I just wasn't happy with using the mesh in the top of small Dixie cups. It just seemed like the slings would often only web on the mesh itself, and if they wanted out, it was easy for them to bolt out off the top of the screen, as with any live prey also. Plus, I always seem to think I can improve on something.:wall:
So, I had the idea to try 12 Dram vials with twist ties coiled and bunched into the bottom half. this gives the slings a 3D area to web on which helps increase the chance of prey getting caught. Also, since I placed the ties at the bottom of the cup I don't have worry as much about them sitting up at the top of the cup.
I had some packaged tie material that has a little cutter that allows you to cut off the desired length (green ties), and that is what I decided to use. However, I also happened upon some precut ones left over from some trash bags (red ties), and thought I'd use up those first.
Here's the twist tie package:
Using two red ties per vial, I ended up with 20 setups. I made an additional 25 with the green ties. I fed them all FFs and went on a 4 day vacation. Here are the two setups:
When I got back from vacation, and while feeding them, I discovered 9 deaths. I am not very experienced at all with raising Latro slings, but this seemed rather high. I thought perhaps I just hadn't fed them enough.
A few days later when I fed them again, I noticed that about half of them were dead!
Then I realized that it was only the ones with the green ties that were dead, all of the ones with the red ties were still alive!
It seems pretty obvious that the green ties killed the slings. I have them in with some juvy reds and they seem fine, but they are older and their enclosures are better ventilated I think. I guess it was VOCs? These things have been sitting around for ten years though...
Anyway, just thought I'd share this in case anyone else had a similar idea. I wish I knew what kind of plastic it is so I can avoid it in the future. I'm so glad I used some of the red ties, or I wouldn't have any alive! Plus, I might not have figured out what went wrong.
So, I had the idea to try 12 Dram vials with twist ties coiled and bunched into the bottom half. this gives the slings a 3D area to web on which helps increase the chance of prey getting caught. Also, since I placed the ties at the bottom of the cup I don't have worry as much about them sitting up at the top of the cup.
I had some packaged tie material that has a little cutter that allows you to cut off the desired length (green ties), and that is what I decided to use. However, I also happened upon some precut ones left over from some trash bags (red ties), and thought I'd use up those first.
Here's the twist tie package:
Using two red ties per vial, I ended up with 20 setups. I made an additional 25 with the green ties. I fed them all FFs and went on a 4 day vacation. Here are the two setups:
When I got back from vacation, and while feeding them, I discovered 9 deaths. I am not very experienced at all with raising Latro slings, but this seemed rather high. I thought perhaps I just hadn't fed them enough.
A few days later when I fed them again, I noticed that about half of them were dead!
Then I realized that it was only the ones with the green ties that were dead, all of the ones with the red ties were still alive!It seems pretty obvious that the green ties killed the slings. I have them in with some juvy reds and they seem fine, but they are older and their enclosures are better ventilated I think. I guess it was VOCs? These things have been sitting around for ten years though...
Anyway, just thought I'd share this in case anyone else had a similar idea. I wish I knew what kind of plastic it is so I can avoid it in the future. I'm so glad I used some of the red ties, or I wouldn't have any alive! Plus, I might not have figured out what went wrong.
