New to P.irminia care

[curious juan]

Hi everyone. I am planning to get a P.irminia sling next week. Can anyone give their inputs on the proper care for this species? Enclosure set up, humidity requirement and the like. Thank you for anything that you can share

 

[Chris LXXIX]

I always kept those, as slings (mostly P.cambridgei but the care isn't that different) in little enclosures with moist substrate and plenty of ventilation, miliimeter sized crickets (live) for food. I have noticed that, lots of those, as slings, tend to burrow (that's how they survive).

I've never offered a water dish to those at such mini size because i always housed those in a "no room for water dish enclosure". I just used my "eyes" and a pipette for mantain the humidity level. Never had a problem and i stick to my way, but remain on the safe side and offer one.

Then, since they grow pretty well IMO, a re-house in a more room enclosure one, with a little piece of cork bark and the water dish. And so on, on cage upgrading

 

[Poec54]

I've raised up a number of Psalmos:

- 32 oz deli cup, a couple rings of small holes around the upper sides, none on the lid. You can get deli cups by the sleeve at restaurant supply stores. They're fast spiders and a bigger cage is better than a smaller one.
- 1" of slightly moist substrate.
- Piece of cork and piece of plastic plant (Zoo Med vining type, cut to fit).
- A little long fiber sphagnum under the cork/plastic plant, for nesting, keep slightly moist (lightly mist occasionally).
- Small water bowl, lid for 16 oz water bowl. None of mine have ever drown, even 1/2" slings. I would never consider going without a water bowl.

This creates a humid microclimate. Keep temps no lower than high 60's at night (preferably 70), with days in the mid 70's to mid 80's. They grow fast.

 

[lalberts9310]

These are aboreals, so they need more height than ground space, however, psalmos tend to burrow as well, especially as slings. I provide my adults with 3" of substrate and slings with 1" substrate, they make incredible dirt curtains.

I keep the substrate moist for slings, for adults I occasionally let the top dry out before moistening it again. I provide a bottle cap for a waterdish for slings, for adults I give them something large and shallow for a waterbowl. Don't stress too much about number specific humidity, keep the substrate moist and the waterdish full and you should be fine. Don't mist for humidity (a full waterbowl will provide it with the humidity it needs), you can lightly sprits water onto their webbing for drinking purposes once or twice a week. Keep it warm (70s - 80s).

I provide mine with cross-ventilation only (vents on the side) and no top ventilation.

Provide it with a slab of cork bark and some fake plants (avoid silk plants as those contains dyes and sometimes fragrances) for anchoring points for their webbing (they make incredible webs).

These species are very hardy and eating machines, they grow fast and max out at around 5.5" dls at most. They are also very reclusive, but they make up for it in their beauty. They are also very defensive and extremely fast, so mind your fingers, always use tongs and never let your guard down with this species. They tend to be skittish as well, I heard they are photophobic, but that's not my experience. None of my specimens are photophobic.

 

[curious juan]

Would this set up suffice its needs? It is almost identical to that of my A.versicolor.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

I would never consider going without a water bowl.

While i agree with you and suggest that (to others, especially beginners) tell me why i never had a loss, and i raised & trade an helluva (cold blood used word, lol) of genus Psalmopoeus slings (here those had written 'Frebies' all over the Opisthosoma and i bet in the US as well) without a water dish

I always used my "eyes" for that, i was the "water dish" basically for the very not even 1 cm first molt babies

 

[lalberts9310]

While i agree with you and suggest that (to others, especially beginners) tell me why i never had a loss, and i raised & trade an helluva (cold blood used word, lol) of genus Psalmopoeus slings (here those had written 'Frebies' all over the Opisthosoma and i bet in the US as well) without a water dish

I always used my "eyes" for that, i was the "water dish" basically for the very not even 1 cm first molt babies

Well, a lot of experienced keepers, like yourself, can manage without waterbowls.. but less experienced keepers might run into some problems. I don't see an issue with adding a waterbowl, it can do no harm. Not adding a waterbowl can however - for the less experienced

 

[lalberts9310]

Would this set up suffice its needs? It is almost identical to that of my A.versicolor. View attachment 210788

Do you know how big the sling is you'll be acquiring?

