Sling underground for 6 months?!?

[Trykle]

I have an Aphonopelma chalcodes sling that trapped itself underground. I figured it knows what it’s doing, but I can’t send any feeders or water or anything down there. And it’s been 6 months now!!! Is he/she ever gonna come back up? I find it hard to believe that the sling is just stuck down there. I mean, I’m sure he/she can surface when he wants, right? Should I just wait for that day? Or carefully make an opening for him to get out?

 

[jay444]

What size? A. Chalcodes can fast for very long periods of time, even as sling.

 

[cold blood]

This is a pretty good indicator of an enclosure that is too big.

 

[RoachCoach]

You say sling, but what size? And as @cold blood said, what size enclosure in proportion? AFAIK Aphonopelma are very hardy. If it dug deep, it may be looking for a humid depth to molt in. If you want to give it water you should moisten the substrate. Once you dig that sucker up, then it may get tricky. Digging up fossorials is a stressful endeavor.

 

[thatdadlife619]

I have a .5 inch A. chalchodes in a size appropriate enclosure that has been underground about the same time. Can fast right up there with certain Grammostola IMO

 

[The Grym Reaper]

Normal IME, every November (so far) my bicoloratum sling seals itself in its burrow for about 5 months before moulting and re-emerging, the rest of the year it stays out in the open and moults every 2-3 months.

I also had a WC adult female chalcodes and she sealed herself away and refused to eat from November to June.

 

[BexandRob]

I have an Aphonopelma chalcodes sling that trapped itself underground. I figured it knows what it’s doing, but I can’t send any feeders or water or anything down there. And it’s been 6 months now!!! Is he/she ever gonna come back up? I find it hard to believe that the sling is just stuck down there. I mean, I’m sure he/she can surface when he wants, right? Should I just wait for that day? Or carefully make an opening for him to get out?

We have a Gigas and it burrowed for months, we honestly thought it had died, but then we noticed the food was going, and then all of a sudden one weekend it was out, and we saw it more than we've ever seen it, and now it's gone back in its burrow again

 

[Trykle]

Thanks for the help guys. To answer some of your questions: sling is about 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch legspan. I ordered it from Fear Not Tarantulas last year with their provided enclosure included, which is about 3” x 4” big. His name is Steve by the way (if female, will be Stevie) I should also add that you can see Steve when looking up from the bottom. He made a cozy little cave down there, and he’s just chillin there. I can see him clearly. I’ll attach a photo. Sort of hard to see him but this pic was taken from the bottom view of the enclosure. You guys are probably right, the enclosure could be way too big!

 

[The Grym Reaper]

I ordered it from Fear Not Tarantulas last year with their provided enclosure included, which is about 3” x 4” big.

Any form of "starter kit" is generally a bad idea/waste of money, the provided enclosure is far too big for a tiny sling of a species with a glacial growth rate. My bicoloratum (purchased as a 1cm sling) has been in a condiment cup for over a year and a half and isn't going to outgrow it in any hurry.

 

[bobbibink]

I also have a A. chalcodes 3”, who went underground and bulldozed a dirt wall to cover hide entrance—that was four months ago.

 

[HeavyMetalTarantula]

Yea that enclosure might be a hair much. In my experience from itty bitty on up mine (multiple Aphonopelma species) have always burrowed down and closed themselves off in the winter every winter like clockwork until late March/early April. I guess I should say more so slings than adults in most cases. Not eating until they resurface. Leaving them be, only making sure some water gets down there. Checking on it a couple times a week

 

[Trykle]

Thank you all so much for the help! I know Ts do weird stuff, but I guess still have to learn to trust them. Hahaha

 

[viper69]

They do normal things not weird. It’s a matter of perspective.