G.aureostriata

[skooma_addict]

I have two slings of these little guys about 1/3 to 1/2 inch. I wanted to know if anyone could explain why they keep climbing the side of the vial? The substrate is dry so it isn't from that.
P.S. These are also my first slings.

 

[Mina]

They are climbing because the are slings, and because the can. I have 3 G. aureo right now. One is an about 4 inch juvie female, one is an inch sling, and one is about 1/4 of an inch.
Until just recently my largest spent much of her time being arboreal, I have no idea why, she just did. She has everything she needs in her home, just the way she likes it, with a hide, a water dish, and her own burrow that she dug.
I have a personal theory about this. I think slings like to do everything while they are slings. G. aureos are big, heavy bodied spiders, who probably don't do well with the arboreal thing when they get to be adults, so they do it as slings. My pokie juvies have burrows that they have dug to hide in, I guess they are just trying out burrowing.

 

[julesaussies]

i don't know why your slings are climbing the side of the vial. However, while there may be some controversy about this i myself would never keep 1/3" slings dry. i was told by a couple very experienced and successful T keepers/breeders to never let them dry out at that size, regardless of species. i have followed that advice and all have done well, as well as burrowed in their vials. All of those i originally started with have now outgrown that stage and i am now doing it with my newer tiny slings. i would honestly be nervous to keep slings that tiny dry.

 

[Mushroom Spore]

Yeah, agreeing with Jules. I got my aureostriata at about 1" and I didn't notice it becoming water-phobic until more like 1.5 or 2".

I wouldn't keep them WET, but I misted once or twice a week.

 

[Fingolfin]

Hey Skooma.... big on Morrowind?

Anyways, mine likes to climb too.... its the same size. Alternatively, its also dug some semi burrows as well. Its just pretty active, by the looks of it...

 

[Mallard]

my G.aureostriata molted a week ago. (Now 1.5")Came out of her burrow yesterday and went right to th top of her small k.k. I came home tonight and it was crawling around her shallow water dish.
Jason

 

[skooma_addict]

Hey Skooma.... big on Morrowind?

...

Yes I am! Oblivion also!

But back to the task at hand. Originally I kept them on somewhat moist substrate because I do know through reading on the boards here, that slings in general are more susceptible to dessication, dehydration and what-not, but they were doing an awful lot of climbing so being as they're grammostolas I figured let it dry out and maybe they will feel more comfortable back on the ground. Hasn't worked yet. One is on moist sub. and the other on dry sub. Both are climbing the sides and hanging out just above the ground. Basically, I want to know if they are uncomfortable or are they just being strange in that typical grammostola way. I am a little uneasy because they are my first slings and slings are more sensitive to things than adults and I want to be sure they will make it to a healthy adulthoood.

Thanks for the input everyone that contributed. :worship: