Breeding advice!

[Johanna Turner]

Hi guys and gals, me again!

Right, first question, should I even attempt it? Breeding that is.

I have an adult male L, parahybana who had his ultimate moult about 5 months ago.
He's a little gem but I started to feel sorry for him after watching him wander aimlessly round and around his tank! He's not eaten since his ultimate moult either. I thought I would do something to brighten up his dull existence...

So, I decided to look out for a mail order bride for him!

I have since got my grubby mitts on an adult female for him, she's a corking specimen, but here's my dilemma, now what!?

I appreciate she really needs to have a moult before introducing the male as she's more likely to produce an eggsac, so that's the first hurdle.

Basically, what I need is to know whether it's worth me attempting (being a novice), what I need to do to prepare, and how I go about introducing the male etc...


Any ideas appreciated, anyone got any tips or advice?

Cheers!

Jojo

[Phil Rea]

Hi Johanna,

The first thing you've got to be prepared for is the quantity of spiderlings you may produce upon successful breeding. L. parahybana can produce more than 1,500 eggs in a sac, and that's potentially a lot of babies

Ideally she needs a moult, but you've got to be mindful that the male being mature, could die at any point. If I were in your place, what I would so is mate them now and take the chance that she doesn't moult. At least that way you have a chance. If the little fellow shuffles off this mortal coil before she moults, then that's the chance lost.

If she moults, and he's still going strong, then mate them again

Just introduce the male gently into her enclosure, and all being well he should do the rest. Just be prepared to separate them or intervene once he's done, or if she takes a sudden objection to him. Have a couple of catch pots ready.

Good luck.

Phil.

[Colin D Wilson]

Hi Jo

Phils really said it all regarding mating now, then if she moults, try again if he's still with us.
Just as an extra, with some of the more boisterous individuals in particular, i actually introduce the female into a tank with the male already in there, and have had the usual success.
A large thick piece of card is also a handy tool to help separate the two, if you cut it to fit the diameter of the tank, then as Phil says a couple of catch pots (and an extra person to help if available, the male may do a swift runner when he's done !!)

Colin

[Johanna Turner]

Thanks both, just thought it would be nice nice for him to get 'beans' before he goes, bless him!

I will attempt to introduce him then, he seems to be wandering round and round lately, I'm guessing he's on the lookout.

Do they create only one sperm web? Only since I relocated him to another container, he's created a very thick area of web against his water bowl. Just wondered why he might have done that (maybe for kicks, who knows!)

The female I have is an angel and seems incredibly laid back. Will keep my fingers crossed she doesn't kill my little boy out of spite though! Ha ha!

How much space do I need to give them to 'do the do' though? I know it's not a passionate and violent thing, tarantula love making but don't want to make it too close for comfort either!

Quite excited at the thought of giving it a go.

Oh, and with regards the amount of offspring produced, how soon do you have to seperate these slings after hatchng, and will there be much cannibalisation or natural death?

I can cope with the amounts so long as I am prepared!

Jo x

[Colin D Wilson]

a plastic tub about 15" - 18" square should do nicely, put some bark or heavy substrate on the bottom so she doesn't slip backwards when hes pushing at her.

i'd personally split the youngsters up at 2nd instar, should cut down on a lot of the cannabilism (if there, in fact, is any) natural deaths occur occasionally so just be prepared in case there are any.
You may get other advice from someone more experienced in this genus.

Colin

[Steve McIntyre]

Hi Johanna, it's certainly a wonderful experience when you manage to get your first eggsac and when the s'lings emerge you'll feel great!!BUT!! when you've got to pot up possibly 1000 s'lings you'll soon change your mind I personally let the s'ling eat each other, at least for a week or so. I know this sounds awful but in the wild this probably happens and at least the strongest ones survive. You'll end up with a manageable amount as you'll never sell or even give away 1000 + Salmon Pinks, plus as they grow, it's a lot of care required and lots of food too!

[Rebecca Norris]

Colin, do you mate your tarantulas out of the females tank then ? as in take them both out into an unfamiliar tank? Just wondering

[Colin D Wilson]

Have tried all three ways with success, male into females, female into males and both into a seperate breeding tank.
The norm is, i suppose, to let the male wander into her territory, as in the wild, but using the "separate tank" and "female to male" systems i've had less aggression toward the male.

[Rebecca Norris]

Oooh super! Tried my klugi's yesterday and she was certainly not interested.. she hissed at him, lunged at him and he did a runner lol On a plus i did manage to get the rosies to finally get it on!

[Louise~Nichols]

Good luck with all of your matings Johanna.
When I mated my Pulchra...I put both the tubs in the bath, so that when the boy had finished he could escape from the female and then it was easy to collect him from the bath without harm coming to him.
I also keep an empty 2 litre drink bottle (cut in half) nearby for backing the girl away gently if she gets too aggressive.

[Johanna Turner]

Right then, that's decided, I'm going to give it a bash! To be honest I'm not actually expecting it to work, but I want to give it a go to see what happens anyway.

Thanks to all for your advice though, much appreciated.

Have told my boyfriend that when he comes to stay this weekend, he's helping me help my tarantulas 'get busy'! haha!

Jo

PS Colin, how's the breeding program doing?

[Ray Gabriel]

Some Interesting comments here.

1/ I would always introduce the male to the females container once she has been established.

2/ since i have been using a breeding cabinet (kitchen cupboard) i have had less males attacked and killed.

3/ When breeding Lasiodora ap males of different sp are aggressive towards eacj other, same species will mate readily, introducing a male to the established female will indicate this very quickly. (unpublished BTS Article covering breeding with observations on, L. parahaybana, difficilis, striatipes, klugi and unidentifeds).

4/ getting rid of large quantitys of spiderlings is no problem as long as you dont expect to get full price for each one, go for excahnges generous quantity of spiderlings against some other spids you want, that way both parties are happy.

All the best

Ray

[Johanna Turner]

Ray, thanks for that.

Some more info for consideration.

Female arrived 2 weeks ago, obviously quite a stressful journey as had removed most of urticating hairs into container when she had arrived.

Since giving her her new home she hasn't taken any food, and has been very subdued.
Had to change her substrate once as it was onviously too damp for her (she refused to come down and stand on it and spend most of her first few days clinging to the sides of the tank)
She now just sits, occasionally I notice she has moved, but is very very quiet and keeps herself to herself.

Is this ok, is she still stressed, or do you think she is ok now? The room is warm quiet and quite dark most of the time which they all seem to prefer (I have started regaining my collection, but not at the volumes I used to have!!)

Should I give her more time to settle before attempting this?

Jo x

PS I forgot just how great people on here were for advice and stuff, it rocks!

[Colin D Wilson]

Jo

Just playing the waiting game for sacs at the mo, rosea, rosea RCF, formosa

Colin

[Johanna Turner]

Jo

Just playing the waiting game for sacs at the mo, rosea, rosea RCF, formosa

Colin

Oooh, how exciting! Like your own little Christmas (only a lot longer to wait!)

You'll have to let me know how you get on!


Jo