P. regius slings dying

[XxSpiderQueenxX]

I recently purchased 8 jumping spider slings. They were very young, only a few mm. They all ate fruit flies at first, but then 5 stopped eating and died. Just yesterday I was feeding the remaining 3, but one didn’t eat. It’s dead today. What could be going wrong? The remaining two ate the fruit flies and seem to be doing well, but I don’t know if they will die like the others. They are in 4 oz delis with ventilation slits. The cups are upside down and have a little damp moss and a twig. They get indirect sunlight because they are near a window. Is there anything I need to change?

 

[Aiden4]

Are you misting the enclosure (not at them but just the sides)? They drink water from the misting

 

[XxSpiderQueenxX]

Are you misting the enclosure (not at them but just the sides)? They drink water from the misting

Yes, I am doing that

 

[Aiden4]

Yes, I am doing that

When you say near a window, do you mean you have them on the window seal? If so it could be death by heat

 

[MrGhostMantis]

It could be many different things,

1. It’s too stuffy in the enclosure/needs more ventilation

2. Something is wrong with your flies

3. Overheating

4. They just died, they are tiny

Pictures of the enclosure and where it is please.

 

[XxSpiderQueenxX]

When you say near a window, do you mean you have them on the window seal? If so it could be death by heat

It’s on my desk about 5 feet from the window, with some empty containers in front of the cups blocking my birds from getting at them. Is that too close?

 

[MrGhostMantis]

It’s on my desk about 5 feet from the window, with some empty containers in front of the cups blocking my birds from getting at them. Is that too close?

Any beams of light being directed at them by the containers in front of them?

 

[XxSpiderQueenxX]

It could be many different things,

1. It’s too stuffy in the enclosure/needs more ventilation

2. Something is wrong with your flies

3. Overheating

4. They just died, they are tiny

Pictures of the enclosure and where it is please.

I don’t think it’s a problem with the flies, I feed the same ones to my mantids and salamanders and they are doing great.

 

[Aiden4]

Any beams of light being directed at them by the containers in front of them?

Yeah if the light is going directly as them it can over heat them as a plastic container traps the heat in

 

[XxSpiderQueenxX]

Here is a pic:

 

[MrGhostMantis]

Here is a pic: View attachment 386961

There’s your issue. No ventilation, and moss in there. It’s way to moist.

 

[XxSpiderQueenxX]

There’s your issue. No ventilation, and moss in there. It’s way to moist.

There are some holes for ventilation and the moss is pretty much dry with barely any moisture. I will add more ventilation (I was afraid they would escape if I added a mesh piece for ventilation) and take out the moss anyways

 

[Aiden4]

Instead of mesh you could flip it over as it will be ok the other side around, and cut a hole in the lid, then put a thin piece of paper towel on top and close the lid over it

 

[XxSpiderQueenxX]

Instead of mesh you could flip it over as it will be ok the other side around, and cut a hole in the lid, then put a thin piece of paper towel on top and close the lid over it

The slings make their nests in the top corner, so having the lid on the top would ruin their nests every time it’s opened

 

[MrGhostMantis]

There are some holes for ventilation and the moss is pretty much dry with barely any moisture. I will add more ventilation (I was afraid they would escape if I added a mesh piece for ventilation) and take out the moss anyways

Maybe some tulle fabric.

 

[XxSpiderQueenxX]

Maybe some tulle fabric.

Thanks, I’ll see if I can find any

 

[Aiden4]

The slings make their nests in the top corner, so having the lid on the top would ruin their nests every time it’s opened

They’ll be fine till you can move them to a better enclosure. They only run out of silk as old spiders

 

[Jumper]

Spiderqueen,
Your set up is fine, but I have to agree with Mr.g.mantis, it doesn't have enough ventilation for your slings.
There's not enough circulation in their enclosure.
Here's my suggestion. Microwave your deli cup for 30 seconds to a minute, this should make the plastic soft.
Use a small/fine sewing needle and poke as many holes you can on the deli cup, even at the top.
If starts to harden. Repeat the process until you have holes all round the deli cup. Once your satisfied, add about 20-30 more holes.
Humidity and ventilation are key for happy and healthy p.regius slings. I'll PM you some photo's of my deli cup to give a general idea.

Jumper

 

[Jumper]

Sorry for the blurry photo's. I misted their enclosures and threw in some fruit flies. I also put a moist cotton ball. I have a crappy iphone 5s. It is old like myself.

 

[XxSpiderQueenxX]

Thank you for your help! I flipped the cups and made a hole in the lid like suggested, and I put a crumpled bit of paper towel inside so the slings could make their webs there instead and it worked