (melangaster are smaller than hydie so you'll need them in the beginning. I got hydie and had to pre-kill the darn things) or you can just pull the hopper legs off of small crickets and then feed the rest of the cricket to one of your other T's. Remove what's left of the cricket legs to prevent mold from forming. Good luck. Cyriocosmus are cute little bugs-just don't expect to see them much.
Diane

 

[lunashimmer]

Thanks, Diane!

 

[Hobo]

Well, I'm guessing you aren't too keen on chopping up larger crickets into tiny, pinhead sized bits?
Just in case you are, that's how I've been feeding my sac of perezmilesi, and I can feed about 70 with just 2 regular sized crickets.

 

[lunashimmer]

Eww!...

:barf:...but I will do what needs to be done (or make the husband do it--LOL!). Also, I read you can feed them flightless fruit flies too so I might try some of those.

Thanks!

 

[CFleming]

I read somewhere on these forums that flightless fruit fly can be feed to slings, but not as an only food source. They are deficent of some kind of vitamin or mineral or something. I get the smallest crickets I can from the LPS, and if they are too large I chop them up or pull off the back legs. I think that would be a lot easier and less headache than the flies, especially considering that you only have 5 Ts and you will need to feed them something else to fill the nutritional void of the fruitflys. But that is just my $0.02.

 

[lunashimmer]

Right, I also read that the flies are missing something Ts need. I need to research the internet sources a little more as my LPS does not get in the teensy crix. Joe (xhexdx) has given me some good sources for food for this kind of T.

Thanks!!!

 

[eporter]

I got a C.elegans at the normal super tiny stage and just fed it bits of crickets until it got a bit bigger. Say 1/4 inch or so then I just put in normal 1/4 to 1/2 inch crickets. They will take on stuff bigger then they are, just prekill the smallest cricket you can get and throw it in there. It will eat most of it and then you can get rid of the rest if you can find it. They are fearless little buggers and not that picky about the food being alive or not.

 

[Necromion]

I have a C. ritae sling, I normally feed her pinheads however if I run out or cant get any, I just crush the head of a small cricket (1/4") and throw it in and wait 24 hours and they are typically gone.

 

[Aschamne]

I am assuming that you have other Ts, so the easiest way to feed tiny slings is offering them the jumping legs from crickets. Just rip off one of the legs before you feed your other T. Then once the sling is a little bigger you can smash the head of 1/4" crickets, until it is able to take them down on there own.

Art

 

[lunashimmer]

Thank you for the suggestions, Aschamne, Necromion and eporter!!!

 

[NikiP]

How big of a sling are you looking to get? Looks like there are several people with slings of various Cyriocosmus species 1/4"+ for sale.

I got my 6 C. ritae slings at 1/4". Don't know about anyone else's, but mine take down prey their size to slightly larger with gusto

 

[Thegloryfades]

I've had 30+ C.ritae and even at 2nd instar they will feed on 1/4"+ crickets that are prekilled

 

[lunashimmer]

NikiP and Thegloryfades, thanks for your input! I am getting a 1/4" sling and am so excited!!! I also just ordered some 1/4" crix from Premium Crickets so I should be good to go when the tiny one feels like eating after his/her big trip upstate.

Thanks again, everyone, for always being so full of info and advice. You guys are GREAT!!!! :worship:

 

[Thegloryfades]

They're an awesome species I currently have 3 slings and a hopefully gravid female