- Joined
- Mar 7, 2012
- Messages
- 4,095
I have three K. hibernalis spiders (two females and one male). Although I've always liked spiders, I don't have any experience keeping them. I was wondering if anyone who has experience with these spiders can give me some pointers on caring for them (and possibly encouraging them to breed).
Right now, I am keeping them in large pickle jars. (One female and a male are in one jar, and the second female is in another jar.) Is this adequate space for them?
Are there any objects or materials that should be placed in the enclosure? One of the jars contains an empty toilet paper roll, into which the male (the only occupant at the time) moved right away. The female has since taken over that space. The other jar has an index card and some wires. They seem to like the tunnel-like rolls, so I'll probably replace the wire with one of those. (Of course, both jars have water.)
How often do they need to be fed? I have been giving them the smoky-brown cockroach nymphs that occasionally venture indoors for water. (It's an old house in a wooded area.) I find a nymph every 1-2 days, but I'm starting to doubt whether that is enough for three spiders. (The nymphs are tiny, much smaller than the spiders.)
Right now, I am keeping them near the computer, where I can observe them. Are they disturbed by noise? (The woofer is on the same bookshelf as the spider jars.)
If I had more space, could I put all three of the spiders in the same enclosure without causing a fight? (I don't know whether the two females are related. Both were found in my house. The male is probably unrelated to either, because he came from a neighbor's house.)
Besides putting the male and female in the same enclosure, is there anything I can do to encourage them to mate? (Two days ago, the female had an eggsac, but I don't see it anymore.)
If they do breed, how long do the eggs take to hatch, and about how many spiderlings might I expect? Would the spiderlings need to be moved (either as juveniles or adults)? How long do they take to reach sexual maturity?
Is there a good way to photograph my spiders without losing them? (The glass prevents me from getting a good picture.)
Thanks!
Right now, I am keeping them in large pickle jars. (One female and a male are in one jar, and the second female is in another jar.) Is this adequate space for them?
Are there any objects or materials that should be placed in the enclosure? One of the jars contains an empty toilet paper roll, into which the male (the only occupant at the time) moved right away. The female has since taken over that space. The other jar has an index card and some wires. They seem to like the tunnel-like rolls, so I'll probably replace the wire with one of those. (Of course, both jars have water.)
How often do they need to be fed? I have been giving them the smoky-brown cockroach nymphs that occasionally venture indoors for water. (It's an old house in a wooded area.) I find a nymph every 1-2 days, but I'm starting to doubt whether that is enough for three spiders. (The nymphs are tiny, much smaller than the spiders.)
Right now, I am keeping them near the computer, where I can observe them. Are they disturbed by noise? (The woofer is on the same bookshelf as the spider jars.)
If I had more space, could I put all three of the spiders in the same enclosure without causing a fight? (I don't know whether the two females are related. Both were found in my house. The male is probably unrelated to either, because he came from a neighbor's house.)
Besides putting the male and female in the same enclosure, is there anything I can do to encourage them to mate? (Two days ago, the female had an eggsac, but I don't see it anymore.)
If they do breed, how long do the eggs take to hatch, and about how many spiderlings might I expect? Would the spiderlings need to be moved (either as juveniles or adults)? How long do they take to reach sexual maturity?
Is there a good way to photograph my spiders without losing them? (The glass prevents me from getting a good picture.)
Thanks!