Tarantula colors?

[HawtDawg]

Hey guys, noob question. Tried googeling it but can't find an answer.

When do slings get their color? I have 2 1cm Slings (B albopilosum and N chromatus).
Both look almost the same and I also tried looking at other species. they almost look the same.
They're all brown with a black patch on their abdomen.

And also, how often do slings molt? How many molts before their colors come out?
Are the molting symptoms same as the adults?

 

[cnapple]

I can't speak as to N. chromatus, but all my Brachy slings started showing the beginnings of adult coloration around the 1" mark (around 4i or 5i). The time between molts varies depending on a lot of factors including species, feeding schedule, temperature etc. I've had slings take anywhere from 2-3 weeks to 2 months to molt. Signs of a molt in most species include general darkening of the exoskeleton, particularly in the abdomen in the "bald spot" area, and enlargement of the abdomen. Sometimes they will stop eating a few days or weeks beforehand, but I find this is much less reliable in slings than in adults. I've had slings take food hours before molting.

 

[Amoeba]

Just bought a Nhandu chromatus and it's either 5i or 6i and it is still pink with the urticating hair patch black. congrats on the new Ts

 

[webbedone]

Slings usually start to show their colours roughly around when they pass through the sling stage and onto the juvie stages. Size mark depends on the type of the tarantula. Feeding scheduals, humidity and temperatures are key when determining molt cycles. If kept at the right temperature and humidity with ample of food a small sling will molt roughly every 30 days or so. Molting symptoms are generally the same for all tarantulas with a few minor exceptions, they include: refusal of food, darkening of the abdomen and slugishness of movement. Some times however a sling will eat hours before or after completing a molt. It is important however NOT to feed, have any live pray present or disturb you tarantula before during and after it completes its molt for atleast couple of days. And it is recommended to resume feeding only after tarantula had a chance to strech out and harden up after shedding, needless to say this takes several days (3-4) some people wait even longer. Personally I find a good indicator of when to resume feeding is the colour of the fangs, I wait untill the fangs are completely black and then add another 2-3 days for a safe measure. Its not unusual to see a sling or even a mature tarantula consuming their own freshly shed exuvia(old shell).

Here is a decent general sling care PDF http://www.exoticfauna.com/caresheets/spiderlings.pdf