First post. Two part sling question.

[DooksnSpooks]

Hi!
I got my first T, 1.25" GBB about 3/4ish weeks ago. It molted the third night it was here so its a little bigger now. I had no idea, just woke up and there was the molt right next to it. It hadnt webbed up very much yet and I suspect it molted upright
At the time, the substrate was too moist and "he" hung out at the top all of the time. This was due to my failure in estimating how quickly the damp coco would dry out. Per FB group suggestions I gave him almost a week before stressing him out with switching out the substrate to mostly dry with some moisure way down and in one corner, I also added a large leaf down in front, in case he needed more coverage. To this day he has never used the cork bark hide that has a starter burrow behind it, burrowed at all, or made much webbing. He did come down quite a bit after the switch and stays on the back side of a leaf, with some webbing below him but not very much. He eats very well but only changes positons where he is and never really moves far. Currently I suspect he is in premolt as his last meal was pretty sizeable and there is now a bald spot on top/back of abdomen. He has a raised water dish (because i never see him on the ground) but ive never seen him near it.

My question is......is this behavior all ok?


Second my B. Smithi sling @ 1.75" seems happy in his little enclosure. He walks around but not excessively, uses the hide on and off througout the day, has eaten in private and i havent even seen a stress pose since i got him, last thursday. He showed up with a mostly bald abdomen and now its very dark. Big and dark and Im excited but........ does it seem right that he doesnt burrow either??

This will be my first two molts ever, and they are so young so obviously im terrified. I do participate very regularly on the FB forum, watch the discord to see others Q and As, and watch Toms Big Spiders, Tarantula Collective and Tarantula cat religiously. Ive had a lot of questions answered and learned a TON from others questions/mistakes. But I still wonder if the non burrowing and lack of thick webbing (from GBB) is going to be a concern or something i need to worry about when the molts come,

Sorry for the long windedness!!

 

[Ratmosphere]

Normal for the GBB, keep bone dry with a water dish and add plenty of anchor points for webbing. Overflow the water dish every so often.

Smithi is in pre-molt, just leave him be and make sure there is water in his dish.

 

[DooksnSpooks]

Normal for the GBB, keep bone dry with a water dish and add plenty of anchor points for webbing. Overflow the water dish every so often.

Smithi is in pre-molt, just leave him be and make sure there is water in his dish.

GBB has so so many anchor points and everyone talks about how much theirs web up even as slings, so i was just worried. he DID used to stress pose before i changed to dry dirt, but hasnt since.

The problem is, like Tom Moran says, just because a species normally acts a certain way most times, it doesnt mean they all will. But I keep harping on what everyone else say anyway
Could it essentially actually be a good thing that neither is burrowing? As in, they feel safe enough not to?

 

[Andrew Clayton]

GBB has so so many anchor points and everyone talks about how much theirs web up even as slings, so i was just worried. he DID used to stress pose before i changed to dry dirt, but hasnt since.

The problem is, like Tom Moran says, just because a species normally acts a certain way most times, it doesnt mean they all will. But I keep harping on what everyone else say anyway
Could it essentially actually be a good thing that neither is burrowing? As in, they feel safe enough not to?

Every T is different, even within the same species, and between moults can change behaviour too. I find generally if the enclosure is small enough they will treat the entire enclosure as there burrow. You seem to see this better when a spider has outgrown it's home it will be out all the time. nothing wrong with keeping them like this either, it makes it a lot easier when feeding.


Edit;
I'd also stay clear of Facebook groups for care, I've seen a few horror stories of people religiously using it and it ending up in death.

You have found the best place on the planet for information on you're 8 legged friends. You will get any information you desire on here, and if you can't find it already posted, just create a post and the answers will come.

 

[DooksnSpooks]

Every T is different, even within the same species, and between moults can change behaviour too. I find generally if the enclosure is small enough they will treat the entire enclosure as there burrow. You seem to see this better when a spider has outgrown it's home it will be out all the time. nothing wrong with keeping them like this either, it makes it a lot easier when feeding.


