So my small Liphistius ornatus group produced spiderlings in captivity!
Warning, long post. Broken into basic info, then a bit of observations and discussions - what I'd have done better, what I found worked, cool spidery things, etc. I will disclaim that I'm currently not selling any of them - at minimum, I want to be sure there is a decent survival rate and they don't all croak.
I've gotta thank the folks here at Arachnoboard and elsewhere who gave me info, their experiences and observations, literature, and suggestions! I did lots of digging, reading, and bothering people with questions.
Set-up: 20 gallon tank with one large adult female and two subadults. Loamy, clay substrate - fluffy. Substrate at a slope with some live oak leaves. LED aquarium overhead light to promote moss growth. Hand-mist using a pressure sprayer. I tried to simulate their conditions and did... meh. I'd say substrate is most important in keeping these.
Timeline: Subadult leaves hole/trap and creates a temporary shelter from which, weeks later in late September 2014, it matures into a male and waits. Breeding observed late December 2014/early January 2015. The male was witnessed breeding several times over a few days with only one of the two females, but I suspect he attempted with both. Male later consumed and remains rejected as a black ball/bolus in front of the lid of unconfirmed breeder (though it is possible it was thrown and landed there by chance). Both females began excavating shortly after I witnessed breeding, followed by months of unusual inactivity. Females began cracking lids and feeding over the summer, beginning very sparsely, and spiderlings were observed August 4th, 2015.
Status of spiderlings: Spiderlings are feeding on D. melanogaster fruitflies and soon D. hydei and pinheads. I've separated a bunch of the free-roaming spiderlings out into a ten gallon in the same style as the adults and am figuring out what I want to do with those who are already set up in the adult's enclosure. Most of not all have traps set up.
Observations
1. Substrate is everything. It appears these have not done well in captivity or have a reputation for being less than hardy, which I attribute to lack of proper substrate. Like other trapdoors, these guys really ball up wet substrate and throw it - for that reason and many more, what they are digging into makes a huge difference in how naturally they act and how well they thrive. I believe the substrate is also somehow used in walling their tunnel - it does not appear entirely silken. If attention is paid to even minimally recreating natural conditions, these are hardy AF.
2. It is more exciting to feed them multiple, smaller prey items. From what I've seen and read, I believe they may more typically eat smaller prey more often then big prey rarely. If they miss or the prey item is really small, they seem to increase sensitivity and will even make some wild dashes out that seem unprovoked. Culturing fruitflies (my preference) or true pinheads is essential to raising spiderlings, but fortunately they grow out of fruitflies quickly.
3. They do not like being rehomed - nor do any trappies. It seems they lose some spirit. For this reason, I put my first 3 spiderlings (purchased) into a very soft plastic enclosure I could cut away when I planned to rehome and plant the container-shaped clay mass containing the traps into a 10 gal - this went very well, though I did have to remove one from it's hole.
4.I think these are best started in their permanent home. They grow fast if feeding a lot and create some pretty long lines. Doing it all again, I'd go even more substrate and a bigger tank: 20 gal-30 gal for 3 adults. For breeding, definitely best kept in groups.
5. Cannibalism does not seem common but it does occur, and I assume more commonly in spiderlings. I purchased 4 kept in pairs, and one was cannibalized. I have not witnessed cannibalism in the spiderlings, but I assume some has occurred. I have witnessed spiderlings trying to get into eachother's holes, to which the other usually kicks it out or flaps it's lid in some odd defense. The adults appeared to trade holes as well, not uncommonly.
Suggestions?
I've got a lot in a 10 gallon, but most are still in with the adults. There are high density areas of 3-5 traps in a square inch, maybe more. Part of me assumes there will be cannibalism and that some will eventually just be found on the surface as I have with the adults, so I might passively rehome them. The other part thinks that actively rehoming a few, i.e. tricking them out of their holes and into a jar to quickly rehome, may be better for the adults and the spiderlings. Plus, if the other female has spiderlings awaiting... they're doomed. My current thoughts are I might be able to trick them out using a paint brush or wire, or simply dump fruitflies in and grab those that jump out and take a moment to find their lids. Thoughts?
I may do another ten gallon group and set up some soft-plastic-cutaway enclosures.
I'll post some pics and videos soon, as well as future observations. It's pretty hilarious, the minefield.
