New and Long Adventure: Brachy Slings!

[LucN]

Jump in! It's totally worth it.
Seeing them take on size and colors is going to be great.
With my batch, I'm a little hesitant about breeding since I'm almost 100% sure they are siblings from the same sac. I would prefer to breed individuals from different parents. Something I will be reading into and getting advice on later on.

I would, but I lack the space for more currently. I'm seriously tight so the 4 AFs are all I can have at this point. Better those than none at all. My situation will improve eventually.

 

[joossa]

Going to be the last update for a while unless something drastic or unexpected happens.

The slings are all doing fine. There's a bit of a heat wave going on (mid 90'sF outside) and the storage room they are in got up to 87F today and yesterday and they are tolerating that just fine. I do crack the door open during the hottest part of the day so some of the cool air from the adjacent room that is cooled by AC makes it in. I also have a small fan on during the afternoon and evening in their room to keep the air moving and not stagnant. I'm working from home and am able to check in on them closely.

So far, I am refilling their tiny water bowls every three days. The sub does not dry out as fast as I thought it would.

Since the last update, the slings ate one more time and have put on even more weight. The oinkers!! They are each being fed half a gut loaded small cricket each offering. The crickets are fed apples, grapes, and high quality cichlid pellets.

Also, the smallest sling molted late last week, so that's good news too. No others molted yet. I am keeping a log of molt dates for each sling (and other info) and will be able to report back with data in the future.

I know it's a very long ways away, but I can't wait to see their red rump and golden carapace. Worth the wait and effort.

Check out the latest pics:

 

[LucN]

Man, those are some fat slings. Don't be surprised for more molts in the coming month or so. Congrats on molt #1 I think by the time they reach 1.5-2" you'll start seeing their adult colours. It's getting to that size that apparently takes a while. In the meantime, you have plenty of beautiful adults of other Brachys to keep you entertained. Maybe in a couple years' time your albiceps group will have earned their adult suits. Keep us updated

 

[joossa]

It's been a little over 4 weeks since the Brachy slings arrived. All are doing well.

• All of the B. albiceps slings have molted at least once.
• All of them turned a really dark color before molting.
• Before their first meal, they refused food for about 12 days on average.
• I am offering all slings half a small cricket every 5 days.
• The B. smithi sling has not molted yet and has eaten at every offering. It was bigger than the B. albiceps slings, so I am not surprised.
• 2 B. albiceps slings are my runts (smaller than the rest), 1 is bigger than the others, and the other 5 are average size (for the bunch that I have).
• They are still in my storage room getting a high temp of 86F and low of 74F.
• They have a small fan on during the afternoon and evening to help with ventilation when it is hottest in there.
• I am topping off water bowls every 2 or 3 days. They don't get empty, but I like to keep them full since the slings are in warmer temps.
• September and most of October will still be warm. However, I am now starting to think about how to keep them at the same temp ranges once mid October rolls around. My storage room does get colder than the rest of the house, so a change of rooms for the slings may be needed. Will continue to plan that out...

Really dark coloration prior to molting:





Fresh Molts:



Growing Slings:

 

[LucN]

I envy you so much you couldn't believe ! I seriously cannot wait for this opportunity to come my way. I know it's a lengthy process, but seeing the progress from slinghood to adulthood ought to be extremely rewarding. It's kind of like an RPG, you've barely started your journey and you can't wait until you meet the final boss and put him/Her/it in its rightful place. Getting to that point is a real blast.

 

[USNGunner]

I envy you so much you couldn't believe ! I seriously cannot wait for this opportunity to come my way. I know it's a lengthy process, but seeing the progress from slinghood to adulthood ought to be extremely rewarding. It's kind of like an RPG, you've barely started your journey and you can't wait until you meet the final boss and put him/Her/it in its rightful place. Getting to that point is a real blast.

OMG. I read this and went "WTH?" Then it hit me that you meant Role Playing Game. That's not the RPG I'm used to dealing with.

 

[Frogdaddy]

OMG. I read this and went "WTH?" Then it hit me that you meant Role Playing Game. That's not the RPG I'm used to dealing with.

