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Avicularia minatrix sling on ground, no webbing

Weed

New Member
Messages
11
Location
CT
Hello all. I recently got 2 Avicularia minatrix slings from the Spider Shoppe. One ate a pre killed cricket and went high up in their enclosure with no webbing yet.

However, one of them went high up in its enclosure once I unpacked it, but that afternoon was found on the ground of the enclosure. Usually when Avics are on the ground, it's a sign of death being near. The weird thing in this situation is that this very spider on the ground ate a small pre killed cricket and is working on a second one as we speak. I also witnessed it drinking from the water dish I provided. However, it is still laying on the ground and will not travel upwards towards the vertical cork bark and fake leaves.

I have them housed in small AMAC boxes suitable for arboreal slings with adequate cross ventilation. All of my spiders are kept at 72 degrees F and have full water dishes. I have all of my other Avicularia species and Caribena versicolor like this. As stated before, Avics on the ground is not promising but this one is actually eating and drinking which I haven't witnessed before. I was curious if there's anything else that I can do.

I contacted Spider Shoppe and let them know about the situation around 12 hours of the spider package being delivered, I am still awaiting a response.
 

m0lsx

Moderator
Staff member
1,000+ Post Club
3 Year Member
Tarantula Club Member
Messages
2,278
Location
Norwich, UK
Slings, even arboreal species, can & often do burrow or live undercover at ground level when given an option.

I normally provide all of my slings with artificial leaves to sit under.
 

WolfieKate

Active Member
Messages
138
Location
Bristol, UK
When I got my Avic I did read it could climb or burrow so I gave it both options and was ready to add more substrate if it decided to dig. I hope your sling is a burrower.
 

Weed

New Member
Messages
11
Location
CT
I'll add some more sub to the bottom to see if it burrows. It has made a surface web on the bottom, but no tunnel style.
 

Weed

New Member
Messages
11
Location
CT
Added some sub but the spider was in the way, so I coaxed her up to the top of the enclosure. She has been there a full day now. Hopefully she settles in comfortably soon.
 

siege

Active Member
Tarantula Club Member
Messages
116
Location
tacoma
Added some sub but the spider was in the way, so I coaxed her up to the top of the enclosure. She has been there a full day now. Hopefully she settles in comfortably soon.
It does often take a week or even a few before they feel like it’s home. Don’t stress yet, she sounds like she is deciding if she really wants to be aboreal or not :)
 

Weed

New Member
Messages
11
Location
CT
Yea, I have tons of other Avics/Caribena, just never noticed this behavior on the floor before. A majority of slings that do this in my experience ended up dying. She's climbed some cork on the top of the enclosure so I feel better now.
 

dexjones0612

Member
Messages
46
Location
Tenneessee
I'm currently experiencing the silmar thing with a avic purple I moved it to a new encloser (amac upside down) and it has done nothing but spend its time webbing the ground. it did molt but still is on the ground
 
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