Breeding P. irminia question

[al lon]

It is my first time to breed a tarantula. My female P. irminia mated with an adult male for 5 times, with 4 successful insertions. At least, that’s what I saw in during their mating rituals. After the last mating, my female won’t eat for more than a month now. Is this normal? Every time I try to give her feeders, she just doesn’t care. I noticed that she spends her time wondering in her enclosure. Any advice from the successful breeders is much appreciated. Thank you.

 

[DaveM]

Gravid females refusing food sometimes is normal (though often they feed more than usual). I hope you fed her very well leading up to the mating attempt. Now is a time not to bother her. Leave her enclosure in a quiet place where it won't be disturbed.

 

[al lon]

Thank you. I fed her once before the mating attempt, one adult female dubia. After the first mating attempt, i tried to feed her again. But she didn't eat the feeder i gave her. I was trying to give her feeders once a week but no success at all.

 

[DaveM]

You should offer food as you have been, but don't be dismayed if she doesn't take it. Remove uneaten prey within 24 hours. If she webs herself into her retreat, then leave her alone and offer nothing.
When did she last molt? I hope she's gravid and not in premolt, because molting now would effectively make her a virgin again.
Sometimes you can tell if a female is heavily gravid, in a dark room shining a flashlight on her abdomen, you can see the yellowish eggs along the sides of her fat abdomen.
Good luck!

 

[al lon]

Her last molt was in July 20, 2020. The first mating attempt was in August 12, 2020. I noticed that she started webbing her retreat, I just hope that she's already preparing to drop an egg. I didn't made any room temperature adjustment ever since I started this project. Did that affected her attitude right now? And lastly sir, is it true that 1 month after the last mating attempt you should mist the enclosure heavily to raise the humidity and for the ts to drop the egg sac?

 

[DaveM]

Great! Not premolt then. The webbing is a good sign too. Normal temperatures are fine, but the misting is a good idea. Raising humidity is thought to encourage them to drop a sac. You can probably find P. irminia breeding reports on here (my experience is with P. cambridgei, which should be very similar and is also worth searching), and irminia is not noted for being especially difficult. That will give you examples and a good idea of what to expect.
Here, I did a quick search; here is one:
https://arachnoboards.com/threads/psalmopoeus-irminia-eggsac.153464/

 

[al lon]

Oh! Thank you very much sir. I've been reading so many threads about breading reports hoping to find out answers to my question. Again, thank you very much sir.

 

[DaveM]

I think you will succeed. If it doesn't work this time, try again, and if it does work, please post your breeding report here. I have some P. irminia nearing maturity, and I will learn from your experiences too. Good luck!

 

[al lon]

Yes sir, I will post my breeding report here. Thank you very much.

 

[Venom1080]

How has she not eaten in a month after pairing if you only bred her a few weeks ago..??



Also, just to note, there is no need for so many pairings. Successful sacs can be produced with a single confirmed insertion. I know of no evidence that confirms more pairings equals a better sac.

I would be very surprised if she already had a sac within a few weeks of pairing. In my experience, irminia take 2.5-3 months to lay an eggsac.

throw the feeding schedule out for now. Feed her until she webs up her hide and doesnt come out anymore. This is to give her the nutrients to be healthy for the months she'll be without food. Also, i believe it can lead to a larger sac.

I have never simulated environmental changes with Psalmopoeus. I do this with Poecilotheria however. Ive had four Psalmopoeus eggsacs so far with no changes to the environment. Just maintain standard conditions.