What a beautiful female. The sling I bought from you at the auction is now 2cm and it looks like it is getting that unique colouring on the carapace.

I'm going to introduce him/her to the communal as well when I get that set up.

Thanks for the update.

I wish I lived wherever you do. I'm in the US. Is this in Australia or something? I'm so excited to see the outcome of this!

Robotponys wrote: I wish I lived wherever you do. I'm in the US. Is this in Australia or something? I'm so excited to see the outcome of this!

Sunny South Africa.

I wish I lived wherever you do

Are you sure?? I am convinced you will be welcome to move in, you just cross the border, "loose" your passport like 5 million other folks that now thrive here. I'm sure we pay enough tax to cover ONE more illegal immigrant. :laugh:

Anyway, back to pleasant topics.

The picture below is of one of the original slings I introduced when I started this communal. I think this is the only one left from that group, and it's a female. I was able to retrieve an exuvium, it must be hers because there are no other exuviae in that nest. There is no way of telling with 100% certainty, but this is the only one I ever see. Four of them must have died for whatever reason. I don't think the surviving one ate the others because the ten adopted slings are doing fine together, AND I don't think cannibalism starts happening later in development. If they were to eat each other, they would do so when they start eating at third instar.



Something else that I find exciting and rather curious. From the ten slings living with the female, eight seems to have normal mouse grey coloration. Two however are strikingly different with red/pink coloration. I read somewhere about a "red color form" M balfouri, but that the red only lasted for one instar. Not sure what to make of this, but these two are very different. They are just very skittish and runs to mommy whenever I open the lid to get a picture. I will post a pic when I can get one...

Very funny! Yeah, I'm sticking to the good old US.

On topic:
Aww, poor slings. That is unfortunate, but maybe they are just hiding? Oh well, at least its a female! The red coloration should be interesting.

This is an image of the "red" sling. There are two of them, the other eight are grey. Don't know why, will have to see how they develop.