P. striata and P irminia spiderlings

[James Box]

hmmm i feel bad about it, though, especially as you gave me these in the first place!!!
i'd suggest the london exhibition in September, but i think i may be out of town...i'll find out for sure and pm you my address in case. if it comes down to postage, i'll pay the postage at least.

[Rebecca Norris]

Yeah when you get them mate, just take the tissue out CAREFULLY!! Don't squash the spiders! I suggest putting it in a tub, either with the spider or without if the spider runs out, in which case just put the spid in an empty, clean cricket tub for the time being.
I'd get some coconut fibre/coir as substrate for spiderlings. It holds water well, and sometimes small spiderlings like to burrow. My cambridgei's do. And burrowing in vermiculite is tricky. Then throw the old tissue out. Tiny spiderlings won't need it so much but give the spider something to hide in/behind and climb on like a piece of cork bark or something. I got some irminia from Mary too and these are in tubs with things to climb on and doing fantastic

Better luck next time Don't be afraid to ask questions in future.. we don't bite .........................















Hard!

[James Box]

well i knew paper was a bad idea, but for some reason thought it'd be ok for a bit (was perhaps overscared of stressing the spiders out by moving them around too much). that's why it's my fault, i did actually know better but took a chance i shouldn't have. learned my lesson now, though. obviously mold is worse then being moved!
the vermiculite is doing ok at the moment and they are digging and webbing. might give the coir a chance, though. i just know that vermiculite is less conducive to mold growth, and i'm slightly suspicious of other things.

[James Box]

great success! the P. irminia moulted some time in the night or this morning! got a bit scared when i saw the skin, but realised the spider was under it, looking good as new. very proud! had to get a cricket out of there, but doesn't look like it had time to do any mischief, so that's good.
now it's time for the striata's to moult as well!
i'll sleep much easier once they're juvies!

[Andy Miller]

Pokies seem to grow very fast with me i had fasciata slings in january and now one of them is subadult female, but they are kept warm and fed loads.
I have irminia and i find that they grow slower than the pokies i had one for 8 months and it was only about 3" when i sold it.

[James Box]

i'm expecting the striata's to pop out anytime, really...they're quite dark and fat!
was interesting to see how translucent the irminia was before it hardened completely!

[James Box]

one of the striata popped out last night! that's two out of three slings, which is quite encouraging!
still quite tiny, though.

[wesley flower]

i keep most of my tiny spiderlings (up to 15mm legspan) on either cotton wool or kitchen roll changing it once a week. i have done this now for about 10 years and find it very successful. i would not raise slings anyother way.

[Rebecca Norris]

I've never kept spiderlings on anything other than substrate.. how can they burrow if they want to?? (Which the rufescens will Wes)..

[wesley flower]

all my slings i have i keep on cotton wool or paper towels. i have found it very succuessful. in the past i have had very little slings die. when they have died i could always put it down to a reason other than not being able to borrow. not to sure what other people do but this is how i do it sucussfully. in the past i ahve raised 100s of slings.

[James Box]

i guess there are about as many ways to do it successfully as opinions about the issue!
well so far, my method of a bit of vermiculite, a heat mat, the odd misting, number 2 crickets, and briefly taking the lids off occasionally so the air can properly cycle has worked so far...the only one to die has been due to mold, the other three have moulted successfully, are active, and taking food.
i'm now feeling optimistic about raising more slings.