Poecilotheria sling husbandry

tommyno

Arachnopeon
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Dec 11, 2021
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I recently got my first Poecilotheria spiderlings (Regalis and striata). They are small 0.5 inch and I housed them in a 4x4x5 inch enclocures. Added 1 inch of substrate and a small piece of corkbark. They like to climb walls and ceiling of the enclosure and I see them falling down often. I'm worried they might get hurt. Is it normal behaviour for Poecilotheria ? Should I rather rehouse them to smaller enclosures? Thanks.
 

kingshockey

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Sep 4, 2017
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never kept them before but the ones who have are going to need clear pictures of your current set up to offer you any help you can also use the search function to dig up the answers you need
 

fcat

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I keep all my pokie slings like I would a fossorial sling, because they burrow as slings. I usually just build an arboreal setup but with a lot more dirt, so they can burrow behind the cork bark. I don't pack the soil behind the cork bark.

My half inch went into a 2x2x2...just dirt. Once it hit an inch I housed it as above.

That's a little too big to start off with in my opinion. But you definitely need more substrate regardless. That will reduce the falling distance.
 

Matt Man

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my small Pokie slings start in delis and then move to 2x2x4 +/- arboreal enclosures with a good amount of dirt and a vertical bark. Then into 4 x 4 x 9 verticals and final move into 12x12x18 Exoterras.
 

Wolfram1

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i second starting out smaller

they don't need an arboreal setup at the very beginning, personally i started them out in hollowed elderberry branches layed flat on a bit of dirt, not much hight at all...

then i moved them up to something with a bit more hight where they could burrow behind the upright cork (only difference to a terrestrial setup was the positioning of the bark) and only once they got a bit bigger i moved them into a true arboreal setup

i saw them slipping during premolt mostly, pictures of the setups and spiderlings would help us judge the situation better
 

Matt Man

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and Pokies seem to enjoy having a burrow at the base of their perch. It could help with thermal regulation, sensation of security...so I always give them a reasonable amount of dirt with which to work. My young ornata seems quite fond of making dirt curtains, it impedes my ability to monitor, but it seems to be doing quite well
 

TheraMygale

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I keep all my pokie slings like I would a fossorial sling, because they burrow as slings. I usually just build an arboreal setup but with a lot more dirt, so they can burrow behind the cork bark. I don't pack the soil behind the cork bark.

My half inch went into a 2x2x2...just dirt. Once it hit an inch I housed it as above.

That's a little too big to start off with in my opinion. But you definitely need more substrate regardless. That will reduce the falling distance.
i second starting out smaller

they don't need an arboreal setup at the very beginning, personally i started them out in hollowed elderberry branches layed flat on a bit of dirt, not much hight at all...

then i moved them up to something with a bit more hight where they could burrow behind the upright cork (only difference to a terrestrial setup was the positioning of the bark) and only once they got a bit bigger i moved them into a true arboreal setup

i saw them slipping during premolt mostly, pictures of the setups and spiderlings would help us judge the situation better
These comments are important.

perhaps there is too much space, at this time in their lifestage.

add sub. Observe. Make a mini arbo with fossorial possibilities. Let them be instinctfull. It won’t be long that they cling to the walls. And you’ll be gratefull your setup is well adjusted.

its easie to remove sub. In time. Then add it; moisture is never equal unless youre a master horticulturist.
 

Stu Macher

Ghostface
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Oct 2, 2023
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235
I agree what the others have said, and not to go against the grain. But, I've raised slings in 32oz deli cups with an arboreal setup and they've been fine. The major stipulation is making the layout simple. If you clutter the environment, prey will get lost/they won't be able to track etc.

I usually pack the sub 1/3 of the way to the top/a simple piece of cork (not too large because it makes it more difficult to hunt). Then I provide a small amount of spaghnum behind the cork. I do handicap the crickets a bit so they can get them easier.

I'd recommend going to the dollar store and getting a mini cereal container. That's possibly the best sling arboreal enclosure I've used to date. I have a pulcher at 0.5" in it now and they are doing fine
 

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Ceymann

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I have always started small pokie slings in 60 dram vials (~2"x4" poptop ) then they graduate to a larger vertical AMAC box, 32oz deli or a 4×9" after they hit 2"+.
 
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