Gravid C. Crawshayi..............??

[Johan van Vuuren]

Now just sit back and wait. Regarding removing the eggsack, I don't know what to say, wc females make excelent mothers, if it was mine I would have let the mom take care of things. Most africans are secretive and very seldom leave their burrows and now that she has closed it up hopefully means babys for you. Good luck.

[Mrs Linda Street]

Hi Wayne, thanks very much for asking, the two girls are doing really well, in fact I've just taken their lids off and taken a couple of pics

[wayne balcombe]

thanks johan i'll take your advice and leave her be for the moment. do you know the incubation period for the egg sack for this species?

the two girls look great linda, nice and stocky and a lovely dark chocolate brown colour.

[Robert Sleaford]

I'm going to be picking up a nice plump one from thespidershop over the next day or two. Already been and got another new tank in preparation for it.

Can't wait.

[James Box]

while i've not bred crawshayi, i do have a reference in Tarantulas and Scorpions by Samuel Marshall saying that the hard part is the mating...once a sac is there, they are decent mothers...that's from memory so hopefully i've got it right.
i think it comes down to giving them alot of peace.
i had a P lugardi WC female produce a sac, and she was and is the perfect mother, some slings are still with her (reminds me i need to take them out lol). obviously a completely different genus though.
i think Johan is right, but of course it's up to you...pulling the sac means you have to take over as mum really, and the real mum will not be happy.
but it means she can't eat it if she gets stressed or if a few eggs go bad...

[Johan van Vuuren]

Depending on tempreture, about 5 to 8 weeks.

[wayne balcombe]

i'm keeping her temperature at 26-27degrees C.

i think you're right james, i'm sure she will be the perfect mother but as you say there are some pro's to pulling the sack, i'm torn if i'm honest, i like to stick to keeping my spiders as close to nature as possible so i'm tempted to leave her be to get on with it. on the other hand, after reading other people's experiences it seems to point toward pulling the sack as an easier option. i may be being a little premature here though as we still don't know for sure if she is gravid.

[Johan van Vuuren]

Hi Wayne,

sorry for only getting back to you so late, non the less, you are not premature. You need to plan these things in advance and knowing what you going to do make things a whole lot easier. Do what you feel comfortable doing. Enjoy your african, they are greate spiders with tons of personality even if they are not gravit.

[wayne balcombe]

this spider has become a little too clever for my liking, she has been out of a night time and has been slowley but surley tearing bits off of the mesh ventilating strip on the back of her tank and has made a hole. its like something from the great escape, making it bigger night by night in an attempt to escape. i'm very impressed that she's created a weak point in security and continues to utalise it. that to me show and intent and planning.

i now have to remove the mesh strip and replace it with a vented perspex one.

[Mrs Linda Street]

Hi Wayne, don't underestimate their resolve, it's surprising where they do get out of, we had one of our females on the loose last year, and sometimes they take some finding, lol.

[Johan van Vuuren]

Have to agree with Linda on this one, never underestimate these spiders, after al its an african! I have heard before that tarantulas can tear mesh, and they don't even have teeth for doing so. I have been keeping african spiders for quite some time now and always find something new. Glad to see she is entertaining you.