Sling looks dark

[patsyking]

Hi All

I've just looked at my B.smithi sling and it seems to be darker all over than it was yesterday. It hasn't eaten for about a week. Is this a sign of a moult coming soon. He's only tiny.

[KJ Vezino]

Sounds like a molt to me. Got a pic?

[patsyking]

Moult

Hi.
I can't take a pic, he's really tiny and on the back wall of his little hide. Close up photos come out all blurred with my camera. He seems to be darker all over including his legs. I don't want to disturb him to keep looking as I know I should'n't do that. How long roughly before a moult takes place would he darken up?

[Kate Arbon]

Hi Patsy, I don't mean to hijack your thread but maybe this can help us both as I've been wondering the same thing.

This is a pic I took of my B. smithi sling who's just gotten darker recently too. I was wondering if anyone can tell me if this looks like pre-moult. How does yours look compared to this?

This guy hasn't moulted in FOREVER so I really hope he's going to soon. He's about 1cm legspan and I took this pic 6 days ago, he's a tiny bit darker than this now.



Thanks

[patsyking]

Dark sling

Hi Kate

I just looked at my sling and it seems much darker than yours. Of course if you took the photo with a flash that could make yours look lighter. My sling has mostly a dark, almost black abdomen but he's had that since I've had him a month ago. He as good as looks the same colour now all over. I can't wait for him to moult so I can see how diffent he will be but at the same time I'm scared for him as I know its a risky time for him.

[Kate Arbon]

Cool, sounds like your guy will moult sooner than mine. This guy is slow about everything! How big is yours? I wouldn't worry too much, B. smithi don't tend to have many problems moulting, as long as he is well hydrated he should be fine.

[patsyking]

Here is a photo I just took but its very fuzzy. I have macro mode but can't get a decent photo with that either but hopefully you can see what kind of colour he has gone. He's just over a centimeter.

[Peter Lacey]

Really hard to tell from that. Why not take a picture from further away and use the zoom to focus in on the T. If you put it on the highest resolution the camera has it should produce a good result. If at all possible move the enclosure to where natural light shines through, just for the photo.
If it is a molt, remove any food and remnants you have and make sure there's water in the bowl. Probably a good idea to provide a hide too if you haven't already.

[Louise~Nichols]

Hi Kate and Patsy!
Okaaaaay...usually a sling will moult in around a week of getting as darkly contrasted from it's regular shade. And they get it over and done with quite rapidly at the 1cm size you're both referring to, just make sure your little sling's pots have got dampened substrate (but don't overdo it), and you have nothing to worry about.