I thought this might be the case

DanielAcorn

Arachnopeon
Joined
Mar 10, 2025
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3 months ago my curly hair sling went under some cork and blocked the entrance. After 3 months - and after hearing concerns that have been raised about slings not resurfacing for food - I uncovered the sling and noticed it had gone from a dull grey to a black with a reddish tinge to the carapace! It was also starving and ate two crickets.

I think there comes a point sometimes when slings need to be checked on because - especially in king baboons - I think sometimes they don't resurface for food.

My G. Pulchripes have been buried under a mountain of dirt for 2 months. If it gets to 3 I might dig them up as well for feeding.

What do people think is happening here? Am I just being overly anxious and should just leave them be? Or do I have a small point?

Thanks

Sorry image attached is the molt

Here's the spider!
 

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Smotzer

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My G. Pulchripes have been buried under a mountain of dirt for 2 months. If it gets to 3 I might dig them up as well for feeding.
3 months is nothing to be concerned about. Leave it! Don’t dig it up!
It will come out when it’s ready, likely not before that. Until then, wait!!

Also being skinny after molting is never a cause for concern, nor is hiding.
 

TheraMygale

Arachnoprince
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with slings, i dont give them the room to disappear. And i try my best to coax them into making a burrow that gives to the enclosure wall. That way i always have an eye on them.

after a month of no action, i gently open up the burrow, i dont DIG IT UP.

then i place a prekill.

this is a gentle wink to my sling. I have gotten results this way.

i also keep my slings in small containers.

in this picture, you see my g puclchripes who molted this morning. Its now ready for a bigger enclosure. It did not have more then an inch to dig.


IMG_2182.jpeg
 

viper69

ArachnoGod
Old Timer
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Dec 8, 2006
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Small slings do burrow, and some will die

Never happened to me, but I also never game them much sub to burrow in. Only about 2-3 species did I give them enough to burrow.
 

DanielAcorn

Arachnopeon
Joined
Mar 10, 2025
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It's difficult because there's VERY firm advice to never disturb the sling, but also those who do disturb the sling. I guess I gotta play it by ear as they say!

3 months is nothing to be concerned about. Leave it! Don’t dig it up!
It will come out when it’s ready, likely not before that. Until then, wait!!

Also being skinny after molting is never a cause for concern, nor is hiding.
Thanks for this. I will try and be less anxious next time and completely leave the sling alone.
 

Mustafa67

Arachnobaron
Active Member
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Jun 29, 2021
Messages
361
3 months ago my curly hair sling went under some cork and blocked the entrance. After 3 months - and after hearing concerns that have been raised about slings not resurfacing for food - I uncovered the sling and noticed it had gone from a dull grey to a black with a reddish tinge to the carapace! It was also starving and ate two crickets.

I think there comes a point sometimes when slings need to be checked on because - especially in king baboons - I think sometimes they don't resurface for food.

My G. Pulchripes have been buried under a mountain of dirt for 2 months. If it gets to 3 I might dig them up as well for feeding.

What do people think is happening here? Am I just being overly anxious and should just leave them be? Or do I have a small point?

Thanks

Sorry image attached is the molt

Here's the spider!
How deep is your enclosure? And whats the total size of your enclosure?

The general way I keep slings is like this:
As said, 1 or 2 oz for terrestrials and taller 4 or 5 oz for arboreals...many fast arboreals can be housed in 16 or 32oz deli cups.

Standard terrestrial sling in a 2oz condiment cup.
This is a good guide to look after slings, its easier to keep an eye on them and to feed them
 
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