Sling wall climbing- is enclosure too damp?

[tarantulacalledjayne]

I have a curly haired sling that has molted four times that I know of. When I moved them into their enclosure a molt ago (beginning of September ) I noticed them climbing on the walls.
I figured out that that is a common behavior after moving enclosures, but that it should stop when they had gotten used to their new space.

It has not stopped, and I know they have figured out their space. They built an underground burrow, and rearranged a bunch of the substrate. But they’re still a frequent wall climber, so I’m concerned that maybe I’ve done something to mess up the substrate? Could I be keeping it too damp? Or too cold or warm? Or could they bee looking for more fruit flies? If they just like climbing that’s fine, but everything I’ve seen indicates it’s a sign of stress.

 

[Sterls]

Nix the cotton wad/ball in the water dish. Not needed and it'll just get gross.

I’m concerned that maybe I’ve done something to mess up the substrate? Could I be keeping it too damp? Or too cold or warm?

What substrate are you using? The sub looks like it could be too moist, but can't say for sure without knowing what it is or seeing a side profile of the enclosure. How cold/warm is it in your house?

Define frequent climbing: All day every day? Every night? Most nights?

 

[Stu Macher]

What is do with my slings is provide a gradient that way they can choose how dry or damp they want to be. Like you've probably heard a billion times, overflow the waterdish a bit, but you want to be careful to not flood the burrow. Your sling is fine. Let it dry out, and just be a bit light handed next time. You know the watering is just right when you see a dark root (moisture) extending downward into the sub. You don't want it extending all the way. You'll know when this happens because the root will hit the bottom and it'll create a layer of water at the bottom where it collects. A little goes a long way, especially with slings and the small containers they are in. So I'd recommend a drop by drop basis and monitoring.

 

[tarantulacalledjayne]

Nix the cotton wad/ball in the water dish. Not needed and it'll just get gross.


What substrate are you using? The sub looks like it could be too moist, but can't say for sure without knowing what it is or seeing a side profile of the enclosure. How cold/warm is it in your house?

Define frequent climbing: All day every day? Every night? Most nights?

It’s a coconut fiber substrate I got from the breeder.
My apartment complex turned on the heating system the other week, so the temperature has been averaging about 80 degrees. I flooded the water dish a bit to overcompensate for the heat, but I probably should have waited until it looked dry.

They haven’t been climbing all day, for example they often hang out on top of their log, and last night I saw them on top of their blue flower. But I would say Ive probably seen at least a daily climb.

What is do with my slings is provide a gradient that way they can choose how dry or damp they want to be. Like you've probably heard a billion times, overflow the waterdish a bit, but you want to be careful to not flood the burrow. Your sling is fine. Let it dry out, and just be a bit light handed next time. You know the watering is just right when you see a dark root (moisture) extending downward into the sub. You don't want it extending all the way. You'll know when this happens because the root will hit the bottom and it'll create a layer of water at the bottom where it collects. A little goes a long way, especially with slings and the small containers they are in. So I'd recommend a drop by drop basis and monitoring.

That makes a lot of sense. In terms of letting it dry out, could I speed up the process by adding some dry substrate on top/ mixing it with the current substrate? (Obviously the mix might damage the burrow, but if it makes the enclosure more livable…) I think I overwatered because I was concerned about it getting too dry with the heat turned on, but now there’s not really any of that color gradient you mentioned. There’s no standing water, but I don’t want the sling to be stressed of it takes more than a couple weeks for everything to evaporate.

 

[viper69]

Dry out sub

 

[Stu Macher]

That makes a lot of sense. In terms of letting it dry out, could I speed up the process by adding some dry substrate on top/ mixing it with the current substrate? (Obviously the mix might damage the burrow, but if it makes the enclosure more livable…) I think I overwatered because I was concerned about it getting too dry with the heat turned on, but now there’s not really any of that color gradient you mentioned. There’s no standing water, but I don’t want the sling to be stressed of it takes more than a couple weeks for everything to evaporate.

Another thing you can do in the future is put a small piece of new Zealand spagnum moss in the enclosure. You can take a pipette/dropper/straw and put some drops on the moss. That's going to create moisture without making things gross. It will act as a sponge and release moisture evenly over time. Just make sure it's away from the dish because it will absorb the water.

Your substrate even though it looks dry is more damp than you think. Looking at your ventilation, there's likely quite a bit of moisture still left in there. If you keep the dish full, you should be ok. You have a hardy sp so I wouldn't worry too much.

 

[IntermittentSygnal]

Use a smaller water dish and ditch the cotton. It just gets slimy and gross. I remember way back when that was recommended, but it’s not anymore. I shoot water into the corner with a blunt tipped syringe and let it run down to the bottom. I keep a corner (rotated) damp so that they can choose the moisture level they want. With the heater on, it will dry out faster, though I’m not seeing any top ventilation?

 

[Matt Man]

ditch the cotton and use a tattoo cup for water. Cotton / Sponges are bacteria breeders.

 

[TheraMygale]

The change in heating and you adding more water can contribute to this.

they can also climb just because they can. No matter how long they have been in enclosure.

so no: even if old enclosure, they can still do this. They are in a captive setting.

in your case, it does tend to point towards the extra moisture: a sudden heat increase, then rain… its like in nature.

it might be hot in your home, but moisture might not be getting out as quick as you are adding. You will find your balance with time. When in doubt, less is best.

so you can dry it out. And as @Stu Macher said, keep one spot moist. And or add a wee bit of moist moss. Wee bit: not the whole enclosure.

 

[Muffinforall]

I'm glad I found this thread. I literally just noticed my Dominican Purple doing laps around the enclosure walls. Like just continously for at least a half hour now.
It's new behavior as it's been in the enclosure for a while. I do have a water dish and it's full. It's also eaten recently.
It's usually in the same spot for several hours in the day.

 

[TheraMygale]

I'm glad I found this thread. I literally just noticed my Dominican Purple doing laps around the enclosure walls. Like just continously for at least a half hour now.
It's new behavior as it's been in the enclosure for a while. I do have a water dish and it's full. It's also eaten recently.
It's usually in the same spot for several hours in the day.

could also be a male, but chances are its just tarantuling. It will circle enclosure with legs touching top and ground. Its assessing territory, etc. You decide what its doing at that point. But they can definitely do it. More often then not.

they are also very sensitive to air currents in a room. It can get them going.

 

[tarantulacalledjayne]

Just wanted to thank everyone for the advice! My enclosure still seemed too damp after a week, so I went ahead and changed out the coco fiber yesterday, and bought so sphagnum moss like was recommended to be the moisture source for the enclosure.

they definitely did some exploring last night but seem to have settled down in a favorite corner. So thank you!