I would argue your RPG's are more fun to play with.

 

[USNGunner]

I would argue your RPG's are more fun to play with.

Well, it depends on which end of the thing you're on.

 

[VaporRyder]

OMG. I read this and went "WTH?" Then it hit me that you meant Role Playing Game. That's not the RPG I'm used to dealing with.

Although a well placed RPG would certainly put most Final Bosses “in their rightful place”, I have to say - since it’s been mentioned, having regularly been out ‘looking after’ Royal Marine Assault Engineers as a medic (back in the day), and having been given the opportunity to ‘play’ with everything from M18 Claymores to PE - my personal favourite was the M72 LAW…

But we digress…

 

[joossa]

December 2021 Updates:

The slings are all doing great. They really have all developed their own personalities that I have recognized. For example, #4 is my rebellious and angry sling. S/he has given me a few cute little threat postures. #6 is my largest B. albiceps, but is really shy. They are all super cute and adorable.

I did have an unfortunate event happen when, after having refilled water bowls, I dropped sling #8 in its enclose from my hand to my desk maybe 5 to 6in. The enclosure landed upside-down. The sling made it out just fine, but I felt extremely terrible about dropping the enclosure. I was afraid the sub or cork would have crushed or severely injured the sling, but s/he was fine.

Last month, despite still accepting food and eating, most of the slings started to move sub around, I assume in an attempt to burrow as they were entering permolt. Since they don't have much sub, they only managed to shift the sub to one side of the enclosure.

Almost all of them have molted again in the last 2 weeks or are in premolt currently. My two largest are now 1.25in to 1.5in DLS. It's taken them an average of 50 to 60 days from their last molt to this molt. Previously, it took them 40 to 45 days between molts.

I plan to keep them in the 3.25oz deli cups for a while longer, but:
1] Will rehouse them into new 3.25oz deli cups since they have pooped on the walls and lid of their current enclosures.
2] I am already prepping their next size up enclosures: clear 12oz deli cups. I may actually move some of the larger slings into these sooner than later.

They are still offered food every five days and I am trying to keep them over 80F during the day in my warm, south facing walk-in closet. The only new thing I am battling is low humidity, so I'm keeping on top of keeping part of the sub moist and water bowls full at all times.

Accident Aftermath:



Slings Moving Sub Around:







Large, But Shy Sling:



Current Setup:





Slings in Premolt Recently:

 

[joossa]

Freshly Molted Slings From the Last Week Or Two:











Prepping For Imminent Rehousing Next Week (staying at 3.25oz Cups):





Prepping For Eventual Rehousing to 12oz Deli Cups:

 

[LucN]

Wow ! Glad to hear that they are still doing well. At least the one that was dropped didn't suffer any injuries, so that's good. They are starting to gain a bit of their adult colours. You're doing great with your current setup, keep it up !

 

[jrh3]

@joossa where did you get those water dishes? Or what are they? Paint cups?

 

[joossa]

Wow ! Glad to hear that they are still doing well. At least the one that was dropped didn't suffer any injuries, so that's good. They are starting to gain a bit of their adult colours. You're doing great with your current setup, keep it up !

Thank you! Appreciate it. Yes, some of the larger ones are showing a bit of a lighter colored carapace. Super excited to see them continue to grow.

@joossa where did you get those water dishes? Or what are they? Paint cups?

Got them from Amazon. Look up tattoo ink wells. I got the smallest size. They come in a bag of 100.

 

[joossa]

February, 2022 Update (1/2):

All slings are doing really well. Im keeping them as warm as possible despite the cooler winter temps. They are kept at over 80F for several hours a day on most days. They are still eating twice a week and pooping a lot. They are serious poop machines (I think due to the higher temps making their metabolism work faster). My B. smithi sling is the pickiest eater.

I took some time to try to measure them last month. All of them are 1.0in DLS or larger. So, in my conditions, I was able to get these babies from about 0.25in to 0.5in DLS to 1.0in DLS or larger within 6 or so months.

