New Additions + Advice welcome

[Steve Calceatum]

Well, I'm pretty new here, and new to the hobby. I made a New Year's resolution to minimize the amount of fears in my life, and arachnophobia was up there on the list of crap to get over.....sooooo I did a fool-hardy thing and bought an adult female G. rosea from a pet store. :wall: After 6 months of keeping her I came to understand that a 5" Rosie probably wasn't the best choice for a neophyte that was terrified of those things to begin with. But, in 6 months, I also came to understand not only the art of husbandry, but my pet as well. And I have to admit, it is quite amusing to bring Charlotte out and taunt back at the very individuals who taunted me for so long about my spydie-fear. "Who's afraid of spiders now??!!!" ;P

While searching the almighty WWW the past couple months for advice on husbandry, I discovered a lot of different species that I would like to keep. This past week, I added 4 new lil friends. A. versicolor 1/2" sling, B. smithi (1 1/2" female?), C. fasciatum 3/4" sling, and due to a breeder mistake, I ended up with a P. irminia 3/4" sling. (I think I paid around $50 for all of them.)

So, not only being new to the hobby, I am new to slings......and would really appreciate any advice. I haven't gotten a chance to upload any pics of the new spydies or enclosures, and probably won't get to for a minute. (my son is playing games on my iPhone, and there's no telling when he'll be done)

 

[Arachnobrian]

For a person with a past fear of spiders and starting in the hobby, the Rosie, Smithi, and Versicolour are perfect. Two easy care for terrestrials, and one aboreal with slightly higher demands.


I'm not familiar with the C. fasciatum, but I'm sure the P. irminia is a bigger step into the hobby than the other three (speed and venom).


Slings are very easy to care for, funny but most are lost due to overcare.
Kept in small containers, humidity and temps. are easier to maintain, and food is more easily found.

 

[GartenSpinnen]

C. fasciatum you will find to be very skittish species. They will run at the slightest disturbance, but for the most part are not normally apt to try and bite or kick hair. The P. irminia on the other hand is quite a jump, as mentioned above. It is a very fast species that can be defensive. Having a sling works out though, because you will learn about how it reacts and learn to deal with it properly as it grows up. Just watch your fingers ...

Welcome to the addiction!

 

[Steve Calceatum]

C. fasciatum you will find to be very skittish species. They will run at the slightest disturbance, but for the most part are not normally apt to try and bite or kick hair. The P. irminia on the other hand is quite a jump, as mentioned above. It is a very fast species that can be defensive. Having a sling works out though, because you will learn about how it reacts and learn to deal with it properly as it grows up. Just watch your fingers ...

Welcome to the addiction!

I agree the SunTiger is a jump....but the breeder sent me one by mistake. (I ordered the versicolor) Now that I have her, there's nothing else I can do but keep it....Giving me confidence to get those Pokies and that OBT!!!
The fasciatum is a BAD hair kicker, and quite the little garbage disposal (eats about one or two 3-week old crickets every other day).....but very chill when she's in the hand.... and doesn't seem to want to do much else when she's out but sit there on my hand, and let me pull all her eaten crickets. I really suggest getting a fasciatum.....that is one cool and interesting spider!!!!

As far as feeding goes: the irminia, and smithi aren't wanting to eat. The versicolor ate once since I got her a few days ago, and the fasciatum is like Fatty Ding-Dongs at a buffet, so I'm not too worried about them. I've had the irminia for a week and a half, and the smithi for only a few days as well. Is this normal behavior for slings? (I think the smithi may be in pre-molt...but time will tell)

 

[Arachnobrian]

(I think the smithi may be in pre-molt...but time will tell)

A shiney black abdomen is usually a good indicator a moult is soon.
B. smithi anyway.

 

[Chaika]

As far as feeding goes: the irminia, and smithi aren't wanting to eat. The versicolor ate once since I got her a few days ago, and the fasciatum is like Fatty Ding-Dongs at a buffet, so I'm not too worried about them. I've had the irminia for a week and a half, and the smithi for only a few days as well. Is this normal behavior for slings? (I think the smithi may be in pre-molt...but time will tell)

My two irminias are about the same size and they usually eat like there's no tomorrow (!) unless they're coming up for a moult. Then they'll usually hide away in their burrows (yup burrows, they even web up the entrances!) for about a week or so and then pop out again and sit at the entrance looking for the next meal.
I wouldn't worry too much, just offer them a small cricket every two days and see if they're hungry and if not then just try again later. They'll eat sooner or later

 

[evicton]

My smithi sling is second only to my rosies as my most finicky eater, I have an emelia thats the same way. I finally ended up offering them prekilled cricks and normally if I dropped it in there and leave them alone I can cetch them eating. I normally feed these guys first, give them a few hours, if they haven't eaten it by then I take it out and feed it to my gbb or C. fasciatum, less waste that way.