Sling enclosure size and logic

[Buffalo Ts]

Hey all,

I have 2 grammostola slings, both around 1.5 inches. I put them both in a 6x6 inch enclosure, knowing it would be a little large for them, thinking they would grow into them.

I am able to keep an eye on both of them, and they have hides to be in.

Is there anything wrong with putting them in a larger enclosure like this? Any real drawbacks?

 

[Poonjab]

I would personally argue that they would be fine. Just as long as they have zero opportunities to escape. I received my h.pulchripes in same size enclosure at roughly the same size. I didn’t do a rehouse due to her being in heavy pre-molt and also not wanting to destroy all her webbing. She seems to be thriving very well. So I just left her be.

 

[Buffalo Ts]

Ok, thanks for the response. Definitely no chance at an escape.

Obviously wild T's are on the Earth's surface.

My guess was as long as there's a burrow, water dish, foliage to hide in, cover, the T would fine, and would be comfortable.

 

[Colorado Ts]

As I understand it, the reason that the sizes of enclosures for tarantulas is smaller than other animals of comparable size...tarantulas are rather sedentary, not overly mobile. They wait for food to come them.

So for slings, reducing the size of the enclosure forces prey items into a tight proximity to the spider. This makes it much more beneficial for the spider during feeding.

 

[Buffalo Ts]

As I understand it, the reason that the sizes of enclosures for tarantulas is small than other animals of comparable size...tarantulas are rather sedentary, it overly mobile. They wait for food to come them.

So for slings, reducing the size of the enclosure forces prey items into a tight proximity to the spider. This makes it much more beneficial for the spider during feeding.

Makes sense. I typically place the prey item near burrow entrance. If the T is hungry, it usually seems to be hanging out near the entrance.

So far, I am a very watchful keeper. I don't leave live prey items in the enclosure for very long. I will leave a pre killed for my smaller slings over night, but not live prey.

 

[Swagg]

@BadDann oversized enclosures can contribute to longer fasting, in my experience. Also slows down growth substantially from what @cold blood has said a few times.

 

[cold blood]

I would personally argue that they would be fine. Just as long as they have zero opportunities to escape. I received my h.pulchripes in same size enclosure at roughly the same size. I didn’t do a rehouse due to her being in heavy pre-molt and also not wanting to destroy all her webbing. She seems to be thriving very well. So I just left her be.

The small housing for slings rule does NOT apply to fossorials. Its more a NW terrestrial thing.

. Definitely no chance at an escape.

1.5" is smaller than i would ever suggest for a KK, 1.75 is usually the minimum due to escape risk....its crazy how tight of a place they can squeeze through.

@BadDann oversized enclosures can contribute to longer fasting, in my experience. Also slows down growth substantially from what @cold blood has said a few times.

Yes, it induces reclusiveness which generally slows growth a lot, but at 1.5" its right outside the range i would be concerned, this size would be when i would upgrade to larger housing...these KKs are too big, but not so much they would be a problem for the op as long as nothing escapes.

 

[Buffalo Ts]

The small housing for slings rule does NOT apply to fossorials. Its more a NW terrestrial thing.


1.5" is smaller than i would ever suggest for a KK, 1.75 is usually the minimum due to escape risk....its crazy how tight of a place they can squeeze through.

Yes, it induces reclusiveness which generally slows growth a lot, but at 1.5" its right outside the range i would be concerned, this size would be when i would upgrade to larger housing...these KKs are too big, but not so much they would be a problem for the op as long as nothing escapes.

Now you got me a little nervous of an escape!

I've had my pulchra in one for a month with no issues. It has mostly stayed in it's burrow. I have the 16oz deli cups.. you think it is worth it to rehouse? My pulchra is fat, and closed the enterences to it's burrow.
My 1.5 pulchripes isnt as fat

The small housing for slings rule does NOT apply to fossorials. Its more a NW terrestrial thing.


1.5" is smaller than i would ever suggest for a KK, 1.75 is usually the minimum due to escape risk....its crazy how tight of a place they can squeeze through.

Yes, it induces reclusiveness which generally slows growth a lot, but at 1.5" its right outside the range i would be concerned, this size would be when i would upgrade to larger housing...these KKs are too big, but not so much they would be a problem for the op as long as nothing escapes.

