Sooo... I need a little help

MarSea222 · 10-28-2009, 09:26 PM

So today I received a G. Pulchra 3/4" sling, but I have never had a sling this small!! the lil guy is tiny, and i am worried about what to feed it and the best way to get it water. Literaly the little guy just survived a horrendous journey from Oregon, that included a sudden horrible winter storm here out of no were in Colorado. Now im worried about what to feed it. Please help. Info is greatly appreciated!!!

Ts are #1 · 10-28-2009, 09:32 PM

I would feed it pinheads, and the prey should provide him water until she/he gets a water dish. plus grats on the T

Mina · 10-29-2009, 02:49 AM

Congratulations on the new baby! To start with either feed pinhead crickets or if you can't find those, get the smallest crickets you can and crush their heads with your tweezers, then give that to your baby.
Little ones that small don't really need a water dish. Keep one side of the enclosure moist (not soaking) and one side more dry. The sling will be able to get moisture from the substrate until its bigger.
Now sit back, get a good, long, interesting book, and pack a lunch. These guys are incredibly slow growers. My juvie does the whole pre-moult-I-don't-want-to-eat thing for 6 months before she even starts to consider moulting.

curiousme · 10-29-2009, 05:54 PM

Sometimes slings that small are scared by live prey, so crushing the heads might work as long as they aren't flopping around too much. You can also get adult crickets and take the large legs/ drumsticks off and feed the sling those.

Also, don't be surprised or worried if your sling burrows down and you don't see it for a few months.

The advanced search on this forum can be your best buddy, if you let it.

Congrats on the T, i love our B. smithi and it was on my list of 'must haves.'

MarSea222 · 10-29-2009, 08:38 PM

Thank you guys. I am still trying to figure my way around the sight. I apperciate all the info, the smashing the cricket heads is something had not thought of yet. The sling seems to not be hungry yet, fingers crossed that it's ok, but i will try again tomarrow to see if it's hungry. Thank you!

MarSea222 · 11-02-2009, 08:47 PM

Ok, so I'm worried my sling is gonna die. It molted 5 days ago, and it has still not eaten yet. I know that each sling has their own eating preferrence, but it's abdomen is getting smaller since then. i misted a side of its little deli container, but I'm worried. Im sorry for asking for more advice but I'm so new to all this i dunno what else to do. It runs from everything, even when i smash the cricket heads, and they are barely twiching. Is this normal behavior? I'm getting depressed that im gonna loose it!!!! PLEASE gimme some help? I know i sound stupid but i worry over everything with it right now. I searched the search engine but i just cant seem to get the kind of advice that im looking for with it. I just suck at technology in general. I just nervously rambling and hoping for a miracle.

Fyreflye · 11-02-2009, 09:21 PM

Their abdomens can get quite shrunken looking after a molt, that's normal! I wonder if the prey is still too intimidating for your little one? I have a tiny A. new river sling that wouldn't touch his crickets, and actually ran away from them. He finally started eating when i offered him fruit flies. Maybe smaller food would interest yours too?

Also, it's been only 5 days since his molt? He very well may need more time to adjust to his new body before he's interested in food, not to mention still trying to get used to his new home!

Give him more time.

Sure he needs food to survive, but these little guys can go quite a long time (weeks, even months) between meals and still do just fine. All you can do is offer, but wait a few days between so you don't stress him out.

Exo · 11-02-2009, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarSea222

Ok, so I'm worried my sling is gonna die. It molted 5 days ago, and it has still not eaten yet. I know that each sling has their own eating preferrence, but it's abdomen is getting smaller since then. i misted a side of its little deli container, but I'm worried. Im sorry for asking for more advice but I'm so new to all this i dunno what else to do. It runs from everything, even when i smash the cricket heads, and they are barely twiching. Is this normal behavior? I'm getting depressed that im gonna loose it!!!! PLEASE gimme some help? I know i sound stupid but i worry over everything with it right now. I searched the search engine but i just cant seem to get the kind of advice that im looking for with it. I just suck at technology in general. I just nervously rambling and hoping for a miracle.

Many slings will take dead prey, I have to kill my N.coloratovillosus's prey because it is terrified of them. Try killing a cricket and leaving it in there overnight. Hope this helps.

**Nerri1029** · 11-03-2009, 02:28 PM

I tried pimheads once.. only once. ( more died than I fed)

I suggest cutting up crickets. works for me.

Roski · 11-03-2009, 02:35 PM

If it's molting, it's a good sign that it's healthy. Leave it alone for a week or so, before offering anything (so in your case only a few more days). As someone else mentioned, a shrunken abdomen is normal.

The smallest sling I've had to deal with is my 1/6" C. perezmilesi. It READILY takes cricket drumsticks, so when it's feeding time I just take a leg off an adult cricket and drop it in. The last time I did this the baby ran down its burrow, but 20 minutes later it could be seen munching away. It eventually let go after an hour or so, looking as fat as a grain of quinoa, and the leg was webbed over (but eventually removed). The leg was 4 times the size of the sling!

Very amusing. Good luck with your pulchra!

Salamanderhead · 11-03-2009, 03:23 PM

If you think that is small you should see the Cyriocosmus perezmilesi I have.
1/6 of an inch.

I cant even really tell if its eating or not but Ive been dropping cricket legs in with it since I've had it.

