First time owner

[Troopermk2]

Hey everyone!

So i was researching Tarantulas and spiders for maybe a fortnight, mainly out of fear from them and eventually stumbled upon various YT channels (The Dark Den being one example) that house these amazing little guys and i have decided to take the plunge and purchase my first Slings.

Although it is not common for a first time tarantula owner to get slings i was wondering if you guys had any advice for a first time Sling owner. my main concerns are heat and humidity, the pet shop i originally visited tried to sell me a Tarantula that they didn't even know what species it was and were trying to pawn me off with heat lamps and heat mats where i specifically remember a few sources not using them atall and some using them daily.

Do i really need heaters? ive recorded the temps in the room i will be keeping them in the past few days and they are at most 23C and lowest at night 18C

(EDIT It would probably be good to note that the species are Acanthoscurria Geniculata and Brachypelma Vagans

 

[Chris LXXIX]

i have decided to take the plunge and purchase my first Slings.

Of which species?

my main concerns are heat and humidity

It's normal

the pet shop i originally visited tried to sell me a Tarantula that they didn't even know what species it was

It's normal

and were trying to pawn me off with heat lamps and heat mats

It's normal

Do i really need heaters? ive recorded the temps in the room i will be keeping them in the past few days and they are at most 23C and lowest at night 18C

Well, those temperatures aren't nowhere near the "danger/worry" level but I need to know which species we are talking for being more specific :-s

 

[Chris LXXIX]

Oh yes, sorry, my bad... hello :-s

 

[Troopermk2]

Acanthoscurria Geniculata and Brachypelma Vagans are the species

 

[Chris LXXIX]

Acanthoscurria Geniculata and Brachypelma Vagans are the species

Those are two T's pretty hardy, considering everything. Yeah I think that, especially Acanthoscurria geniculata, would love to enjoy a bit more when it comes to 'Day' temperatures, but it's ok.

Don't keep the 'genic' sling too dry, a bit of moisture is needed (just pour with a pipette room temperature water in the substrate).

 

[miss moxie]

Yeah the Brachypelma can be kept dry with a water bowl. Here is a picture of how I'm keeping my 1" B. albiceps.

And as stated, A. geniculata like some moist sub. Not -drenched-. I like to use a mixture of coconut fiber and sphagnum moss, and wet the moss every now and then. It holds moisture really well.

 

[Troopermk2]

Yeah the Brachypelma can be kept dry with a water bowl. Here is a picture of how I'm keeping my 1" B. albiceps.

Omg so tiny! i did get cocofibre bricks and some sphag moss aswell to use as substrate for each, just out of curiosity how do you judge when to use a water-dish? i've heard and seen some slings will drink straight from the substrate if they are small enough

Thanks for the replies so far! any more info is highly appreciated

 

[miss moxie]

Omg so tiny!

Haha, yeah they get even smaller, trust me! Seeing slings in person for the first time is wild. Even pictures don't really do them justice.

 

[Troopermk2]

Haha, yeah they get even smaller, trust me! Seeing slings in person for the first time is wild. Even pictures don't really do them justice.

Thats partly the reason i went for slings instead of juvies or adults, im still relatively scared of spiders but slings look cute to me and that makes the fear subside quite a bit

 

[miss moxie]

Thats partly the reason i went for slings instead of juvies or adults, im still relatively scared of spiders but slings look cute to me and that makes the fear subside quite a bit

I was the opposite when I started out! Adults didn't really look much like house spiders to me, but I was a bit uncomfortable around my first slings-- just for the first couple of days-- because they looked like house spiders to me. But my arachnophobia is completely cured these days. I even like the spiders in my house.

 

[Troopermk2]

. But my arachnophobia is completely cured these days. I even like the spiders in my house.

That's really good news! part of my goal to cure my fear, i find it lessening and dwindling with the more i learn about the little fuzzies, i'm hoping getting these little guys will cure it completely!

 

[miss moxie]

Jumping spiders are great too for curing arachnophobia. So cute and very intelligent. Whenever I find one outside I have to stop and enjoy them for a little bit.

