Eresus Walckenaeri sling died

[miranda0331]

My velvet spider randomly started walking stiff and refused food for a couple of days. Then died. Any ideas on what could’ve happened? I know it’s not much to go on, but one moment she’s doing great and then the next she’s dead. Hoping somebody has experienced something like this and could provide some insight.
I tried to upload of video of her walking but it won’t let me.

 

[Tarantuland]

I'm sorry to hear that. I didn't buy one because of the high price tag and allegedly slow growth. Can you post pictures of the set up? I know they like it dry but I feel like a water dish would be helpful. Walking weird could imply exposure to pesticides etc

 

[miranda0331]

I'm sorry to hear that. I didn't buy one because of the high price tag and allegedly slow growth. Can you post pictures of the set up? I know they like it dry but I feel like a water dish would be helpful. Walking weird could imply exposure to pesticides etc

I had some sphagnum moss in there that I would dampen that she could drink from, I would wait for it to dry until dampening it again. I was told she could drown in a drop of water. She was super tiny so I think find a water dish that small wouldn’t be possible.

that’s the only thing I could think of but her being exposed is highly unlikely. She was on a shelf all by herself, I don’t wear perfumes or lotions and always make sure to wash my hands before doing anything with my reptiles and tarantulas. But, obviously something went wrong and I could’ve slipped up somewhere.

 

[wizentrop]

Eresus needs to be kept bone dry. No water as they get all their water needs from prey. They also benefit from a bit more substrate complexity. They don't like to be on bare plastic. For example a crumpled piece of paper placed on top of a thin layer of dry sand would be better than the setup in the photo, and offers many web construction opportunities, even light burrowing if the spider wants to.

 

[miranda0331]

Eresus needs to be kept bone dry. No water as they get all their fluids from prey. They also benefit from a bit more substrate complexity. They don't like to be on bare plastic. For example a crumpled piece of paper placed on top of a thin layer of dry sand would be better than the setup in the photo, and offers many web construction opportunities, even light burrowing if the spider wants to.

I appreciate your insight and definitely will make changes when I buy one again in the future. Would those factors contribute to her walking weird and then dying?

 

[basin79]

As above. They need to be kept bone dry. I don't keep Eresus but Gandanameno. They're kept the same. A thin layer of bone dry substrate and then a thick layer of bone dry moss on top.

They'll make their home with the moss and web up a little. As they grow you can literally carefully cut any web that's on the sides of the enclosure and take all the moss out with the spider inside. Place that on bone dry substrate and then add more bone dry moss around it. Eventually they'll web up everywhere.

Just taken this screen shot of one of my old videos. You can see what I mean here. Bone dry substrate on the bottom and then a thick layer of bone dry moss on the top.

 

[chibicricket]

There's a couple people on youtube that keep Eresus and Gandanameno and do really helpful videos on enclosure setups.

 

[basin79]

There's a couple people on youtube that keep Eresus and Gandanameno and do really helpful videos on enclosure setups.

There's nothing to there set ups accept dry substrate on the bottom and then a thick layer of dry moss. You can add cork bark but there's zero need.

 

[miranda0331]

Just taken this screen shot of one of my old videos. You can see what I mean here. Bone dry substrate on the bottom and then a thick layer of bone dry moss on the top.

would high humidity from me dampening the moss cause it to have issues walking? I fully trusted the guy that sold it to me, the set up you see is what I bought her in and he said it would be good in that for a while which obviously wasn’t the case.

 

[basin79]

would high humidity from me dampening the moss cause it to have issues walking? I fully trusted the guy that sold it to me, the set up you see is what I bought her in and he said it would be good in that for a while which obviously wasn’t the case.

I'm not 100% sure but it's a fair guess the moisture certainly won't have been a positive. The set up is absolutely terrible too with all that bare plastic and not much moss to web up so they certainly had no idea what they were doing.

 

[miranda0331]

I'm not 100% sure but it's a fair guess the moisture certainly won't have been a positive. The set up is absolutely terrible too with all that bare plastic and not much moss to web up so they certainly had no idea what they were doing.

That’s so upsetting. You would think you could trust the people breeding them. But at the end of it I should’ve came on here asking about the proper set up. Now I know what to do and what not to do for the next one. Thanks

 

[basin79]

That’s so upsetting. You would think you could trust the people breeding them. But at the end of it I should’ve came on here asking about the proper set up. Now I know what to do and what not to do for the next one. Thanks

If they're breeders then the only thing I can think of is that it makes feeding easier. Less moss for the feeder to hide in. So if they're feeding 30 slings they'll be able to check easier. Still don't understand why they'd advise to dampen the moss though.

But aye. If you get another one set them up as I've explained and you're laughing.

 

[miranda0331]

But aye. If you get another one set them up as I've explained and you're laughing.

Thanks so much for your time!