Avic Versicolor Spiderling!

[mhbird]

Hi there, completely new to inverts, recently bought one of these little guys. It's just over half an inch long, any idea how old it'd be? Aptly, but probably not very originaly; called Martini.

[Gaboon]

Looks about the same size as mine which are a few months old. Like snakes size is relative to food intake to and not just age. I feed mine one suitably sized cricket 2 - 4 times a week.



Heres mine eating at just over a week old.

[elliot ness]

Andy....want to play

[mhbird]

What size tank will an adult need ideally, also how quick will this little guy grow?

I have him in a tall tank thats about 6x18 inches, with cocofibre/moss, a few little plants and some grapevine. There are some holes in the vine which he can hide in. Gonna make a rock bacground today to make it a little less agoraphobic in there.

[Gomjaba]

I THINK the tank is actually too large for a sling - adult spiders sometimes freak out when the enclosure is too big - and a s ling will probably have problems to actually find food ... Although I don't have experience with avics to be honest.

[mhbird]

I thought this, but tbh I think most people kick up a fuss over nothing. I had him in a livefood tub then planted out the little tank for him, couldnt resist putting him in and threw in a few little insects from my balcony and he annihilated a spider straight off, then ate an ant not long after. He has no trouble finding food, and has a few little hiding places.

In the wild animals arent confined to small tubs, so why should they be in captivity? As long as he has enough hiding places he should be fine. Finding food was my only worry but he doesnt seem to think it's an issue

EDIT: Oh and also, for the record he has hiding places but is usually wandering around on the glass or up his tree!

[squaccy]

that is one PRETTY spidling!

[Poxicator]

Originally Posted by mhbird

I thought this, but tbh I think most people kick up a fuss over nothing. I had him in a livefood tub then planted out the little tank for him, couldnt resist putting him in and threw in a few little insects from my balcony and he annihilated a spider straight off, then ate an ant not long after. He has no trouble finding food, and has a few little hiding places.

In the wild animals arent confined to small tubs, so why should they be in captivity? As long as he has enough hiding places he should be fine. Finding food was my only worry but he doesnt seem to think it's an issue

EDIT: Oh and also, for the record he has hiding places but is usually wandering around on the glass or up his tree!

Its your pet so its your choice but many decisions are based on experience and a desire to get spiders out of the delicate sling stage and into the larger sizes. Certainly not a "fuss over nothing".

Your tank is too large, Avics can be extremely bad at hunting food, even in small enclosures. You may think its fine wandering over the large enclosure but the truth is more a case of its trying to settle into a home. Once it does its likely to web it up and stay in or around it and ignore the majority of the enclosure.
Don't feed your tarantula spiders! Many house or garden species are far more aggressive than tarantula, and they're also hunters with stronger venom!
Be wary feeding it ants, this is one of the only things that will make a female desert her burrow in the wild! Ants are foragers, if they find food more will appear, a group and you've potentially got your versicolor disected.

[selina20]

I agree with the fact the tank is waaaay to large for the little guy. You need it in a small but high tub/sweet jar. I find mine are a pain and if i dont put the cricket on their web then they wont eat it lol.