 

[Ungoliant]

just out of curiosity how do you judge when to use a water-dish? i've heard and seen some slings will drink straight from the substrate if they are small enough

A sling is never too small for a water dish. (They won't drown.) If you can fit one in the container, it's a great bit of added security, since the tarantula can drink whenever it wants and not just shortly after you moisten the substrate.

For tiny slings in condiment cups, you can try things like the one-square Legos, blisters from pill packs (wash thoroughly), tattoo ink cups, or even plastic Monopoly houses. If you don't have anything that fits, you'll have to stay on top of moisture levels. (Acanthoscurria geniculata doesn't like it bone dry. I always keep part of the substrate moist for mine.)

If you haven't already seen these, Tom Moran posted a comprehensive guide on raising slings:

 

[Troopermk2]

A sling is never too small for a water dish. (They won't drown.) If you can fit one in the container, it's a great bit of added security, since the tarantula can drink whenever it wants and not just shortly after you moisten the substrate.

I have indeed seen these!, i was more wondering if the water-dish was size dependent on the spider, but seems to be dependent on the size of the enclosure from what i have been reading from yourself and various others

Thanks so much for the info again guys anything else is greatly appreciated <3

 

[Ungoliant]

I have indeed seen these!, i was more wondering if the water-dish was size dependent on the spider, but seems to be dependent on the size of the enclosure from what i have been reading from yourself and various others

It's also dependent on the spider in that it needs to be wide enough for her to submerge her whole face. (They also have an easier time drinking if the dish is relatively flush with the substrate, although this also increases the likelihood of substrate filling the dish.)

 

[miss moxie]

It's also dependent on the spider in that it needs to be wide enough for her to submerge her whole face. (They also have an easier time drinking if the dish is relatively flush with the substrate, although this also increases the likelihood of substrate filling the dish.)

Ahhhh the struggle of 'substrate and water dishes' will never end.

The water dish and the enclosure are both dependent on the size of the tarantula actually. Typically you want something not much bigger than the T when they're spread out-- not because they can drown, it just seems to make it easier on them.

And yeah, as @Ungoliant said, they have to be able to submerge their faces to drink.

See? This is how they drink.

 

[Ungoliant]

See? This is how they drink.

Obligatory Avic action shots (you can see the hydrophobic action of the hairs, where the legs just float on top of the surface):

 

[miss moxie]

Obligatory Avic action shots (you can see the hydrophobic action of the hairs, where the legs just float on top of the surface):

Literally just today while unpacking C. versicolor slings I witnessed a tiny sling walk across the surface of their water bowl and then a second one fell (or jumped? Avics/Caribena are squirrely) from the lid into the water dish and just sat their floating inside of it for a few seconds before walking out. Both things happened so quickly I couldn't get any pictures but it was still really interesting to watch.

 

[mconnachan]

Do i really need heaters? ive recorded the temps in the room i will be keeping them in the past few days and they are at most 23C and lowest at night 18C

These temps are pretty good, I would try to get the temps up just a tad, but TBH they're actually pretty spot on, no need for heat mats/pads, typical pet store trying to sell you anything and everything.

Omg so tiny! i did get cocofibre bricks and some sphag moss aswell to use as substrate for each, just out of curiosity how do you judge when to use a water-dish? i've heard and seen some slings will drink straight from the substrate if they are small enough

You can use a water dish right from the start, I use upturned Lego pieces, the smallest single pieces, they're great for tiny slings.

Thats partly the reason i went for slings instead of juvies or adults, im still relatively scared of spiders but slings look cute to me and that makes the fear subside quite a bit

Yeah good choice, slings are a good way to start, you get to know their care requirements from the get go, just don't underestimate how fast they can be.

Last but not least welcome to AB, and the wonderful hobby of tarantulas - enjoy your new 8 legged wonders...

 

[Troopermk2]

These temps are pretty good, I would try to get the temps up just a tad, but TBH they're actually pretty spot on, no need for heat mats/pads, typical pet store trying to sell you anything and everything.

Being from Glasgow myself its pretty hard to get the temps up without throwing the central heating on, but im thinking of insulating the shelving unit i will be keeping them in and adding an old heat mat i had from an old cornsnake i had to up the ambient temps throughout the day and night, and just out of curiosity where do you get your T's from in scotland?