Breeding...

[Richard Groves]

After watching the show that my two GBB's have put on, I have decided that I really want to try my hand at breeding. I have read up on all the information I can find and I have started a spreadsheet so I can keep check of when each spider last shed.

Thing is, I realise it's common to 'borrow' a male, but the adverts all seem to be accompanied by "BTS rules apply". What are these BTS Breeding rules? I have searched high and low, but have not found the answer!

My research has lead me to believe that there is a high probability that the male could be killed, and a fertile eggsack may not be produced. What happens of the loan then? How is the lender repaid for their kindness?

I started out with the GBB, as by chance I ended up with a mature male and female, and even though i'm not too experienced it seemed only right to give the male a shot. So far, he is still alive and healthy and has built a second sperm web. I have now done a little research and have increaed the temps and humidity. I plan on putting them together again in the next few days.

[Colin D Wilson]

The BTS 50/50 is very simply an agreement between the owners of the male and female spiders.
The owner of the male posts out to (or delivers / meets with) the female's owner, when successfully mated (and indications shown this) the male is posted back (delivered etc) to the owner. The resulting spiderlings are evenly shared between the two parties.

[Mark Pennell]

Colin is quite correct the term BTS rules apply simply mean you both agree to divide the resulting offspring equally 50/50 between the owner of the male and female.


It some thing the BTS came up with in 84.. with the old breeding directory

Cheers
Mark

[Kate Arbon]

I think with regards to the male possibly getting eaten, that is the risk the male's owner has to accept before sending him out. You can't really expect reimbursement for his loss. Of course it's hoped that the female's owner would do everything possible to avoid letting it happen, but when they want to Ts can move far quicker than we can unfortunately.

Good luck with your GBBs, let us know how it goes!

[Richard Groves]

That clears things up, thanks!

[Leon Lane]

If I send out a male I don't expect to see him back in all honesty. Particulary with Cyriopagopus/Lampropelma etc where the male is often consumed during a successful mating or Chilobrachys where the mating may take place in the burrow out of the "control" of the breeder.

If the male comes back it's a bonus, if spiderlings result it's a double bonus. But I send out males expecting nothing and anything else is a plus.

I've only paired C.cyaneopubescens once and the male lasted about 45 seconds.

[Colin D Wilson]

If the male comes back it's a bonus, if spiderlings result it's a double bonus. But I send out males expecting nothing and anything else is a plus.

This is the unfortunately the most realistic way of looking at it !!!!

optomism and pessemism run hand in hand with breeding Im afraid....if you're the owner of the male even more so!

[Ray Hale]

The truth is that there are no hard and fast rules. The "rules" were born out of frustration way back in 86 when as young(er) keepers we decided to set up a breeding directory. The Breeding Directory surfaced in many guises over the years. the original hope was to collate a group of breeders who could swap males and document their results. This worked fine in the early non internet days ( yes I know it all seems a long way off know but it is true we didnt have the WWW.) As technology progressed we found small groups set up on their own and swapping went on. I was part of the Midland Group. This was fine but the infromation was lost for ever.

We set up the rules to help such groups.

They were as follows and I add they are a guide only set up to protect both parties.

1. Any spiderlings produced as result of a loaned male or female will be split on a 50:50 basis.
2. Any agreement entered into will be between the two parties and it is the reponsibility of the individuals to provide the following information.

NAME, ADDRESS, CONTACT NUMBERS. Keep a record of where, when and with whom.

3.It is preferable that you swap with BTS Members but we cannot of course guarantee the reputation or the honesty of that individual.


Thats about it.

Personally I have only ever dealt with BTS Members or people I know personally after losing a much loved male Avic Aviv many year ago to an unscrupolous couple who bred it , told me it had died without success and then had the audacity to sell the spiderlings at the BTS Show........needless to say they dont trade there any longer

Hope this helps

ray