How long should I wait after 1" sling molt?

[Sarvoth]

Well, about four days ago my 1-1.5" P. crassipes sling molted. This brings the total ammount of time up to eleven days that my sling has not moved outside of its hide (The substrate is deep enough for burrowing, but it hasn't decided to do so).

I'm starting to get a little bit nervous, this was a pretty expensive spiderling! How long should I wait before I attempt my first feeding after the molt?

-Brandon

 

[Mushroom Spore]

Eleven days and you're already panicking? Welcome to the world of owning spiders.

I'd wait 3-4 more days, just making sure that there's access to water/damp substrate. Then put a pre-killed prey item near the hide entrance, removing it if not eaten after 24 hours. That's a good safe test.

 

[Sarvoth]

Eleven days and you're already panicking? Welcome to the world of owning spiders.

I'd wait 3-4 more days, just making sure that there's access to water/damp substrate. Then put a pre-killed prey item near the hide entrance, removing it if not eaten after 24 hours. That's a good safe test.

Thanks for the help! I wasn't really panicked, but I definitely am nervous about a sling. I am new to tarantulas in general, and definitely to spiderlings. I'm used to wolf spiders, which so far in my experience feed quite often. I don't need to worry about a water dish until it's about 3" legspan; right? I put a very small shallow plastic cap filled with water inside the enclosure anyways.

-Brandon

 

[ErikH]

A small plastic cap should be fine, as long as it isn't big enough for the sling to drown in. I don't have any experience with Aussie t's, but it isn't uncommon for terrestrial slings to hole themselves up for weeks at a time around a molt. As was mentioned, make sure there is water, and occasionally offer food, and it will come out when it is ready.