10-28-2009, 09:32 PM	#2
Ts are #1 Arachnosquire Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: In a cardboard box with a TV a T and a mini fridge! Posts: 82 My Mood:	I would feed it pinheads, and the prey should provide him water until she/he gets a water dish. plus grats on the T __________________ My parents think im some type of arachnid

10-29-2009, 02:49 AM	#3
Mina Arachnoking Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 2,105 My Mood:	Congratulations on the new baby! To start with either feed pinhead crickets or if you can't find those, get the smallest crickets you can and crush their heads with your tweezers, then give that to your baby. Little ones that small don't really need a water dish. Keep one side of the enclosure moist (not soaking) and one side more dry. The sling will be able to get moisture from the substrate until its bigger. Now sit back, get a good, long, interesting book, and pack a lunch. These guys are incredibly slow growers. My juvie does the whole pre-moult-I-don't-want-to-eat thing for 6 months before she even starts to consider moulting. __________________ Lina: Oh, Donny, you couldn't kiss me like that and not mean it just a teensy bit. Don: Meet the best actor in the world! I'd rather kiss a tarantula! Lina: You don't mean that. Don: I don't - Hey, Joe, get me a tarantula!!!!!!

10-29-2009, 05:54 PM	#4
curiousme Arachnoangel Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Seymour, IN Posts: 870 My Mood:	Sometimes slings that small are scared by live prey, so crushing the heads might work as long as they aren't flopping around too much. You can also get adult crickets and take the large legs/ drumsticks off and feed the sling those. Also, don't be surprised or worried if your sling burrows down and you don't see it for a few months. The advanced search on this forum can be your best buddy, if you let it. Congrats on the T, i love our B. smithi and it was on my list of 'must haves.' __________________ I apologize for typos or unclosed tags, my vision is severely impaired at the moment due to MS, so proofreading is difficult. Opinions were like kittens, i was giving them away. Quick reference guide of common questions******* curiousme&Mr. Gone picture thread

10-29-2009, 08:38 PM	#5
MarSea222 Arachnopeon Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 1 My Mood:	Thank you guys. I am still trying to figure my way around the sight. I apperciate all the info, the smashing the cricket heads is something had not thought of yet. The sling seems to not be hungry yet, fingers crossed that it's ok, but i will try again tomarrow to see if it's hungry. Thank you! __________________ Because where I am folded, I am a lie.

11-02-2009, 08:47 PM	#6
MarSea222 Arachnopeon Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 1 My Mood:	Ok, so I'm worried my sling is gonna die. It molted 5 days ago, and it has still not eaten yet. I know that each sling has their own eating preferrence, but it's abdomen is getting smaller since then. i misted a side of its little deli container, but I'm worried. Im sorry for asking for more advice but I'm so new to all this i dunno what else to do. It runs from everything, even when i smash the cricket heads, and they are barely twiching. Is this normal behavior? I'm getting depressed that im gonna loose it!!!! PLEASE gimme some help? I know i sound stupid but i worry over everything with it right now. I searched the search engine but i just cant seem to get the kind of advice that im looking for with it. I just suck at technology in general. I just nervously rambling and hoping for a miracle. __________________ Because where I am folded, I am a lie.

10-28-2009, 09:26 PM	#1
MarSea222 Arachnopeon Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 1 My Mood:	Sooo... I need a little help So today I received a G. Pulchra 3/4" sling, but I have never had a sling this small!! the lil guy is tiny, and i am worried about what to feed it and the best way to get it water. Literaly the little guy just survived a horrendous journey from Oregon, that included a sudden horrible winter storm here out of no were in Colorado. Now im worried about what to feed it. Please help. Info is greatly appreciated!!!

11-02-2009, 09:21 PM	#7
Fyreflye Arachnosquire Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 92 My Mood:	Their abdomens can get quite shrunken looking after a molt, that's normal! I wonder if the prey is still too intimidating for your little one? I have a tiny A. new river sling that wouldn't touch his crickets, and actually ran away from them. He finally started eating when i offered him fruit flies. Maybe smaller food would interest yours too? Also, it's been only 5 days since his molt? He very well may need more time to adjust to his new body before he's interested in food, not to mention still trying to get used to his new home! Give him more time. Sure he needs food to survive, but these little guys can go quite a long time (weeks, even months) between meals and still do just fine. All you can do is offer, but wait a few days between so you don't stress him out.

11-03-2009, 02:28 PM	#9
Nerri1029 Chief Cook n Bottlewasher Arachnomoderator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: NY - VT - CAN border Posts: 1,605 My Mood:	I tried pimheads once.. only once. ( more died than I fed) I suggest cutting up crickets. works for me. __________________ "Show me, show me, show me how you do that trick The one that makes me scream" she said "The one that makes me laugh" she said. And threw her arms around my neck "Show me how you do it And I promise you I promise that I'll run away with you..."

11-03-2009, 02:35 PM	#10
Roski Arachnochink Join Date: May 2009 Location: a mad world Posts: 378	If it's molting, it's a good sign that it's healthy. Leave it alone for a week or so, before offering anything (so in your case only a few more days). As someone else mentioned, a shrunken abdomen is normal. The smallest sling I've had to deal with is my 1/6" C. perezmilesi. It READILY takes cricket drumsticks, so when it's feeding time I just take a leg off an adult cricket and drop it in. The last time I did this the baby ran down its burrow, but 20 minutes later it could be seen munching away. It eventually let go after an hour or so, looking as fat as a grain of quinoa, and the leg was webbed over (but eventually removed). The leg was 4 times the size of the sling! Very amusing. Good luck with your pulchra! __________________ Nobody likes me, everybody hates me, Think I'll go eat some worms. Trivial trivia: I used to be i_spy_ocelli Last edited by Roski : 11-03-2009 at 06:42 PM. Reason: would you believe spelling?

11-03-2009, 03:23 PM	#11
Salamanderhead Arachnosquire Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Newfoundland, Canada Posts: 128 My Mood:	If you think that is small you should see the Cyriocosmus perezmilesi I have. 1/6 of an inch. I cant even really tell if its eating or not but Ive been dropping cricket legs in with it since I've had it.

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