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Well over the past 4 days I have been mating my big female. She molted 2 months ago, but before her molt she was also mated, gained a lot of weight, but shed before producing me a sac. So there possibly may be eggs still in there huh.. I mated her on the 4th of this month and about 4 or 5 times after. I've witnessed the male make 3 sperm webs. I introduced him immediately after seeing the remains of them, and each time was a success. I clearly was his bulb pentrate each time and what looked like a white deposite as well.
One month ago, the temps were kept around 70 deg's F, day and night. Low humidity then as well. Four-five weeks ago I bumped everything up, temp (heat lamp during the day), humidity (soaked the 'strate 3 times a day). Temp was anywhere between 85-90 during the day and 68-75 at night. The mating season in Kenya is during the second rainy season (Nov-Dec) so as of right now I am replicating everything and trying to mimic her natural habitat.
Since yesterday, the male refuses to mate. He does his shaky dance down her burrow until about half way point, where he hits a THICK silk door. Yesterday morning I woke up to her webbing immensely. She blocked her burrow with nothing but the thinkest silk I have ever seen. Almost light yellow silk. She has been fed only three adult dubias and has literally doubled in size. She didnt eat much during the cool down so she was fairly small when starting the matings. But she is HUGE. The past couple of days all I have seen her do is web the bottom of her burrow, the walls, the bottom some more, scrape at the bottom of her chamber with her fangs, gather that up, stick it into the walls, smash it further in with her fangs. She is cleaning house like there is NO tomorrow!! She gets alll the way upside down, hangs from the ceiling of her chamber, silks the top, tears some down, packs it into the ground, and vice versa. All the time doing nothing but web, web, and web somemore!
Could she really be gravid and ready to lay already?
Just wanted to share this with everyone and hope for better success this time!
Now, some pics!
MM Male
*Image removed due to breach of BTS rules and Regs concerning handling...Colin*
BIG female
Video of first encounter (there was an insersion right before she freaked out in the end)
MM came back for more and ended up not happy at all!
2nd attempt:
MM ripping through the silk
I tried timing the inserions, while holding a flashlight, and a ruler, but wasnt quick enough!!
Now this is from right now. Shes silking the celing (she has to raise her abdomen a good 7" to get to it)
Now shes haging upside down in the same spot packing it in with her fangs......
Mr. Tansley, if you're reading this and if you have experienced this same behavior, I'd love your input.
Thanks guys!
One month ago, the temps were kept around 70 deg's F, day and night. Low humidity then as well. Four-five weeks ago I bumped everything up, temp (heat lamp during the day), humidity (soaked the 'strate 3 times a day). Temp was anywhere between 85-90 during the day and 68-75 at night. The mating season in Kenya is during the second rainy season (Nov-Dec) so as of right now I am replicating everything and trying to mimic her natural habitat.
Since yesterday, the male refuses to mate. He does his shaky dance down her burrow until about half way point, where he hits a THICK silk door. Yesterday morning I woke up to her webbing immensely. She blocked her burrow with nothing but the thinkest silk I have ever seen. Almost light yellow silk. She has been fed only three adult dubias and has literally doubled in size. She didnt eat much during the cool down so she was fairly small when starting the matings. But she is HUGE. The past couple of days all I have seen her do is web the bottom of her burrow, the walls, the bottom some more, scrape at the bottom of her chamber with her fangs, gather that up, stick it into the walls, smash it further in with her fangs. She is cleaning house like there is NO tomorrow!! She gets alll the way upside down, hangs from the ceiling of her chamber, silks the top, tears some down, packs it into the ground, and vice versa. All the time doing nothing but web, web, and web somemore!
Could she really be gravid and ready to lay already?
Just wanted to share this with everyone and hope for better success this time!
Now, some pics!
MM Male
*Image removed due to breach of BTS rules and Regs concerning handling...Colin*
BIG female
Video of first encounter (there was an insersion right before she freaked out in the end)
MM came back for more and ended up not happy at all!
2nd attempt:
MM ripping through the silk
I tried timing the inserions, while holding a flashlight, and a ruler, but wasnt quick enough!!
Now this is from right now. Shes silking the celing (she has to raise her abdomen a good 7" to get to it)
Now shes haging upside down in the same spot packing it in with her fangs......
Mr. Tansley, if you're reading this and if you have experienced this same behavior, I'd love your input.
Thanks guys!
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