Sling still closed up in borrow

[Steph]

Hello,
I posted about the 3rd week of Jan reporting that my Brachypelma smithii sling (hatched late fall/early winter of 2013) had closed herself (I know, technically still to early to know gender) off in her burrow around Jan 1st, and being a 1st-time baby T owner, I was more than a bit curious as to how long a juvenile of that age range could go without eating, as generally her previous pre-molts hadn't been more than 2-3 weeks.

Okay, well the sling, still closed off in her burrow (she's fully visible to me at all times in there with where she located the burrow) finally molted about 4 days ago. I have, all this time, never stopped spritzing the enclosure every 2-3 days, but now I'm REALLY wondering how long she can continue without food? I realize it takes about 5-7 days for a T's new exoskeleton to harden post-molt, and when I posted with the original question, one of the responses I got explained that T's may seal up their burrow entrance to stay warm in winter.

So I'm appealing to the nice folks on the forum for more guidance regarding this. I had an adult Grammastola rosa female about 20 years ago, so this baby T is all new territory here. I have been consulting my copy of the Tarantula Keepers handbook, I just don't recall any of the sling-related info going into this, as I know the author can't anticipate every situation.

Thanks for your guidance on this. Steph

 

[NYX]

I have read really small slings can harden up pretty quickly. I personally would put whatever you have been feeding it in with her. Even if the T is in the burrow if it is hungry it will come out and get it. Just remove the item in a day or two if she Doesn't go for it. Since it is a sling I would offer food every 3 or 4 days until it eats.
Hope this helps!
Cheers,
Nyx

 

[Steph]

Thanks so much, Nyx. I've been wondering if smaller juveniles do harden up faster than an adult. I will take your advice and put a fresh fruit fly in with the sling in the morning. I figure by now she's gotta be more than a tad hungry. We're also having an unusually mild winter this year (I'm in north Idaho), so maybe that'll also add to her willingness to make an appearance. Thanks so much !

 

[NYX]

No worries Happy feeding and Good luck!

 

[Tgirl1010]

I wouldn't try to feed her for 7 days post molt. When she is ready to eat, she will start to come out and look for food.

 

[Steph]

Great news! My little spider has finally emerged from her burrow. As I mentioned Sat., she molted the middle of last week, and as always, I've continued spritzing her enclosure and keeping her little water bowl (kinda small to call it a bowl, but whatever) filled; and I check everyday to see what she's up to. When I checked her about half an hour ago, she was on the surface of her substrate, half in and half out of her shelter log. I nearly did a cartwheel . Today was the day to give her water, so I did that, and I gave fresh fruit to her fruit flies so I can give the sling breakfast in the morning, which I figure is why she emerged, to find something to eat.
Thanks so much for everyone's advice and feedback! I so appreciate it . Steph