Help me get started with my sling please.

[Samantha Rae]

Hello there. This is my first thread, other than introductions that is. Next week I will be getting a G. Pulchripes (choco golden knee) sling. According to the breeder it will only be .5. Now, I would like help considering this will be my first sling. I only have a Juvenile G. Rosea other than that. I would like to know a few things. Below is a list of things I would like information about, preferably as detailed as possible. I hope this thread is allowed, if it is and people decide to help me out, thank you so much. I just fell in love with looking this species up and doing research and they seem amazing so I don't want to mess this up.

• What size habitat? I know it's small but what do most of you guys use? and what not to use.
• How damp should I have the substrate? I know not soaking but I also don't want it to be too dry because I know the slings have to drink from the moisture.
• What should be included in the habitat. Other than coco-fiber substrate, should I put a decorative plant, a bottle cap of water, a stick?
• How long can I keep the sling in this habitat before having to transfer.
• Can I hold the sling?
• How often do I feed it?
• What do I feed it, if I can't find pinheaded crickets.
• Any other information I didn't ask that I might need to know, please feel free to include it.

Again, thank you so much guys.

 

[Viscus]

I have always read that the encloser should be a few times more then their leg span. However here is info from a fellow member poec54.
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At that size I prefer 16 oz deli cups, as they have a wider footprint. I buy deli cups by the sleeve at a local restaurant supply store. I use bagged top soil for all my spiders, the cheap stuff from Home Depot with no fertilizer or additives, $1.50/bag. For chalcodes and other semi-arid species, I put the topsoil in a cardboard box for a few days to dry out. Good cross ventilation is important with all tarantulas, and I put a ring or two of holes around the upper sides. All of mine get a small water bowl when they're 1/2" legspan (shallow lid from a 16 oz water bottle). I use disposable plastic water bowls to keep bacteria from building up.

The warmer you keep your spiders, the higher their metabolism, the more they eat and shed, and the faster they grow.
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@Poec54 has been in the hobby for awhile, and answered several of my questions. I am almost 100% he will be here shortly with more advice. This was given to me on slings of similar size.

 

[Ghost]

Hi,and welcome to the forum,Here is a quick run down on how I keep my G.pulchripes slings.

16 once deli cups with 2 rows of holes round the sides dry substrate small piece of bark fake plants and small water bottle cap for water dish,if you don't use a water dish then mist the side of the deli cup once or twice a week for drinking.
If you can't get pin head crickets then you can give them cricket legs or chopped up crickets slings will eat pre killed prey just remove if not eaten I feed mine at night and remove in the morning if not eaten,feed them two or three times a week.
As for holding your sling then no I don't recommend holding any T but certainly not a tiny sling.I hope this helps if you have any more questions just ask..

 

[Enn49]

At that size I keep mine in vials with no holes, but I lift the lid every day for air change. I use coir as a substrate and trickle water down the side every few days. I also feed them on pinheads.

 

[Ghost]

At that size I keep mine in vials with no holes, but I lift the lid every day for air change. I use coir as a substrate and trickle water down the side every few days. I also feed them on pinheads.

If your talking about the shipping vials then I wouldn't recommend keeping slings in them I know alot of people do but in my opinion deli cups are far better also a few air holes around the sides for cross ventalation is necessary so you don't get a stale stuffy environment ..

 

[Viscus]

At that size I keep mine in vials with no holes, but I lift the lid every day for air change. I use coir as a substrate and trickle water down the side every few days. I also feed them on pinheads.

I just get really young crickets from the store. sometimes I get lucky, and there are some of the right size. Other wise I make them.the right size.

 

[Enn49]

If your talking about the shipping vials then I wouldn't recommend keeping slings in them I know alot of people do but in my opinion deli cups are far better also a few air holes around the sides for cross ventalation is necessary so you don't get a stale stuffy environment ..

I used to keep them that way but was advised not to put holes in and it seems to work ok. I open each vial at least once a day.

 

[Samantha Rae]

Thank you all for your help! I think I she go with the deli cup to be safe and I will post my setup over the weekend and get thoughts just to make sure I did it correctly, thanks

 

[Denny Dee]

Check out this enclosure:

https://www.jamiestarantulas.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=00004

I have had great success with this and comes with everything you need.

 

[foritxxar]

I have two pulchripes, of very different sizes (one is 2", the other .5"). I keep my sling in a clear vial with holes drilled in it. It's probably 2" diameter.
Bone dry substrate is fine, it's a desert tarantula and handles dry humidity well. Just mist lightly once a week or so on the side of the enclosure.
Flightless fruit flies work well as feeders. They can be found online or off.
It doesn't need any decor and will simply dig it's own burrow. A small piece of cork won't hurt.
You can hold it. They're slow, docile, and very cute. Just be careful.
I feed mine twice weekly, more if it will accept it.
Transfer when it's near 1". You want an enclosure about 2-3x wider than the spider.
They're great spiders. Super sweet. You'll love it. Extremely hardy and excellent little bulldozers. Attached is a pic of my first one when I got it in November and now.