Questions about moist sustrate for slings, that are generally kept drier as adults.

[Gutz323]

Hi! I have a small collection of slings some of which are getting larger now. I have a Tlitocatl, albopilosus who is now 2 and a half inches after her last molt, I keep her drier now as I do my adult specimen.
The main couple of questions I want to know is 1. I have a Grammostola. Pulchipes who is around an inch and I still moisten her substrate, shall I start keeping her drier at this stage? Or is it too soon? And is there a rough size to start keeping NW species on dry substrate if they depend on it as adults?
2. I have a Caribena. Versicolor I keep on dry substrate (she is 1 cm) and just add a few drops of water to a golf T every now and then because I know you have to be carefull with this species as slings, but what I want to know is, I have just bought a 1cm GBB that I know likes bone dry substrate as an adult, do I need to treat this sling like I do my others? Where I keep a little moisture in the substrate, or should I keep it dry?
Also is there many other spiderlings apart from Avics that are better of with dry substrate and just a water source to drink from instead?
Thanx...Ben...

 

[Timc]

For your first question, the spider will tell you. Wet half the substrate, it’ll either hang out there or it won’t, thus telling you what it prefers, wet or dry. For the GBB, you can provide a water bowl or drip some water on its web. Keep an eye on it. If you see it drinking often, provide more. If not, your spider is content. Easy peasy.

 

[DomGom TheFather]

Try not to overthink it.
A little squirt of water in the corner now and then will keep most spiders happy. If you don't overdo it, even dry species won't mind. Keep a dish of water and you're good.

 

[Smotzer]

have just bought a 1cm GBB that I know likes bone dry substrate as an adult, do I need to treat this sling like I do my others? Where I keep a little moisture in the substrate, or should I keep it dry?

Keep the Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens dry even as a sling, I’ve kept it dry with a water dish since 2i. Same goes for Caribena versicolor and other Aviculariinae, at least dry with a water dish is how I keep all of them!
.

 

[viper69]

Dry with a dish for me, and well fed

 

[Edan bandoot]

Dry with a dish for me, and well fed

do u keep slings the same?

 

[viper69]

do u keep slings the same?

Generally I do yes. However I keep mine well fed.

 

[Gutz323]

Great! Thanx for the info.

 

[The Grym Reaper]

1. I have a Grammostola. Pulchipes who is around an inch and I still moisten her substrate, shall I start keeping her drier at this stage? Or is it too soon? And is there a rough size to start keeping NW species on dry substrate if they depend on it as adults?

Once G. pulchripes hit around 2" it's fine to keep them dry with a water dish.

Generally speaking, keep NW terrestrial slings on slightly moist sub until they reach 1.5" - 2" and then keep them according to adult husbandry for the species.

2. I have a Caribena. Versicolor I keep on dry substrate (she is 1 cm) and just add a few drops of water to a golf T every now and then because I know you have to be carefull with this species as slings

I've been raising Aviculariinae over slightly moist substrate (moisten 1/4 - 1/3 of the sub and repeat when it dries out) with a bottle cap water dish for 5 years and never had an issue with it. People continually forget that it's a combination of excessive moisture and restricted airflow that kills them.



The only time I've personally had issues keeping Avics alive is when I experimented with keeping a batch of slings over bone dry sub with water dishes (two thirds of them either dropped dead or suffered fatal moult complications over the winter when the air really dried out).

but what I want to know is, I have just bought a 1cm GBB that I know likes bone dry substrate as an adult, do I need to treat this sling like I do my others? Where I keep a little moisture in the substrate, or should I keep it dry?

Keeping them in a well-ventilated enclosure with about 1/4 - 1/3 of the sub kept slightly damp until they hit 1.5" and then bone dry afterwards works fine, you can keep them bone dry as slings but I've heard of enough people having issues with slings getting dehydrated and/or dying that I wouldn't want to risk it.

Also is there many other spiderlings apart from Avics that are better of with dry substrate and just a water source to drink from instead?

I'm told some of the arid baboon species just don't really do well with moisture in the sub at any stage.

 

[LucN]

In my limited experience, with 1.5" slings of Brachypelma I've had 0 issues keeping them dry like adults. My boehmei and hamorii were acquired at that size, and I rarely if ever overflow the water dish. Most Grammostola and Aphonopelma (in theory as I've yet to raise really young Ts of those to adulthood) ought to do well with similar care.

 

[Marlana]

Once G. pulchripes hit around 2" it's fine to keep them dry with a water dish.

Generally speaking, keep NW terrestrial slings on slightly moist sub until they reach 1.5" - 2" and then keep them according to adult husbandry for the species.



I've been raising Aviculariinae over slightly moist substrate (moisten 1/4 - 1/3 of the sub and repeat when it dries out) with a bottle cap water dish for 5 years and never had an issue with it. People continually forget that it's a combination of excessive moisture and restricted airflow that kills them.

View attachment 395845

The only time I've personally had issues keeping Avics alive is when I experimented with keeping a batch of slings over bone dry sub with water dishes (two thirds of them either dropped dead or suffered fatal moult complications over the winter when the air really dried out).



Keeping them in a well-ventilated enclosure with about 1/4 - 1/3 of the sub kept slightly damp until they hit 1.5" and then bone dry afterwards works fine, you can keep them bone dry as slings but I've heard of enough people having issues with slings getting dehydrated and/or dying that I wouldn't want to risk it.



I'm told some of the arid baboon species just don't really do well with moisture in the sub at any stage.

I have to agree. I keep sling Aviculariinae on slightly moist soil and water dish. I had issues when tiny slings were completely dry. Especially with more finicky slings like Typhochlaena, but even Avicularia species. Some moisture isn’t the problem. It’s TOO much moisture and not enough ventilation. But too little moisture can be an issue too.