B. albiceps #1: 1.5in DLS
B. albiceps #2: 1.25in DLS
B. albiceps #3: 1.0in DLS
B. albiceps #4: 1.5in DLS
B. albiceps #5: 1.0in DLS
B. albiceps #6: 1.25in DLS
B. albiceps #7: 1.0in DLS
B. albiceps #8: 1.5in DLS
B. smithi: 1.4in DLS

Here are some recent pics of them:

 

[joossa]

February, 2022 Update (2/2):

Some really exciting news. My largest B. albiceps sling molted a few days ago. The sling is clearly now starting to show some adult colors. Not super bright or prominent, but a big step away from the typical sling coloration. I measured the sling today and estimate it is somewhere between 1.75in and 2.0in DLS! Super exciting to see this growth. Time for an enclosure upgrade too.

Even more exciting... I took pics of the molt. With help from @NMTs and a closer look at the pics I took, I am seeing what look like developing spermathecae.

Here are the pics that show the sling in heavy premolt and after the molt. I am also including the shots of the molt.

 

[NMTs]

This is a great thread! Very interesting.

I've got a B. auratum sling that came from the same place yours did by the looks of it, which arrived about a month ago. I'd estimate that it's still less than 0.5" DLS, but couldn't say for sure because all I ever see if it are the 2 front legs reaching out from under its hide to scoop up the 2 pinhead crickets I offer every 4 days. I'm certain it's in premolt now because it's filled the front of its hide under the cork bark chip with sub and webbing and it refused food for the first time ever yesterday. Hoping that in the next few days it'll pop out in a shiny new suit looking for a meal! I'm keeping the sub in mine a bit more on the moist side than you are, but not much, and have an upside down 2x2 lego block for a water dish that's always full. The air in my house is REALLY dry now (like 15% humidity max), so just being extra cautious.

Looking forward to following your story here!

 

[LucN]

Amazing ! Glad to see that all are still doing well. It would be a dream of mine to raise a bunch of slow growers, but alas, no space for such a project currently. Given how slow it grows, I think it's safe to assume as B. albiceps are probably up there with emilia and hamorii/smithi as far as super-long lifespan goes. Looking forward to the next update.

 

[joossa]

This is a great thread! Very interesting.

I've got a B. auratum sling that came from the same place yours did by the looks of it, which arrived about a month ago. I'd estimate that it's still less than 0.5" DLS, but couldn't say for sure because all I ever see if it are the 2 front legs reaching out from under its hide to scoop up the 2 pinhead crickets I offer every 4 days. I'm certain it's in premolt now because it's filled the front of its hide under the cork bark chip with sub and webbing and it refused food for the first time ever yesterday. Hoping that in the next few days it'll pop out in a shiny new suit looking for a meal! I'm keeping the sub in mine a bit more on the moist side than you are, but not much, and have an upside down 2x2 lego block for a water dish that's always full. The air in my house is REALLY dry now (like 15% humidity max), so just being extra cautious.

Looking forward to following your story here!

Thank you and thanks again for pointing out the possible developing spermathecae. I would have totally missed them if you hadn't pointed them out!
Good luck with your B. auratum! Hopefully it does molt soon. I hear ya on the low humidity in the house. I keep mine in a walk-in closest that has a south-facing window and it has been constantly under 20% humidity over the winter. I moisten the sub and fill bowls every 2 days. Have to stay on top of it or else everything gets really desiccated.

Amazing ! Glad to see that all are still doing well. It would be a dream of mine to raise a bunch of slow growers, but alas, no space for such a project currently. Given how slow it grows, I think it's safe to assume as B. albiceps are probably up there with emilia and hamorii/smithi as far as super-long lifespan goes. Looking forward to the next update.

Thank you! I did see your big girls in your thread. They are beautiful. Love, love, love the Brachypelma genus!

 

[joossa]

First ever enclosure upgrade is done and she was a total sweetheart during rehousing. We went from a 3oz deli sauce cup to a clear 12oz deli cup. She now has plenty of room to stretch out in and enjoy. Small fish in a small pond VS small fish in a big pond.

More slings will follow after they molt.