Slings vs adults?

[arachnid.abdomen]

Was just curious of some peoples person experiences/opinions
Ive only ever kept slings and with a few ive had some difficulty.. (And have obviously heard of others problems) An example being just now, my c perezmilesi seemed completely fine 2 days ago..just found it dead in the enclosure (which got this thought going)
Ive heard slings are harder than adults but how much worse really are they? And why are they more difficult? Might seem like a stupid question but oh well, always good to get opinions

 

[Nightstalker47]

Was just curious of some peoples person experiences/opinions
Ive only ever kept slings and with a few ive had some difficulty.. (And have obviously heard of others problems) An example being just now, my c perezmilesi seemed completely fine 2 days ago..just found it dead in the enclosure (which got this thought going)
Ive heard slings are harder than adults but how much worse really are they?

Adults are less susceptible to dehydration, so yes slings are technically less hardy. They aren't hard to keep though, they just don't tolerate drought periods as well.

 

[Nonnack]

Slings are little bit harder to keep, but not too much, just need some attention, because they are more sensitive. On the other hand they aren't dangerous, if you want to go into OW Ts, its good to start with sling.
But for beginners i suggest buying juveniles, they already look like T, not just little spider, still not so dangerous and already harder than slings.

 

[arachnid.abdomen]

Slings are little bit harder to keep, but not too much, just need some attention, because they are more sensitive. On the other hand they aren't dangerous, if you want to go into OW Ts, its good to start with sling.
But for beginners i suggest buying juveniles, they already look like T, not just little spider, still not so dangerous and already harder than slings.

Ive already got a few OW slings, ive had Ts for 2-3 years now but like i say, ive only ever had experience with slings. My largest being an inch or two. Would definitely agree on that though

 

[Nonnack]

I mostly buy sling. That way i can afford more expensive/rare spiders. And watch them grow from ant to giant Or sometimes young females if T is really cheap.
About difficulty of keeping, adults don't need so much attention, If it's fed, and have right temperature and access to water, you can just forget about it for a month and it will be fine.

 

[miss moxie]

The thing about slings besides their higher risk for desiccation is that in a sack of 100 slings there are GOING to be some that are just going to die for whatever reason. Genetics, internal issues, molt problems-- that's precisely why they have egg sacs with such a high yield. If all tarantulas laid sacs of only 20 spiderlings, only a couple would make it in the wild after genetics and outside factors claimed their sum. They make high numbers to ensure their species doesn't go extinct.

When you buy a juvenile/sub/adult tarantula, all the "doomsday clock" slings with a number over their head have already died. Those are the tarantulas that thrived and survived. You're buying one of the Ts that made it out of their egg sack. Granted that's not to say they can't have an internal problem or molt issue crop up, all tarantulas can.

 

[Nonnack]

Agree. Once i had P. regalis sling that never eaten, looked like he is trying to hunt but can't catch pray. And died afer few weeks.

 

[miss moxie]

Agree. Once i had P. regalis sling that never eaten, looked like he is trying to hunt but can't catch pray. And died afer few weeks.

Yep. I've also seen (not personally, but on here) tarantulas have problems with their sucking stomachs and being unable to eat despite catching prey and envenomating it.

Once I had two C. marshalli slings gifted to me and they were both doing great, molted twice, had tunnels built, were eating great. Then one day I opened the enclosure to feed one of them and it was sort of laying there. Not on it's back, but not really in a curl either. After giving it a gentle nudge while prepared for it to bolt, nada. So after some strategic poking and investigation, I discovered it was very much dead while the other was still doing great.

Deaths happen, and cannot always be explained. That's just part of the hobby.

 

[Walker253]

I've always preferred buying older tarantulas. Like @miss moxie stated, some slings just die for no apparent reason. They are less forgiving of mistakes as well. Maybe I'm just an immediate gratification kind of person. I don't enjoy 1/2" or less slings either. I also know people that buy tons of slings who will not have the room when they grow up.

 

[spotropaicsav]

I've always preferred buying older tarantulas. Like @miss moxie stated, some slings just die for no apparent reason. They are less forgiving of mistakes as well. Maybe I'm just an immediate gratification kind of person. I don't enjoy 1/2" or less slings either. I also know people that buy tons of slings who will not have the room when they grow up.

This is my preference as a keeper as well. There is a variance in opinion/ preference

 

[The Grym Reaper]

Ive heard slings are harder than adults but how much worse really are they? And why are they more difficult?

