I thought this might be the case

[DanielAcorn]

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!

 

[Smotzer]

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]

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.

 

[viper69]

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.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

I use condoment cups-or deli cups for slings so they don’t dig to deep.

 

[DanielAcorn]

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]

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.

IMG_0472

• cold blood
• Feb 7, 2017

Keep your small terrestrial slings like this.

This is a good guide to look after slings, its easier to keep an eye on them and to feed them

 

[TheraMygale]

The advice about not digging up, is because the sling could be in the molting process. Disturbing it can cause damage.

also, some people with less experience then others, might not use a gentle approach.

i had read the same advice you did. I used my own discretion everytime i acted. So far, maybe i just have the knack. But, i got results: no changes in behavior, no eating, i left alone.

in any case, its up to you, your confidence in what you are doing, and your tolerance to risk.

knowing the type of tarantula also helps assessing the need to intervene. Some types are known to be super eaters. Some are known to be slow, fasters. So its all these things that come into factor.

many new to tarantulas havent gotten around knowing all this yet. So saying: dont dig it up, provides a go to for those with less experience. Thats how i comprehend it.