I messed up big time causing a sling to be eaten..

[LostInExotics]

So I received 3 Tarantula slings yesterday, A. Geniculata, L. Dificilis, and a freebie, B. Albopilosum. All was well, I rehoused them to a fairly spacious clear plastic jar with a deep substrate if they choose to burrow.

As I woke up this morning, I noticed in my A. Geniculata enclosure that it looked a bit bigger and I was confused for a second. I looked closely and it looked like he was nibbling on something but when I opened the lid I saw my poor A. Genic being eaten by my L. Dificilis.. :'(

How could this have happened?! I saw each one of them in their enclosure with the lid sealed tight. I'm sad and confused..

 

[antinous]

Did you accidentally put one in the others enclosure? How big were the ventilation holes? Larger than the carapace of the sling? If so they can escape through there. I’m sorry for your loss

 

[cold blood]

are you positive the genic didnt just molt? They often "chew" on their fresh molts.

FWIW, your slings will grow faster and hide less in smaller enclosures, with less substrate.

IMG_0472

• cold blood
• Feb 7, 2017

Keep your small terrestrial slings like this.

 

[basin79]

Unfortunately you put 2 slings in the same enclosure leaving 1 empty..

Or there's the very, very, very slim chance 1 of your slings escaped and crawled into 1 of the other occupied enclosures.

It's a bloody shame either way.

are you positive the genic didnt just molt? They often "chew" on their fresh molts.

FWIW, your slings will grow faster and hide less in smaller enclosures, with less substrate.

IMG_0472

• cold blood
• Feb 7, 2017

Keep your small terrestrial slings like this.

Well played sir. I never even thought about the op didn't see a sling getting eaten but a moult.

 

[LostInExotics]

Did you accidentally put one in the others enclosure? How big were the ventilation holes? Larger than the carapace of the sling? If so they can escape through there. I’m sorry for your loss

I made sure they were in each separate enclosure. What makes it frightening is that it may actually have gone through the vent holes at the top and into the other

are you positive the genic didnt just molt? They often "chew" on their fresh molts.

FWIW, your slings will grow faster and hide less in smaller enclosures, with less substrate.

IMG_0472

• cold blood
• Feb 7, 2017

Keep your small terrestrial slings like this.

Yes I'm very sure my genic didn't molt. It's carapace was in tact and the abdomen looked like it was sucked out. Also, its legs were in a death curl.

I'm gonna rehome them now. I didn't know they grow faster in smaller enclosures.

 

[Liquifin]

If one of your T.'s got out then it means that either you housed 2 in 1 enclosure, or it's something with your enclosures. BTW, a pic of the jar is helpful to give us an idea.

 

[LostInExotics]

If one of your T.'s got out then it means that either you housed 2 in 1 enclosure, or it's something with your enclosures. BTW, a pic of the jar is helpful to give us an idea.

I'm fairly new to the hobby ~2 weeks of owning. I think the holes were too big.

 

[cold blood]

abdomen looked like it was sucked out. Also, its legs were in a death curl.

You just described what a molt looks like.

I could see a sling escaping vent holes...but escaping one enclosure, then entering another through the vent holes seems completely unlikely...as in a virtual impossibility.....I really doubt that's what happened....if your LD did eat the genic, it was more likely a mistake when housing them....which also seems unlikely, but actually more plausible.

 

[LostInExotics]

You just described what a molt looks like.

Mhm but the L. Dificilis wasn't in its enclosure, I even sifted the substrate and couldn't anything.

 

[Liquifin]

Here's my conclusion: the holes you drilled for ventilation was to large, hence; the sling got out, went and ate the next sling beside its own enclosure. Mystery solved.

 

[LostInExotics]

I could see a sling escaping vent holes...but escaping one enclosure, then entering another through the vent holes seems completely unlikely...as in a virtual impossibility.....I really doubt that's what happened....if your LD did eat the genic, it was more likely a mistake when housing them....which also seems unlikely, but actually more plausible.

Fwiw, their enclosures were side by side. Even the slightest chance, it could still be possible. I even went through my video recordings for when I was housing them and I did house them separately.

Here's my conclusion: the holes you drilled for ventilation was to large, hence; the sling got out, went and ate the next sling beside its own enclosure. Mystery solved.

Yea that's what I was thinking. I couldn't process what happened. Such a super dumb mistake that could have easily been avoided. I guess I'll just take this experience and learn from it. After all, I'm a noobie to the hobby.

