Baby Vinegaroons!

[spideyspinneret78]

I caught a glimpse of the mother M. giganteus today and saw that her egg sac had hatched and she has about 20-30 babies riding on her back! When can I expect them to go through their next molt and become independent? What's care like for the babies once they leave their mother? I'm beyond excited!

 

[l4nsky]

I caught a glimpse of the mother M. giganteus today and saw that her egg sac had hatched and she has about 20-30 babies riding on her back! When can I expect them to go through their next molt and become independent? What's care like for the babies once they leave their mother? I'm beyond excited!

@Smotzer

 

[Smotzer]

I caught a glimpse of the mother M. giganteus today and saw that her egg sac had hatched and she has about 20-30 babies riding on her back! When can I expect them to go through their next molt and become independent? What's care like for the babies once they leave their mother? I'm beyond excited!

Okay so first thing first and most important is do not disturb the mother or the young first instars at this point, and don't attempt to feed the mother either. The mother is susceptible at this stage and the offspring won't make it if the mother doesn't before the young molt to 2nd instar and leave the mother before being able to feed. This will take somewhere between 4-6 weeks. At that point they can be fed in and seperated! Then from 2nd to 3rd instar is at least a full year. Let me know any other ways I can help you, feel free to PM me if you need!

Congrats on your clutch of Mastigoproctus aff. giganteus!!

 

[spideyspinneret78]

M. giganteus babies! Update.

I caught another quick glimpse of Persephone's babies today. They now look like miniature adults and have left their mother's back for the most part. I'd estimate that there are about 30 of them. They are beyond cute! It's been absolutely amazing to watch them develop. Persephone has been an excellent and attentive mother, always protecting her babies and even grooming them. As soon as the babies start to dig their way out and disperse, I'm going to offer her a nice juicy hornworm to provide her with much needed fluids and nutrients. I know that they sometimes die after reproducing, but I'm going to try my best to provide her with extra care to help ensure that she has at least a better chance of survival. I ordered some deli cups in bulk to house each juvenile once they're ready to be separated. Time to stock up on some pinhead crickets as well! As soon as I'm able to, I'll post some photos. I plan to keep several for myself and find good homes for the rest of them.

 

[spideyspinneret78]

Baby vinegaroons! Pics.

Yesterday they emerged from their mother's burrow. Today I fed them a buffet of prekilled crickets and superworm chunks. So cute! So far I've counted 31.

 

[SpookySpooder]

I came here for the pics and was not disappointed. They're so cool!

 

[Sarkhan42]

Phenomenal! What species are these guys?

 

[spideyspinneret78]

Phenomenal! What species are these guys?

Mastigoproctus giganteus

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

Mastigoproctus giganteus

spectacular little ones .
How big are the baby’s and the mom? They look huge!

 

[spideyspinneret78]

spectacular little ones .
How big are the baby’s and the mom? They look huge!

The babies are tiny. Not including their tails, they're about the size of a medium cricket. Their mom's body length without the tail is about 3.5 in or so I would guess.

Mom was very hungry and thirsty. Grabbed as many crickets and superworm pieces as she could hold in her palps. I was amazed at the parental care this species exhibits. I caught glimpses of her grooming her young. She was also very protective. The babies gradually left her back and followed her around outside of her burrow for a day or so before starting to venture out more on their own. Really amazing to see.

 

[Kada]

Very nice! look healthy and hungry, job well done.

I too have always been amazed attheir parental care for the species I kept. they were actually really fantastic mothers!

 

[spideyspinneret78]

Tomorrow I plan to separate them individually into deli cups. Curious to see exactly how many there are.

 

[CrazyOrnithoctonineGuy]

How long did it take from oviposition to the eggs hatching?

 

[spideyspinneret78]

How long did it take from oviposition to the eggs hatching?

I'm not entirely sure since she was buried for a long time. 2-4 months would be my estimate.

 

[CrazyOrnithoctonineGuy]

I'm not entirely sure since she was buried for a long time. 2-4 months would be my estimate.

Got it.