IMO it will probably work for a tiny sling, but as it grows you'l might have to add a bigger piece of cork and some more fake plants.

 

[curious juan]

Hi Lalberts9310, it may be around 2cm to an inch in DLS.

 

[lalberts9310]

Hi Lalberts9310, it may be around 2cm to an inch in DLS.

You can add a bigger piece of cork and some more fake plants

 

[Poec54]

While i agree with you and suggest that (to others, especially beginners) tell me why i never had a loss, and i raised & trade an helluva (cold blood used word, lol) of genus Psalmopoeus slings (here those had written 'Frebies' all over the Opisthosoma and i bet in the US as well) without a water dish

That's you, not the average person, not beginners. There are experienced collectors that can keep some or all of their spiders without water bowls, but it takes time to get a feel for it. For the OP, it's not the best route to take, nor is it for the average person. There is no downside to providing a water bowl; there is a downside to not having one, and then losing the spider when things get warm and dry, or you get tied up with other things going on in your life.

The average person shouldn't have Psalmos in cages 'too small for water bowls' as that can lead to the jack-in-the-box effect. While other (smaller) set ups can work, especially for experienced collectors, a 32 oz deli cup is the most fool-proof way for the most people. It gives them the best chance for success.

 

[cold blood]

op, that versi enclosure isn't a good set up for the versi or the Psalm. Both of which i set up basically the same, the only difference is that for an avic I focus the plants around the top of the wood (which should extent to or near the top and be wide enough to stretch out on) and for Psalms (and other arboreals) I focus the plants around the middle and base of the wood.

 

[curious juan]

Coldblood, can you pinpoint the badside of my enclosure? I want to make corrections before it is too late.

 

[cold blood]

Coldblood, can you pinpoint the badside of my enclosure? I want to make corrections before it is too late.

I thought I pretty much did...it needs a bigger piece of wood that extends to or near the top, surrounded by many more plants.....what you have is way too barren and low to the ground.

 

[curious juan]

I will consider that coldblood, I will add foliage to this set up. As for the wood, it reaches up to just below the brim of of the container.

 

[viper69]

I will consider that coldblood, I will add foliage to this set up. As for the wood, it reaches up to just below the brim of of the container.

That may or may not work to your advantage in husbandry. My latest irminia has made a tube using the cork bark and container wall all the way to where the cork bark ends. Should your cork bark rise to the top near the lid, your T may use that as its primary entrance. Such a geometry will decrease the probability of a hunter/prey interaction, ie less chance of T eating a crix. Just depends on how adventuresome your irminia is when it comes time to eat dinner. Some like to remain in their dirt home more than others.

Without seeing your setup w/the wood, I would make the wood come up only half way the height of the container, just what I have noticed w/my 2 irminia.

Also, both my irminia, while generally good eaters, prefer to eat crickets that are smaller than most Ts its size would eat. Not sure if this is my experience alone or not. These irminia were not sacmates either.

 

[curious juan]

Hi Viper69, I do also have apprehensions with wood reaching the container lid as the T might anchor their web on the lid. This will be troublesome everytime I open the container. But definitely, adding more artificial foliage will be advantageous for the T. Would putting a small water dish be alright, as what I did to my enclosure?

 

[cold blood]

An avic may web the lid, a Psalm will not, its home is far more likely to be at ground level.

 

[lalberts9310]

A small bottle cap for a waterdish is fine to add

 

[viper69]

Hi Viper69, I do also have apprehensions with wood reaching the container lid as the T might anchor their web on the lid. This will be troublesome everytime I open the container. But definitely, adding more artificial foliage will be advantageous for the T. Would putting a small water dish be alright, as what I did to my enclosure?

I have one for all my Ts. They won't drown.