This is my pulchripes

The small housing for slings rule does NOT apply to fossorials. Its more a NW terrestrial thing.


1.5" is smaller than i would ever suggest for a KK, 1.75 is usually the minimum due to escape risk....its crazy how tight of a place they can squeeze through.

Yes, it induces reclusiveness which generally slows growth a lot, but at 1.5" its right outside the range i would be concerned, this size would be when i would upgrade to larger housing...these KKs are too big, but not so much they would be a problem for the op as long as nothing escapes.

I did double checked all the spaces I the enclosure. I feel the largest opening is on the small side door . I closed that space off, along with the spaces around the top clear door. These slings were listed as 1.5inch . They appear to be slightly larger. Which is something I noticed while ordering from Jamie.

 

[cold blood]

i would personally have them in 16oz deli cups for at least one more molt, if not two....but like i said, as long as you are confident they wont escape, it shouldnt really be an issue, theyre both past that small sling period.

 

[Buffalo Ts]

i would personally have them in 16oz deli cups for at least one more molt, if not two....but like i said, as long as you are confident they wont escape, it shouldnt really be an issue, theyre both past that small sling period.

Appreciate the info as always!

 

[cold blood]

no prob.

 

[viper69]

Obviously wild T's are on the Earth's surface.

What does this mean above?


Smaller setups increase prey/predator interactions, and allow one to keep a better eye on the specimen.

This is particularly important with ambush predators that wait for food.

At that size T I keep mine in 16 oz delis.

A keen eyed keeper could keep that setup, a lazy or less attention to detail person could end up with a dead T. Seen both before.

 

[Buffalo Ts]

What does this mean above?


Smaller setups increase prey/predator interactions, and allow one to keep a better eye on the specimen.

This is particularly important with ambush predators that wait for food.

At that size T I keep mine in 16 oz delis.

A keen eyed keeper could keep that setup, a lazy or less attention to detail person could end up with a dead T. Seen both before.

It means that wild Ts are on the surface in their naturally. They do create their own microhabitat on the surface. I haven't looked into much primary literature on the habitats and behavior of wild opportunistic burrowing terrestrial Ts. Eventually a T would leave it's burrow in search of food if food didn't come to it. Of course, this would pose a risk to the T being out in the open.

Ive kept my 1.5ish pulchra in 6x6 for a little over a month now and haven't had an issue, not to say that there couldn't be an issue. It mostly stays in it's burrow. I've included enough cover that it should be comfortable moving about if it feels necessary.

If the pulchra is hungry, it seems to wait with it's legs hanging out the burrow . Of course, if a T doesn't want to leave it's burrow, and food isn't making its way to it, it could become a problem.

It has excavated the pre made burrow (cork bark) to it's liking. I am able to keep an eye on it at all times.

My original question was more along the lines of any major drawback of a slightly large enclosure.

 

[Vanessa]

The sizes provided are guidelines only. Arboreals will likely be fine in larger enclosures. Fossorials might need larger enclosures. Even some terrestrials will be far happier in larger enclosures. You have to watch your tarantula and see how it reacts to the enclosure that they are in. Do they do a lot of wandering around? Do they seem to get defensive as soon as you open the lid? Do they immediately barricade themselves into their burrow and not come out? Are you having trouble keeping them on the moist side? Does it seem as if they aren't catching food anymore?
You have to observe their behaviour and perhaps make adjustments to suite them on an individual basis.

 

[Buffalo Ts]

The sizes provided are guidelines only. Arboreals will likely be fine in larger enclosures. Fossorials might need larger enclosures. Even some terrestrials will be far happier in larger enclosures. You have to watch your tarantula and see how it reacts to the enclosure that they are in. Do they do a lot of wandering around? Do they seem to get defensive as soon as you open the lid? Do they immediately barricade themselves into their burrow and not come out? Are you having trouble keeping them on the moist side? Does it seem as if they aren't catching food anymore?
You have to observe their behaviour and perhaps make adjustments to suite them on an individual basis.

I agree with you there. It's about making adjustments, and being an attentive keeper. I am able to look at my Ts everyday, and make sure their needs are met. I just like sparking conversation about micro adjustments that can be made to give Ts the best environment possible!

