Black widow

[lincolnt19]

I changed my pet black widows cage about a week ago and she still hasn’t made a new web. She needs to eat and I’m not sure if I can feed her until she makes a web. I guess I’m just wondering if this is normal or if there’s something I need to do?

 

[Theraphosphor]

I changed my pet black widows cage about a week ago and she still hasn’t made a new web. She needs to eat and I’m not sure if I can feed her until she makes a web. I guess I’m just wondering if this is normal or if there’s something I need to do?

Could you try feeding her a tiny bit of mashed banana? I've heard this used for elderly jumping spiders. If she eats it the first time, maybe try mixing in some fruit flies next time?

 

[lincolnt19]

Could you try feeding her a tiny bit of mashed banana? I've heard this used for elderly jumping spiders. If she eats it the first time, maybe try mixing in some fruit flies next time?

My spider is pretty old. Is this the problem?

 

[Theraphosphor]

My spider is pretty old. Is this the problem?

Based on your other thread, and what the others said, I'd say so.

 

[The Snark]

It helps to keep in mind the rule of survival of the species. Adult animals, especially those below mammals, have one purpose of existence; to procreate and promote strong, healthy offspring. When that purpose has been fulfilled, the most viable mating age, the animal has no further purpose and needs to die off so it doesn't present a hazard to future generations - primarily attracting predators, becoming hosts for detrimental organisms and continued mating yet producing weakened or non viable offspring.

 

[Tarantuland]

I have never heard of a widow eating fruit. Did you raise her up from a baby? The wild females in the eastern US are in sack laying mode right now. They can lay a bunch of sacks then will sometimes live another year or die

 

[lincolnt19]

I have never heard of a widow eating fruit. Did you raise her up from a baby? The wild females in the eastern US are in sack laying mode right now. They can lay a bunch of sacks then will sometimes live another year or die

Yes I did so she's never had eggs and she's about 3 years old.

 

[SilentWidowMaker]

Any update on this? What kind of setup do you have for her? Plenty of things to make webs off of? Really long widow life for sure. Sometimes I just tong hold a prey next to their back legs and they'll feel it and wrap it up on the spot then I let go and they do their thing. One thing I've found interesting with some of my widows is they got used to crickets so when I try a roach they don't go for it. Anything else they love.

 

[lincolnt19]

Any update on this? What kind of setup do you have for her? Plenty of things to make webs off of? Really long widow life for sure. Sometimes I just tong hold a prey next to their back legs and they'll feel it and wrap it up on the spot then I let go and they do their thing. One thing I've found interesting with some of my widows is they got used to crickets so when I try a roach they don't go for it. Anything else they love.

yes it’s honestly a way better set up than it was before but still no web and she now looks like a shriveled pea. I feel really bad because she can’t last much longer.

 

[fcat]

I don't know widows at all forgive me, but can you put her back in her old enclosure or did you tear everything down already?