Keeper guide

Bahia Scarlet Sling Care — Lasiodora klugi

Young Lasiodora klugi need the same basic husbandry principles as adults, but in a smaller, more carefully managed enclosure. Bahia Scarlets slings dry out faster, eat smaller prey and can escape through gaps an adult could never use.

At a glance

Quick facts

World
New World
Origin
Brazil
Lifestyle
Terrestrial
UK hobby rarity
Uncommon
Maximum size
About 18–22 cm (7–8.5 in)
Growth rate
Fast
Male lifespan
Roughly 3–5 years
Female lifespan
Often 15–20 years
Temperament
Bold feeding response; may be defensive and kick abundant urticating hairs
Venom
Venomous, but hairs are usually the more immediate husbandry concern
Temperature
21–26°C
Moisture / humidity
Water dish plus moderate lower-substrate moisture; strong ventilation
CITES
Check current CITES rules before cross-border trade

Choosing a sling enclosure

Use an enclosure that is secure and easy to inspect for a Bahia Scarlet sling. It should be large enough for a retreat and water access but small enough that prey and the spider are easy to locate.

Match the shape to the Lasiodora klugi terrestrial lifestyle. Arboreal slings need usable height and anchor points, fossorial slings need digging depth, and terrestrial slings need floor space with a low fall height.

Substrate and moisture

For young Bahia Scarlets, keep a water dish available and maintain moderate lower-substrate moisture. Provide strong ventilation. Small containers change moisture faster than adult enclosures, so check the substrate rather than watering on autopilot.

Do not keep a Lasiodora klugi sling permanently waterlogged. Good airflow and a sensible moisture gradient are safer than trying to make the whole container equally damp.

Water

Provide fresh water to Lasiodora klugi as early as the enclosure allows. A very small, shallow water dish can be used for many slings; where that is impractical, keep suitable moisture available until a dish can be added safely.

Check water frequently because tiny dishes and small containers dry quickly. Do not rely on prey alone to hydrate a Bahia Scarlet sling.

Feeding slings

Feed Bahia Scarlets slings small, manageable prey. A pre-killed or disabled feeder can be useful for very small spiders that are not ready to tackle active prey.

Remove leftovers from Lasiodora klugi before they spoil, especially in a small moist enclosure. Appetite may drop sharply before a moult.

Moulting

Young Lasiodora klugi usually moult more often than adults. When a sling stops eating and becomes more secretive, premoult is a common explanation.

Remove live prey, keep water available and leave the Bahia Scarlet alone through the moult. Wait until the new exoskeleton and fangs have hardened before feeding again.

Rehousing a growing sling

Rehouse a Bahia Scarlet sling when the enclosure becomes genuinely cramped or difficult to maintain. Prepare the new setup completely before opening the old one.

Because small Bahia Scarlets can disappear through tiny gaps, check ventilation holes, lid edges and door clearances carefully before moving Lasiodora klugi.

Simple records

Record moult dates for Lasiodora klugi if you want to follow growth. A quick note of feeding and moulting is enough; there is no need to turn sling care into a complicated daily log.

Those dates make it easier to see what is normal for the individual Bahia Scarlet, especially when feeding slows or the interval between moults begins to lengthen.