 

[Vanisher]

Hey all,
View attachment 334528 View attachment 334528
I have 2 grammostola slings, both around 1.5 inches. I put them both in a 6x6 inch enclosure, knowing it would be a little large for them, thinking they would grow into them.

I am able to keep an eye on both of them, and they have hides to be in.

Is there anything wrong with putting them in a larger enclosure like this? Any real drawbacks?

Yes there are many reasons why slings should be housed in small enclosures

I. They feel more stressed and less secure in a large enclosure. (Probably cos large areas in the wild means bigger chance they are eaten by predators?)

2. They tends to burrow and dissipear in a large enclosure. Probably feel more prone to "get away from predators? See previous point

3. You have much less control over feeding the smal sling in a large enclosure, you have a harder time monitir its growth

4. Harder to know where the sling is, due to the massive ammount of substrate in a large container VS a small container

5. Bigger chance the sling dissipears and escape from a larger container if it has premade ventilation holes like a kritterkeeper

6. Less control over moisture degree

20 years of tarantula keeping and experience with slings and all kinds of enclosure sizes is telling me that i am right!

 

[cold blood]

It means that wild Ts are on the surface in their naturally.

And survival rates in the wild to adulthood are around 2%...not something to use as an example....in captivity these numbers are basically flip flopped, with most ts easily reaching adulthood.

House them in over size enclosures and you are uncreasing the need to hide, decreasing the prey drive and slowing growth....slow growth in its self isnt deadly, but getting slings out of that more vulnerable stage faster can certainly increase survival.

The wild is a terrible example to compare to captivity.

 

[Vanisher]

Hey all,
View attachment 334528 View attachment 334528
I have 2 grammostola slings, both around 1.5 inches. I put them both in a 6x6 inch enclosure, knowing it would be a little large for them, thinking they would grow into them.

I am able to keep an eye on both of them, and they have hides to be in.

Is there anything wrong with putting them in a larger enclosure like this? Any real drawbacks?

Especially slowgrowing speicies like Grammostola slings should be housed in delicups. The only speicies i tend to give little larger than normal enclosures are very fastgrowing speicies like P cancerides or similair, otherwise you'll have to rehouse them very often

 

[Buffalo Ts]

Yes there are many reasons why slings should be housed in small enclosures

I. They feel more stressed and less secure in a large enclosure. (Probably cos large areas in the wild means bigger chance they are eaten by predators?)

2. They tends to burrow and dissipear in a large enclosure. Probably feel more prone to "get away from predators? See previous point

3. You have much less control over feeding the smal sling in a large enclosure, you have a harder time monitir its growth

4. Harder to know where the sling is, due to the massive ammount of substrate in a large container VS a small container

5. Bigger chance the sling dissipears and escape from a larger container if it has premade ventilation holes like a kritterkeeper

6. Less control over moisture degree

20 years of tarantula keeping and experience with slings and all kinds of enclosure sizes is telling me that i am right!

I definitely understand the logic for small slings, especially under 1.5inches.
For instance housing my .5 inch sling in my 6x6 container would be very problematic. My .5 sling is in a 3oz deli cup.
My 1inch slings are in a 16oz deli cup, and I plan on keeping them in there till they At least 1.5inches. but since I received these Ts at around 1.5+ inches, I wanted to not have to rehouse shortly.

And survival rates in the wild to adulthood are around 2%...not something to use as an example....in captivity these numbers are basically flip flopped, with most ts easily reaching adulthood.

House them in over size enclosures and you are uncreasing the need to hide, decreasing the prey drive and slowing growth....slow growth in its self isnt deadly, but getting slings out of that more vulnerable stage faster can certainly increase survival.

The wild is a terrible example to compare to captivity.

So would you suggest rehousing my 2 grammostolas into a 16oz deli cuo. Both 1.5ish. give or take.

 

[cold blood]

So would you suggest rehousing my 2 grammostolas into a 16oz deli cuo. Both 1.75ish. give or take.

That would be what I would do.

Deli Cup Setup for Terrestrial Slings 1-3"

• cold blood
• Mar 13, 2017
• 6
• enclosure

Deli cup set up for terrestrial slings 1-3"

Resized952017031295225612

• cold blood
• Mar 13, 2017
• 3

Re-housed 40 min ago...already blocked the hide, moved the plant, dug a hole (behind the glare)...