M.Balfouri Communal Slings

[Arakawa]

Hey guys! So i recently got three m.balfs slings (last week) which are at 2i-3i i assume since they are about 2cm or just abit over. I have read that m balf communal establish one main burrow and everyone stays there but i have seen successful setups in youtube with separate burrows (or maybe its just another entrance). They made two separate burrows quite far from each other (4x4 Round jar with 3-4inches substrate). One is always alone the other two are together under some moss they webbed up. Are they establishing their own territory? should i make a smaller enclosure/separate the one etc etc.

The one thats always alone is always underground while the other two kinda roam at night (i just see them in random spots at night).

 

[KezyGLA]

They do best when sharing a small space. Ideally it will be making them share the burrows. If there is too much space they may set up their own territories and protect it, leading to fights and cannibalism. I think 3 is too few to start a colony.

I had 15 juveniles sharing a 5.8L braplast tub.

Squad

• KezyGLA
• Jan 17, 2018
• 10
• balfouri communal monocentropus monocentropus balfouri

 

[weibkreux]

They do best when sharing a small space. Ideally it will be making them share the burrows. If there is too much space they may set up their own territories and protect it, leading to fights and cannibalism. I think 3 is too few to start a colony.

I had 15 juveniles sharing a 5.8L braplast tub.

Squad

• KezyGLA
• Jan 17, 2018
• 10
• balfouri communal monocentropus monocentropus balfouri

That's the biggest communal I've ever seen! Amazing!
I'm actually going to start mine, although with only 3 spoods (less than an inch slings). Too few but that's all I can manage right now.
Is there any other pointers I need to consider? Besides not giving them too much space to set up their territories?

 

[Jayk]

That's the biggest communal I've ever seen! Amazing!
I'm actually going to start mine, although with only 3 spoods (less than an inch slings). Too few but that's all I can manage right now.
Is there any other pointers I need to consider? Besides not giving them too much space to set up their territories?

Give plenty of food or they'll just eat each other

 

[weibkreux]

Give plenty of food or they'll just eat each other

Aye. Food is no problem, got a dubia colony.

How about when molting? They don't interfere with each other?

 

[KezyGLA]

Aye. Food is no problem, got a dubia colony.

How about when molting? They don't interfere with each other?

They might. I have had a couple of gimpy looking specimens in the colonies. They may have been interrupted during moult, but it may just be something else.

So it’s a possibility

 

[weibkreux]

They might. I have had a couple of gimpy looking specimens in the colonies. They may have been interrupted during moult, but it may just be something else.

So it’s a possibility

Thanks for the feedback, hopefully mine will go smoothly.