Spiderling in a vial trouble

[wollywoo]

Hello people,
My B. smithi spiderling is still in a vial, and I struggle to get crickets in or to add moisture without it legging it, pardon the pun, to the top of the vial. Are there any tips on how to get it safely to the bottom so I can sort it out without risk of escape? It's too small to upgrade to a tank yet, so I can't move it out.
Any suggestions will be very helpful, thank you again!!!

 

[Tcollector]

The only thing you can do is keep an eye on it when adding water or whatever. Or you can put the vile in a big mixing bowl then do what you need to.

 

[Strix]

I'd say to move it into a small deli container... like the ones used for condiments. I keep almost all my slings in them now and it makes it easier to slide the lid off halfway and spray down one side (the side the T isn't on ;P ) then drop in the food, check to see if it was eaten in 12/24 hours.

I'd suggest washing the containers out first though if you decide to go that route.... can't be to careful about what chemicals might still be on there from production.

 

[D-back]

Hi, I don't like vials and I use them only for really small slings. When I have to open the vial, I put it into a bigger bowl, just like poisoness17 said. If the sling decides to rush out, he'll be in that bigger bowl and I can cup him easily..............but I like to move my slings into a small deli container as soon as possible...

 

[Bill S]

For the ones I've got in vials I use the following system:

Tissue paper on the bottom inch of the vial - a single layer pressed against the sides and bottom. Forms a sort of tube-shaped hide for the spider. At the top of the vial a small (1/2" sq.) piece of damp tissue - When I add water, it's a light spray to this piece of tissue. I keep the vials lying on their side, not standing upright.

Uneaten crickets are pretty easily removed - just tip the vial downward and tap. Once the cricket is on the plastic surface you can "pour" it into a cup or glass. Sometimes if the cricket is trying to hide in the tissue a thin piece of wire will convince it to move. Spiders generally will stay in the tissue "hide". The small piece of tissue used for moisture can be replaced periodically and easily.

The bottom paper does have to be replaced once in a while. When that has to be done I usually get another vial set up and use tweezers to pull out the paper from the old vial. It's generally pretty easy to get the spider to move from one vial to the other. If in doubt, work over a teflon cooking tray with a small piece of paper towel in it. If the spider bails out it will usually drop to the paper towel and can be easily retireved.

I've only been using this system for tarantulas for a relatively short time because I've previously not kept tiny tarantulas. But my wife has been using it for years for a wide variety of insects and spiders.

 

[fartkowski]

I use a second empty vial (no substrate) of the same size. Open the lid with the T in it but don't take it off yet. Take the lid off the empty vial. Quickly take the lid off the T vial, and place the empty one over it. The little guy will shoot right into the empty one. Put the lid back on, and you are now free to do whatever maintenance you need to do. You could also tilt the vials a bit so the T does not go straight up and down, you do this to prevent a fall.
For me it took some practice, but now it's very easy. I do this method mostly for species like pokies, and other fast ones.
Hope this helps