What drill bit (mm) should I use to drill holes for a sling?

[rabbitseason]

Hi there!

I have two slings and Im currently at my desk drilling holes. Im starting with a 1.5mm but Im not sure if Ill need bigger since I don't physically have my slings with me yet. Online it said they were 1/2" (redknee) and between 1/3" and 1/2" (curly). Whats a safe drillbit to use ? These are the ones my kit came with.

 

[Wolfram1]

in general smaller than the carapax of the specimen

and these will be tiny, those measurements are diagonal leg span

 

[viper69]

Do NOT AT ALL DRILL BEFORE YOU RECEIVE THEM

 

[Gevo]

Their abdomens are like water balloons, so they can squeeze through anything they can fit their carapace through, which is much smaller than most people think! Wait until they arrive before you drill holes so you can see how big their heads really are, and if you’re in doubt, size down. Small vent holes can give good ventilation, but too-big ones will lose you your spiders!

 

[rabbitseason]

Their abdomens are like water balloons, so they can squeeze through anything they can fit their carapace through, which is much smaller than most people think! Wait until they arrive before you drill holes so you can see how big their heads really are, and if you’re in doubt, size down. Small vent holes can give good ventilation, but too-big ones will lose you your spiders!

Well, I know I cant tell until my precious's arrives, but what do you think of the hole placement? I have 12 more of these so at this rate Im experimenting. So far heating up the drillbit has made the pain about 40% less painful.
From videos I saw online, there were limited holes on the top due to humidity. Will this placement of holes still be ok? There are 56 holes in total.

Do NOT AT ALL DRILL BEFORE YOU RECEIVE THEM

Too late! but atleast I have more! the boxes were quite cheap and Im kind of having fun experimenting with them.
Edit: Additionally are the slings ok to stay in their tubes for like a hour? It took me about 40 minutes to drill these holes. Hence I wanted to do it beforehand but I do understand now I need to know how big they are.

 

[viper69]

Yes

 

[Gevo]

The hole placement looks good. Keep in mind you will need to make the dirt very deep in those enclosures, so ventilation near the top is best, like you have it here. You don’t want more than about 1-1.5 times the tarantula’s leg span between the dirt and the top because they can easily be injured in a fall.

Yes, they can stay in their tubes while you get the enclosures set up. They can stay in there for quite a while, so don’t worry about that part.

 

[Wolfram1]

i personally would prefer one row of holes a little lower, just above the substrate but considering you got terrestrials comming these are almost too deep anyway, you are going to need lots of dirt to fill them

the 1.5xdls rule does apply more to larger slings and above, but yea

no need to be exact, at those sizes the rule becomes a little silly

 

[rabbitseason]

i personally would prefer one row of holes a little lower, just above the substrate but considering you got terrestrials comming these are almost too deep anyway, you are going to need lots of dirt to fill them

the 1.5xdls rule does apply more to larger slings and above, but yea

no need to be exact, at those sizes the rule becomes a little silly

Ive got enough coconut fiber to last me a life time, I bought 3 bricks (might have been a overkill), so I don't mind giving them extra burrowing space (if they like that? I think they like that)

Ill have to do some measuring once I get them to see where exactly the substrate should go and where the holes would go. Though thank you for the advice! Ill adjust the holes a little lower on the next one. May use a smaller drillbit depending on how small they turn out to be.

 

[cold blood]

IMG_0472

• cold blood
• Feb 7, 2017

Keep your small terrestrial slings like this.

 

[Brewser]

Pin holes,
Don't want Spiderlings or Their Prey to get out..

 

[kingshockey]

thumb tacks work great for making tiny holes

 

[Ratmosphere]

I use a 1/16" Milwaukee drill bit for all of my slings enclosures.

 

[Stu Macher]

Well, I know I cant tell until my precious's arrives, but what do you think of the hole placement? I have 12 more of these so at this rate Im experimenting. So far heating up the drillbit has made the pain about 40% less painful.
From videos I saw online, there were limited holes on the top due to humidity. Will this placement of holes still be ok? There are 56 holes in total.

View attachment 487347 View attachment 487348


Too late! but atleast I have more! the boxes were quite cheap and Im kind of having fun experimenting with them.
Edit: Additionally are the slings ok to stay in their tubes for like a hour? It took me about 40 minutes to drill these holes. Hence I wanted to do it beforehand but I do understand now I need to know how big they are.

I doubt anything is getting out of that. I've had very small slings with comparable size holes be fine. What someone suggested earlier thumbtack works well, and you can always light it to make it go through easier. I just bought a dremel tool and it changed my life lol. You may want to look into one of those for future enclosures. It makes things way easier