Black widow paring advice

[Godsmack1934]

Hello, I'm wanting to pair some of my widows this year, I have two mature females and one mature male widow. If anyone has experience in pairing them and can help me please do, thank you in advance.

 

[darkness975]

Hello, I'm wanting to pair some of my widows this year, I have two mature females and one mature male widow. If anyone has experience in pairing them and can help me please do, thank you in advance.

In the wild the males will typically freeload in the females web. While one pairing can produce multiple egg sacks often there will be multiple pairings.

In terms of a course of action for paring, ensure the female is well fed and let him in there. He'll do the rest.

 

[Godsmack1934]

In the wild the males will typically freeload in the females web. While one pairing can produce multiple egg sacks often there will be multiple pairings.

In terms of a course of action for paring, ensure the female is well fed and let him in there. He'll do the rest.

Ok, thank you so much!

 

[Brewser]

Romantic Background Music never hurts either.
May I suggest some Alice Cooper?

 

[The Snark]

In the wild the males will typically freeload in the females web.

Or in close vicinity. They can't be considered long term survivalists capable of fending for themselves for any extended period of time. They only have one job and even if they escape after mating they usually die shortly after.

 

[darkness975]

The male does not get eaten as often as the folklore would have you believe.

The one notable exception is L. hasselti. The male often will deliberately somersault into the female's chelicera during mating.

 

[Brewser]

Somersaulting - " Falling Heels Over Head "

 

[NYAN]

What species are you trying to pair?

When I used to breed Latrodectus, I found pairing to be very easy. Make sure the female has an established web so that she is not stressed and so that the male can sense the female’s presence. You should also ensure the female is fed recently so that she does not decide to eat the male. Contrary to popular belief, male cannibalism doesn’t really occur in captivity in my experiences since the females are well fed.

For the pairing itself, just add the male in to the edge of the enclosure and keep and eye to see. If the male and female are all mature, you will immediately see one or both parties react positively and the pairing will occur. Afterwards, you can either leave the male in or remove him. I usually left him in unless I needed to rotate him to other females.

 

[Godsmack1934]

I'm trying to pair Latrodectus mactans, also thank you for the advice.

What species are you trying to pair?

When I used to breed Latrodectus, I found pairing to be very easy. Make sure the female has an established web so that she is not stressed and so that the male can sense the female’s presence. You should also ensure the female is fed recently so that she does not decide to eat the male. Contrary to popular belief, male cannibalism doesn’t really occur in captivity in my experiences since the females are well fed.

For the pairing itself, just add the male in to the edge of the enclosure and keep and eye to see. If the male and female are all mature, you will immediately see one or both parties react positively and the pairing will occur. Afterwards, you can either leave the male in or remove him. I usually left him in unless I needed to rotate him to other females.

 

[Shenandoah]

When I captured my mature female latrodectus mactans, I tried to capture what I suspected to be the male also but was unsuccessful. I thought it would be ok since she was already gravid, but the egg sac she laid a couple of days later never hatched. She has laid two more since, no luck. So I guess I need to find her a male or set her free, but I'm not sure I would recognize a mature male if I saw him. The thing that clued me in with this guy was proximity, and his whole "Hey! Where you going with my woman?!" demeanor.

 

[Godsmack1934]

When I captured my mature female latrodectus mactans, I tried to capture what I suspected to be the male also but was unsuccessful. I thought it would be ok since she was already gravid, but the egg sac she laid a couple of days later never hatched. She has laid two more since, no luck. So I guess I need to find her a male or set her free, but I'm not sure I would recognize a mature male if I saw him. The thing that clued me in with this guy was proximity, and his whole "Hey! Where you going with my woman?!" demeanor.

Males are typically a lot smaller than females, and with mactins all the males I've seen have a red line down their back with white stripes branching off. I'll attach a picture. Hope this helped, and I hope your future pairing endeavors go well!!

I'd say as for maturity if he has the boxing gloves he's likely mature, but if your worried about it if you keep him for a month or 2 and he dosent molt he's probably mature.

Image credit: bugGuide.net

 

[darkness975]

When you have enough of them you can usually tell just by eyeballing them.