 

[cold blood]

Mhm but the L. Dificilis wasn't in its enclosure, I even sifted the substrate and couldn't anything.

Post pics PLEASE!!! Pics of the t eating the other.


Its more likely your genic molted, and your LD escaped....2 separate incidences.

 

[LostInExotics]

Post pics PLEASE!!! Pics of the t eating the other.


Its more likely your genic molted, and your LD escaped....2 separate incidences.

Sorry it's hard to see, the sling dragged it to its lair. I'm just curious but if the genic molted then it would have white knees right? The sling I got had white knees, this one doesn't.

 

[Arachnophoric]

Sorry it's hard to see, the sling dragged it to its lair. I'm just curious but if the genic molted then it would have white knees right? The sling I got had white knees, this one doesn't.
View attachment 290995 View attachment 290996

Yeah... that definitely looks like it's one T eating another, and not just a sling chewing on a molt.

Side note that you might want to ditch the paper towel roll hide. In a moist sling enclosure that's going to mold and get gross really fast.

 

[LostInExotics]

Yeah... that definitely looks like it's one T eating another, and not just a sling chewing on a molt.

Side note that you might want to ditch the paper towel roll hide. In a moist sling enclosure that's going to mold and get gross really fast.

I’m still upset about it The genic was the one I was most excited for. Super dumb mistake on my part for making the vent holes a big. Oh well.. I’m getting a bunch of new slings next week for my birthday. I’ll be receiving a GBB, A. geniculata, N. incei, N. chromatus, L. parahybana and maybe a few more This time I will make it right.

I have already taken it out and rehoused them into a smaller condiment cup. What should I add for its hide? Do slings need hides at all?

 

[Arachnophoric]

I’m still upset about it The genic was the one I was most excited for. Super dumb mistake on my part for making the vent holes a big. Oh well.. I’m getting a bunch of new slings next week for my birthday. I’ll be receiving a GBB, A. geniculata, N. incei, N. chromatus, L. parahybana and maybe a few more This time I will make it right.

I have already taken it out and rehoused them into a smaller condiment cup. What should I add for its hide? Do slings need hides at all?

Very small terrestrial/fossorial slings usually end up digging and conforming the condiment cup into a burrow/hide itself, so I wouldn't be too worried about it until they get a little larger and need to be rehoused. Even arboreal slings will show burrowing habits, although with arboreal slings or slings of heavy webbing species (i.e. GGB and N. incei) it's best to offer them a piece of corkbark or something to use as anchor points for webbing.

 

[8LeggedLair]

I’m still upset about it The genic was the one I was most excited for. Super dumb mistake on my part for making the vent holes a big. Oh well.. I’m getting a bunch of new slings next week for my birthday. I’ll be receiving a GBB, A. geniculata, N. incei, N. chromatus, L. parahybana and maybe a few more This time I will make it right.

I have already taken it out and rehoused them into a smaller condiment cup. What should I add for its hide? Do slings need hides at all?

Please do some research. (for my friend Not Caresheets) for the new arrivals as well as what you have. if the ventilation holes are as big as the T’s Carapace then it can escape.

 

[LostInExotics]

Please do some research. (for my friend Not Caresheets) for the new arrivals as well as what you have. if the ventilation holes are as big as the T’s Carapace then it can escape.

I’ve done a lot of reading and watching about the new arrivals so I know what to expect. Yea with the new cup enclosures I made after the incident I made sure to just poke a tiny hole on the sides and top.

 

[Arachnophoric]

Please do some research. (for my friend Not Caresheets) for the new arrivals as well as what you have. if the ventilation holes are as big as the T’s Carapace then it can escape.

You make me laugh.

@LostInExotics In regards to putting ventilation holes in enclosures for small slings, I just use a thumbtack to avoid making the holes too big - As 8LeggedLair said, as long as the holes aren't larger than the carapace you're golden. Specifically the carapace and not the abdomen, as the abdomen is malleable and squishy. Even the fattest T can squeeze through a gap if the carapace can fit through. There are video examples of even adult Ts doing this.

 

[LostInExotics]

You make me laugh.

@LostInExotics In regards to putting ventilation holes in enclosures for small slings, I just use a thumbtack to avoid making the holes too big - As 8LeggedLair said, as long as the holes aren't larger than the carapace you're golden. Specifically the carapace and not the abdomen, as the abdomen is malleable and squishy. Even the fattest T can squeeze through a gap if the carapace can fit through. There are video examples of even adult Ts doing this.

Oh yea I saw a Mexican red knee squeeze through a tiny gap between 2 glass panels