Question on New B. Smithi Sling

Laceymiir

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Nov 21, 2016
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Hello. I'm new to the hobby and I just got my b. Smithi spiderling on Nov 6th, 2016. It's been eating flightless fruit flies. Today I noticed it's missing a leg and I can't tell if it's molted or is in pre molt? It was active and walking around. However I didn't see any molts in the terrarium with it...
The photo on the left is when I first got it, and the one on the right is from today.
 

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Venom1080

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fruit flies have very little nutritional value. switch over to prekilled crickets or mealworms. they dont lose their legs when they molt. (normally)
post a pic of the cage, it can help determine why your sling randomly lost a leg.
 

Laceymiir

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I've been spraying one side of the enclosure, I was told to keep high humidity when they're slings. And a small cap dish would be too big at this stage? He only has a small fake plant in there.
 

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Laceymiir

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fruit flies have very little nutritional value. switch over to prekilled crickets or mealworms. they dont lose their legs when they molt. (normally)
post a pic of the cage, it can help determine why your sling randomly lost a leg.
I responded below, I didn't see the reply button to your post at first.
 

KezyGLA

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It looks like it may have moulted.

Sometimes they lose legs. It just happens sometimes and could be many different reasons.

I find the best food for slings (especially needing regeneration limbs) is prekilled waxworms or live small calci worms :)

I fed my mangled Ceratogyrus sanderi sling ( 3 legs and no palps) waxy and calci up until next premoult. After he moulted all limbs were back and at correct size and he was fighting fit ;)
 
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Venom1080

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I've been spraying one side of the enclosure, I was told to keep high humidity when they're slings. And a small cap dish would be too big at this stage? He only has a small fake plant in there.
cage looks too large. if the slings less than 1.5" i recommend a 16oz deli cup. a smaller cage will help you monitor feedings and molts better, not to mention it takes way less space. tarantulas cant drown, their setae (hairs) resist water and form almost a bubble around the spider. a water dish is highly recommended at any size.
 

Laceymiir

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cage looks too large. if the slings less than 1.5" i recommend a 16oz deli cup. a smaller cage will help you monitor feedings and molts better, not to mention it takes way less space. tarantulas cant drown, their setae (hairs) resist water and form almost a bubble around the spider. a water dish is highly recommended at any size.
I'll go ahead and add a water dish then, and look into getting a smaller enclosure for the time being. Thank you!
 

Laceymiir

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Nov 21, 2016
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It looks like it may have moulted.

Sometimes they lose legs. It just happens sometimes and could be many different reasons.

I wind the best food for slings (especially needing regeneration limbs) is prekilled waxworms or live small calci worms :)

I fed my mangled Ceratogyrus sanderi sling ( 3 legs and no palps) waxy and calci up until next premoult. After he moulted all limbs were back and at correct size and he was fighting fit ;)
If he did molt, I should wait a week before offering food again right?
 

DeanK

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That's a good rule of thumb but I think slings harden quicker so I usually offer them food 3 or 4 days after a molt. If the fangs are black they're hardened and ready to take food
 

Olan

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I will also advocate pre killed crickets or mealworms. Best way to get slings to molt on a regular schedule
 

mistertim

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Yeah definitely will want a smaller enclosure and always add a water dish if it is at all possible. 16 oz deli cup or a small Kritter Keeper would both work. From the before and after it does look like it molted. Sometimes they will lose legs in a molt but it isn't a big deal as they'll grow back and the spider will do just fine with one (or sometimes many) legs missing.
 

REEFSPIDER

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Welcome to the hobby.
Your spider should be 8 legged again by its next molt cycle.
 

viper69

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I'll go ahead and add a water dish then, and look into getting a smaller enclosure for the time being. Thank you!
They won't drown, always give a water dish. Also, if I'm right about the size, put that T in a 16 oz deli cup, current container too large.

If he did molt, I should wait a week before offering food again right?
Based on fang color not time. White>Red>Black, feed on black.
 

Misty Day

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As others have said, add a water dish. Their setae helps form an "air sac" of sorts around their exo skeleton, example given by my A.versicolor, so it's not gonna drown.

P1090781.JPG
 

Laceymiir

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They won't drown, always give a water dish. Also, if I'm right about the size, put that T in a 16 oz deli cup, current container too large.



Based on fang color not time. White>Red>Black, feed on black.
Hello! I have another question. In the deli cup, do I need to offer it a place to hide as a sling? Or will it be just fine in the 16oz deli cup?
 
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