Edit;
I'd also stay clear of Facebook groups for care, I've seen a few horror stories of people religiously using it and it ending up in death.

You have found the best place on the planet for information on you're 8 legged friends. You will get any information you desire on here, and if you can't find it already posted, just create a post and the answers will come.

Thank you! This is my new life now I guess. Who new that Id be going from fearing to being obsessed with tarantulas within 2 months time hahahah

 

[Ratmosphere]

You only got the GBB a few weeks ago, it molted and you had to change it to proper sub. It is probably still getting used to its environment, you need to let him settle.

B. smithi don't always burrow.

 

[Andrew Clayton]

Thank you! This is my new life now I guess. Who new that Id be going from fearing to being obsessed with tarantulas within 2 months time hahahah

Oh you have no idea, it's very addictive lol. Try not to let it get out of hand though, it can turn into a chore when you have a lot, I downsized massively.

 

[jennywallace]

As has been said, different individuals vary. My 2 inch GBB hasn't webbed much after a rehouse several weeks ago, but there's no problem, probably just getting used to new enclosure and more webbing may come.

 

[DooksnSpooks]

Oh you have no idea, it's very addictive lol. Try not to let it get out of hand though, it can turn into a chore when you have a lot, I downsized massively.

Yes im trying to be mindful as i can see now why people have SO many in their collections. Luckily finances rule here, and my ferrets keep me busy enough....like when one of them was trying to break into the space heater i have in the T room. Literally, trying to get inside it. Sigh.

 

[Andrew Clayton]

Yes im trying to be mindful as i can see now why people have SO many in their collections. Luckily finances rule here, and my ferrets keep me busy enough....like when one of them was trying to break into the space heater i have in the T room. Literally, trying to get inside it. Sigh.

I used to keep ferrets and polecats, back when we were allowed to hunt without needing a licence from the Government. They are great for pest control.

 

[DooksnSpooks]

I used to keep ferrets and polecats, back when we were allowed to hunt without needing a licence from the Government. They are great for pest control.

Pole cats are so cute!
My ferrets arent good at pest control. They let mice live in their room hahaha Ive seen mice run by with my own eyes that they didnt notice. I have to put the cats in there. My 4 month old kitten grabbed one the other day, believe it or not. Team B wins again!
Luckily there is only ever activity about twice a year due to weather.

 

[Andrew Clayton]

Pole cats are so cute!
My ferrets arent good at pest control. They let mice live in their room hahaha Ive seen mice run by with my own eyes that they didnt notice. I have to put the cats in there. My 4 month old kitten grabbed one the other day, believe it or not. Team B wins again!
Luckily there is only ever activity about twice a year due to weather.

Cats are machines man they will take out pretty much anything.
Next time the cat catches a mouse, give it to the ferrets, the more you do it, the more there going to want it and start recognising the smell. I've had ferrets taken down rats as big as they are and rabbits basically double there size.

 

[Mustafa67]

Hi!
I got my first T, 1.25" GBB about 3/4ish weeks ago. It molted the third night it was here so its a little bigger now. I had no idea, just woke up and there was the molt right next to it. It hadnt webbed up very much yet and I suspect it molted upright
At the time, the substrate was too moist and "he" hung out at the top all of the time. This was due to my failure in estimating how quickly the damp coco would dry out. Per FB group suggestions I gave him almost a week before stressing him out with switching out the substrate to mostly dry with some moisure way down and in one corner, I also added a large leaf down in front, in case he needed more coverage. To this day he has never used the cork bark hide that has a starter burrow behind it, burrowed at all, or made much webbing. He did come down quite a bit after the switch and stays on the back side of a leaf, with some webbing below him but not very much. He eats very well but only changes positons where he is and never really moves far. Currently I suspect he is in premolt as his last meal was pretty sizeable and there is now a bald spot on top/back of abdomen. He has a raised water dish (because i never see him on the ground) but ive never seen him near it.