Warning, long post. Broken into basic info, then a bit of observations and discussions - what I'd have done better, what I found worked, cool spidery things, etc. I will disclaim that I'm currently not selling any of them - at minimum, I want to be sure there is a decent survival rate and they don't all croak.
I've gotta thank the folks here at Arachnoboard and elsewhere who gave me info, their experiences and observations, literature, and suggestions! I did lots of digging, reading, and bothering people with questions.
Set-up: 20 gallon tank with one large adult female and two subadults. Loamy, clay substrate - fluffy. Substrate at a slope with some live oak leaves. LED aquarium overhead light to promote moss growth. Hand-mist using a pressure sprayer. I tried to simulate their conditions and did... meh. I'd say substrate is most important in keeping these.
Timeline: Subadult leaves hole/trap and creates a temporary shelter from which, weeks later in late September 2014, it matures into a male and waits. Breeding observed late December 2014/early January 2015. The male was witnessed breeding several times over a few days with only one of the two females, but I suspect he attempted with both. Male later consumed and remains rejected as a black ball/bolus in front of the lid of unconfirmed breeder (though it is possible it was thrown and landed there by chance). Both females began excavating shortly after I witnessed breeding, followed by months of unusual inactivity. Females began cracking lids and feeding over the summer, beginning very sparsely, and spiderlings were observed August 4th, 2015.
Status of spiderlings: Spiderlings are feeding on D. melanogaster fruitflies and soon D. hydei and pinheads. I've separated a bunch of the free-roaming spiderlings out into a ten gallon in the same style as the adults and am figuring out what I want to do with those who are already set up in the adult's enclosure. Most of not all have traps set up.
Observations
1. Substrate is everything. It appears these have not done well in captivity or have a reputation for being less than hardy, which I attribute to lack of proper substrate. Like other trapdoors, these guys really ball up wet substrate and throw it - for that reason and many more, what they are digging into makes a huge difference in how naturally they act and how well they thrive. I believe the substrate is also somehow used in walling their tunnel - it does not appear entirely silken. If attention is paid to even minimally recreating natural conditions, these are hardy AF.
2. It is more exciting to feed them multiple, smaller prey items. From what I've seen and read, I believe they may more typically eat smaller prey more often then big prey rarely. If they miss or the prey item is really small, they seem to increase sensitivity and will even make some wild dashes out that seem unprovoked. Culturing fruitflies (my preference) or true pinheads is essential to raising spiderlings, but fortunately they grow out of fruitflies quickly.
3. They do not like being rehomed - nor do any trappies. It seems they lose some spirit. For this reason, I put my first 3 spiderlings (purchased) into a very soft plastic enclosure I could cut away when I planned to rehome and plant the container-shaped clay mass containing the traps into a 10 gal - this went very well, though I did have to remove one from it's hole.
4.I think these are best started in their permanent home. They grow fast if feeding a lot and create some pretty long lines. Doing it all again, I'd go even more substrate and a bigger tank: 20 gal-30 gal for 3 adults. For breeding, definitely best kept in groups.
5. Cannibalism does not seem common but it does occur, and I assume more commonly in spiderlings. I purchased 4 kept in pairs, and one was cannibalized. I have not witnessed cannibalism in the spiderlings, but I assume some has occurred. I have witnessed spiderlings trying to get into eachother's holes, to which the other usually kicks it out or flaps it's lid in some odd defense. The adults appeared to trade holes as well, not uncommonly.
Suggestions?
I've got a lot in a 10 gallon, but most are still in with the adults. There are high density areas of 3-5 traps in a square inch, maybe more. Part of me assumes there will be cannibalism and that some will eventually just be found on the surface as I have with the adults, so I might passively rehome them. The other part thinks that actively rehoming a few, i.e. tricking them out of their holes and into a jar to quickly rehome, may be better for the adults and the spiderlings. Plus, if the other female has spiderlings awaiting... they're doomed. My current thoughts are I might be able to trick them out using a paint brush or wire, or simply dump fruitflies in and grab those that jump out and take a moment to find their lids. Thoughts?
I may do another ten gallon group and set up some soft-plastic-cutaway enclosures.
I'll post some pics and videos soon, as well as future observations. It's pretty hilarious, the minefield.