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I've been meaning to make this thread ever since I returned from a visit to Mary and Trevor Walters house on Sat 15 March.
I spoke to Mary recently about the possibility of mating my female
L. klugi with her male who was making sperm webs and raring to go. As I have no experience of breeding but like the idea of producing some CB spiders I decided to take the trip up and visit Mary and Trevor. The journey there and back was pretty s**t due to a motorway closure and awful weather however it was not in vain. They have devoted a whole room to spiders and there are some stunning examples. Interestingly Mary has a hands off approach and leaves the close contact stuff to Trevor. I've read so much about Pokies, Baboons Psalmos and a variety of species that I've been led to believe will chase me back home and eat my wife and children. The day killed off all those thoughts as they carefully opened up tubs to inspect the inhabitants. Most of the Pokies just sat there totally not bothered by us, although the metallica decided it preferred to be out of view, the P. cambridgei sat there too although we didn't exactly invite it out for a trek down the pub. And the baboons well, open the lid and down the hole they ran! At one point they decided to try a mating between 2 baboons (sorry my head exploded with the variety of species, I should have taken notes). So down on the floor Trevor opened the female's tub, followed by the male and persuaded the male into the female's enclosure. The male decided he wanted to explore the burrow and Trevor again persuaded him (with deftly use of tweezers) to come up again and search out the female. Neither spider made any gesture towards mating or showed any inclination that the other was there. All this right in front of me and neither baboon looked as frightening as I imagined. No threats, no fast desire to escape or approach my lap! The mating of the klugi was similar, no tapping and no desire to approach each other, however I decided to leave my klugi so that Mary & Trevor could try again.
I was fascinated by the variety they showed me, from the horned baboons and king baboon to the C. cyaneopubescens and A. avic, from A. franki to the goliath and C. marshalli to the N vulpinus. Far more than I can remember and way beyond what I've researched. But it wasn't just the spiders that entertained my eyes as I noticed tubs clearly marked with names I've come across in the forums, where the owners have also provided their spiders for breeding and an extended holiday, Ray Gabriel, Wesley Flower, Toran, I think even Mark Pennell.
Both Mary and Trevor offered great hospitality and patience and I can't thank them enough for such a great day, a great insight and a fantastic opportunity to put most of my fears and prejudices to bed. They also made sure I didn't travel home without a couple of companions. Thanks to both of you and If anyone else gets the invite to go up and visit grab it with both hands, you'll not be disappointed.
I spoke to Mary recently about the possibility of mating my female
L. klugi with her male who was making sperm webs and raring to go. As I have no experience of breeding but like the idea of producing some CB spiders I decided to take the trip up and visit Mary and Trevor. The journey there and back was pretty s**t due to a motorway closure and awful weather however it was not in vain. They have devoted a whole room to spiders and there are some stunning examples. Interestingly Mary has a hands off approach and leaves the close contact stuff to Trevor. I've read so much about Pokies, Baboons Psalmos and a variety of species that I've been led to believe will chase me back home and eat my wife and children. The day killed off all those thoughts as they carefully opened up tubs to inspect the inhabitants. Most of the Pokies just sat there totally not bothered by us, although the metallica decided it preferred to be out of view, the P. cambridgei sat there too although we didn't exactly invite it out for a trek down the pub. And the baboons well, open the lid and down the hole they ran! At one point they decided to try a mating between 2 baboons (sorry my head exploded with the variety of species, I should have taken notes). So down on the floor Trevor opened the female's tub, followed by the male and persuaded the male into the female's enclosure. The male decided he wanted to explore the burrow and Trevor again persuaded him (with deftly use of tweezers) to come up again and search out the female. Neither spider made any gesture towards mating or showed any inclination that the other was there. All this right in front of me and neither baboon looked as frightening as I imagined. No threats, no fast desire to escape or approach my lap! The mating of the klugi was similar, no tapping and no desire to approach each other, however I decided to leave my klugi so that Mary & Trevor could try again.
I was fascinated by the variety they showed me, from the horned baboons and king baboon to the C. cyaneopubescens and A. avic, from A. franki to the goliath and C. marshalli to the N vulpinus. Far more than I can remember and way beyond what I've researched. But it wasn't just the spiders that entertained my eyes as I noticed tubs clearly marked with names I've come across in the forums, where the owners have also provided their spiders for breeding and an extended holiday, Ray Gabriel, Wesley Flower, Toran, I think even Mark Pennell.
Both Mary and Trevor offered great hospitality and patience and I can't thank them enough for such a great day, a great insight and a fantastic opportunity to put most of my fears and prejudices to bed. They also made sure I didn't travel home without a couple of companions. Thanks to both of you and If anyone else gets the invite to go up and visit grab it with both hands, you'll not be disappointed.
. Still its all worth it.
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