They're not really that much more difficult, there are a few species that are less forgiving of husbandry errors as slings (H. maculata/Avicularia/Caribena/Ybyrapora/etc.) but most are pretty much identical in regards to care (slightly moist sub/small hide/small water dish if there's room), you will get some that just don't make it for no apparent reason at all though.

Out of 38 Tarantulas I've got around 15 slings and only half a dozen subadults/adults, the rest are juveniles (and a lot of those were raised from slings I purchased up to a year ago), I guess I just enjoy watching the little buggers grow from diddy little specks into fully fledged murder tanks.

 

[arachnid.abdomen]

They're not really that much more difficult, there are a few species that are less forgiving of husbandry errors as slings (H. maculata/Avicularia/Caribena/Ybyrapora/etc.) but most are pretty much identical in regards to care (slightly moist sub/small hide/small water dish if there's room), you will get some that just don't make it for no apparent reason at all though.

Out of 38 Tarantulas I've got around 15 slings and only half a dozen subadults/adults, the rest are juveniles (and a lot of those were raised from slings I purchased up to a year ago), I guess I just enjoy watching the little buggers grow from diddy little specks into fully fledged murder tanks.

Well its a bit of a relief that you say h mac and caribena because both mine have being doing well since ive got them so i cant be doing too badly with them
It was my mum that convinced me to get slings instead of adults to see them grow and i have to say..im glad i went with it

 

[The Grym Reaper]

Well its a bit of a relief that you say h mac and caribena because both mine have being doing well since ive got them so i cant be doing too badly with them
It was my mum that convinced me to get slings instead of adults to see them grow and i have to say..im glad i went with it

I got 2 H. mac slings in a mystery box but one died shortly after getting it (I think I kept it slightly too dry due to worrying about keeping it too moist), the other is doing great though.

Avics/Caribena are pretty hardy provided you get the ventilation right, you'll enjoy watching that one grow, they go through so many cool colour changes once they hit around 1.5"

 

[arachnid.abdomen]

I got 2 H. mac slings in a mystery box but one died shortly after getting it (I think I kept it slightly too dry due to worrying about keeping it too moist), the other is doing great though.

Avics/Caribena are pretty hardy provided you get the ventilation right, you'll enjoy watching that one grow, they go through so many cool colour changes once they hit around 1.5"

Well i got mine as a mystery too...to an extent
A friend asked me what species id want for a birthday. I said nothing overly agressive (i was fairly new to it), no LP and no dwarves...she got me a H. Mac, LP and 2 cyriocosmus
Unfortunately i think im guilty of doing the same..worry about doing too much of one thing and end up going wrong doing the opposite

 

[The Grym Reaper]

I said nothing overly agressive (i was fairly new to it), no LP and no dwarves...

She got me a H. Mac, LP and 2 cyriocosmus

And women accuse us fellas of never listening

 

[arachnid.abdomen]

And women accuse us fellas of never listening

Well she was always the kind of person to do the complete opposite of what was asked...despite getting species i didnt want at the time, still got to be greatful. Cant ever complain at free tarantulas

 

[The Grym Reaper]

Well she was always the kind of person to do the complete opposite of what was asked...despite getting species i didnt want at the time, still got to be greatful. Cant ever complain at free tarantulas

Fair shout haha, they're some great species, I'm not a fan of L. parahybana personally (they eat like tanks and grow fast but I can't stand the hairs, I'm currently trying to sell my subadult female) but I'm enjoying the H. maculata and my 2 C. elegans so far.

 

[arachnid.abdomen]

Fair shout haha, they're some great species, I'm not a fan of L. parahybana personally (they eat like tanks and grow fast but I can't stand the hairs, I'm currently trying to sell my subadult female) but I'm enjoying the H. maculata and my 2 C. elegans so far.

The only reason i said no LP was because i already had one and id prefer to have a variety of species but i have nothing against them. Just waiting on my 2 to grow to a decent size. Shame im 200 miles away and dont have any money..id definitely be taking it

 

[Nonnack]

I never really liked Lp, and didn't plan to buy it, but i got one from my friend from work who wanted to get rid of it. Its not pretty, but the size!

 

[viper69]

Ive heard slings are harder than adults but how much worse really are they? And why are they more difficult?

1. They are harder regardless of species, worse is a relative term and thus meaningless.

2. They are more difficult for some primarily because they are prone to dehydration due to their size, and most escapes are sling escapes, not adults, again due to their size, ie owners not paying attention/thorough enough to check container construction or hole size.