This ought to be fun!

[Syco]

We ordered 5 G. aureostriatum slings from a guy in Florida, and they are arriving today. The guy emailed us last night to tell us that he sent extras, so we called him to find out how many so we could get the containers ready. Turns out he packed all the slings in one deli cup and as he was "tapping out" 5 for us, several more fell in and he just left them. We have no idea how many will be in that deli cup, and he told us to be sure to check all through the creases in the paper towel to make sure we got them all :eek: Now this might not be a problem for some people, and I really appreciate the extra slings, but..... despite the fact that we have 7 Ts right now, we are still really nervous around them and unpacking them when they are packed individually is a test of our nerves! I know, being afraid of a 1/2" sling is kinda silly. I'm not really afraid of being bit, I'm afraid of them running in all different directions when we start unpacking and I don't even have a definate number so I can say "ok, we got them all" LOL! Oh well, exitement like this is what makes life fun. I think :rolleyes:

[Pixie]

You shouldn't have much problems splitting these slings as they aren't the fastest. I would bet that you'll open the deli cup and not one comes out! lol They tend to scurry into a hiding place.

To be on the safe side, open the cup in a large kritter keeper or the tub. If one or two decide to make a break for freedom you'll see them right away and be able to catch up with them quick.

I'm pretty sure you'll have to coax them out and into their own pillbottles. It helps having someone else around to keep an eye on what you can't. Take the lid off and get one out, before getting it into it's own container, be sure to put the lid back on the cup (you won't worry about the others), and then work on getting the tyke in his container.

Keep doing the same until they are all rehoused :)

Congrats on the babies and it's a great species to get some extras!

Pixie

[Tarcan]

Hi Syco,

Normally this method of packing is used for extremely tiny spiderlings (like babies L. parahybana, N. chromatus, A. geniculata, etc...).

They normally are hatchlings.

By my experience with this sort of packing, I would not be too worried if I would be you, because normally those tiny slings (even though really tiny) do not move much. They can be fast a little but the idea is to remove one by one from a scott towel, the others will almost not move..

Everything should go well...

Good luck.

Martin

[Syco]

Thanks, this is reassuring to know. :) They arrived and I got the deli cup out of the box and am waiting until my BF gets home from work so I will have an extra set of hands and eyes LOL! I saw one of the little guys up near the top and they are very small, I never knew a 1/2" was that small :) I'm going to try doing this inside of a small aquarium that I have (empty of course) and I have a plastic spoon that I have flattened at the end and a Q-tip to scoot them into the spoon with. Does this sound ok? Does anybody know how fast this species grows? I have read, slow grower, and faster than most Grammastola species. :confused: I was hoping to find out about how fast they would get to maybe 2".
Thanks for the help and the encouragement!

[Pixie]

Your "tools" sound fine. I would also suggest you have one or two extra deli cups, just in case. If one of the little buggers darts out, it's easy to contain it by putting a deli cup over it.

They are quite the slow growers. I have 2, one that I got at 1/2" and the other 1 1/2". The smaller one I've had for about 7-8 months and it's now a whopping 3/4"!!! Only 2 molts in my care so far. The other I've had for only 3 months and it did molt once, grew maybe 1/4".

Pixie

[Dragoon]

Hello Syco.
An aquarium will not let you see very well. Maybe place the aquarium in the tub (whiteness)? Actually, I just lean over the tub and do all my unpacking there. Its white and smooth, and there's no way even the fastest sling can get away!
My Usumbara is a pretty fast one. And it did bolt! It bolts every time I have to move it. But really, as fast as those little legs can run, it is really not that fast. I have plenty of time to drop a cup over it. Its just fast, considering the size of the animal.
I also like the tub because I can place a cup over the animal without crushing any little feet. They are easy to see on the white background.
Have I convinced you yet?
hahahahaha
Have fun! I have an aureo sling myself, its sooo cute!
D.

[Syco]

Dragoon,
I thought about the tub, but our bathroom is pretty small. If my BF and I both work on this one of us is going to have our butt wedged between the toilet and the tub! LOL! Maybe I'll put some white paper under the aquarium so they will show up better.

[Syco]

Woo Hoo! We got 8 slings, and the unpacking went really well. They were pretty slow moving and didn't give us any trouble at all. Ok, I'm ready to order some more! Bring em on!:D

[Dragoon]

Are you ready for an Usumbara yet?

*evil laugh*

Everybody must have one of these spiders! Gorgeous color, amazing webs and speed and attitude galore!
I love my little Punky!
D.

[Syco]

LOL! I don't think we are quite ready for an Usambara yet! Everytime we are looking at pics of Ts and my BF sees an Usambara he says "Can I?":D They are beautiful, but they have just a bit more attitude than I am ready for right now.