My question is......is this behavior all ok?


Second my B. Smithi sling @ 1.75" seems happy in his little enclosure. He walks around but not excessively, uses the hide on and off througout the day, has eaten in private and i havent even seen a stress pose since i got him, last thursday. He showed up with a mostly bald abdomen and now its very dark. Big and dark and Im excited but........ does it seem right that he doesnt burrow either??

This will be my first two molts ever, and they are so young so obviously im terrified. I do participate very regularly on the FB forum, watch the discord to see others Q and As, and watch Toms Big Spiders, Tarantula Collective and Tarantula cat religiously. Ive had a lot of questions answered and learned a TON from others questions/mistakes. But I still wonder if the non burrowing and lack of thick webbing (from GBB) is going to be a concern or something i need to worry about when the molts come,

Sorry for the long windedness!!

1. Yes
2. Yes

 

[viper69]

Hi!
I got my first T, 1.25" GBB about 3/4ish weeks ago. It molted the third night it was here so its a little bigger now. I had no idea, just woke up and there was the molt right next to it. It hadnt webbed up very much yet and I suspect it molted upright
At the time, the substrate was too moist and "he" hung out at the top all of the time. This was due to my failure in estimating how quickly the damp coco would dry out. Per FB group suggestions I gave him almost a week before stressing him out with switching out the substrate to mostly dry with some moisure way down and in one corner, I also added a large leaf down in front, in case he needed more coverage. To this day he has never used the cork bark hide that has a starter burrow behind it, burrowed at all, or made much webbing. He did come down quite a bit after the switch and stays on the back side of a leaf, with some webbing below him but not very much. He eats very well but only changes positons where he is and never really moves far. Currently I suspect he is in premolt as his last meal was pretty sizeable and there is now a bald spot on top/back of abdomen. He has a raised water dish (because i never see him on the ground) but ive never seen him near it.

My question is......is this behavior all ok?


Second my B. Smithi sling @ 1.75" seems happy in his little enclosure. He walks around but not excessively, uses the hide on and off througout the day, has eaten in private and i havent even seen a stress pose since i got him, last thursday. He showed up with a mostly bald abdomen and now its very dark. Big and dark and Im excited but........ does it seem right that he doesnt burrow either??

This will be my first two molts ever, and they are so young so obviously im terrified. I do participate very regularly on the FB forum, watch the discord to see others Q and As, and watch Toms Big Spiders, Tarantula Collective and Tarantula cat religiously. Ive had a lot of questions answered and learned a TON from others questions/mistakes. But I still wonder if the non burrowing and lack of thick webbing (from GBB) is going to be a concern or something i need to worry about when the molts come,

Sorry for the long windedness!!

They don't all burrow, also depends on how the box is setup, and the specimen. Just like humans aren't clones, neither are Ts

Put the GBB water on the ground, it's a terrestrial species that lives in extremely xeric conditions.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

Any pics of the setups?

 

[DooksnSpooks]

Idk why these look like they are from a potato. The breeder and FB group said this was fine even though i worry it’s too tall

ill take some of the other one in a sec

 

[DooksnSpooks]

This is the Smithi one. He is in front of the little cork hide. It is pre-burrowed. His water lego is covered by a leaf currently. He does that every night

 

[Ratmosphere]

GBB’s should be housed in a terrestrial enclosure. Many people say these are semi arboreal, but they really thrive in a terrestrial setup.

 

[DooksnSpooks]

I haven’t always been entirely comfortable with this enclosure for it but I also hate the idea of changing it again on him.
I have larger terrestrial enclosures for both of them that I’d love to get them in as soon as it’s safe. I don’t remember the exact dimensions but they are both around 4x4x10. One is slightly bigger than the other. I’ve also consider putting the GBB one on its side

 

[viper69]

Idk why these look like they are from a potato. The breeder and FB group said this was fine even though i worry it’s too tall

ill take some of the other one in a sec

I HOPE that's not YOUR GBB in there?????