decided to attempt a mating!

[Miss Bianca]

OK so I have a 5" B. Auratum female and I just received her boyfriend this week. They've been living as neighbors for a few days, and today I decided to 'see what happens' if they met.
I put them together. He looks HUGE next to her, he's prob over 6" w/ thick legs, and she spent about 10 minutes running around (away from him).

They both settled down and were on opposite ends of the cage facing each other and perfectly still.
After like 15 mins of monitoring, I went to the kitchen and when I came back they're on opposite ends but on the walls of the enclosure and are like, tapping the walls... very interesting behavior.
Not sure how long it lasts..
& I will repeat that he looks huge next to her almost double her size..
that freaks me out a little, but I was told that smaller females simply produce smaller sacks.
So anyhow I am just waiting.. it's been over an hour now.. and now I'm not sure if I just leave him in there or go about my way, or try again in a few days....
(He is in no danger I don't think, as per the usual concern..
he looks almost double her size. But I wondered if she is...)

Will post pics soon.

Any input is welcome.. I'm so newb to breeding..

 

[Moltar]

Well the tapping or "drumming" is a good sign. That's them communicating with each other. I don't have the time or patience to breed my spiders so I can't offer you much advice beyond this: I wouldn't just leave him in there unsupervised. Brachypelma mamas aren't really known for getting snuggly with their mates. Once they've mated his only value to her is as a food source so if the DO mate while you're away... well you get the idea.

 

[Miss Bianca]

hmm.. so remove him and try again tmrw or after the wknd then.....
because I can't really sit here while they procrastinate, LOL

 

[Moltar]

If they're drumming you could probably very gently nudge one towards the other without to much risk. Just be ready with cardboard or something to separate them if things go south.

Hopefully one of the uber-breeders will come along and give you some better advice. But yeah, take him out before you leave the house (or leave the room even)

 

[Miss Bianca]

Today was my fourth attempt. In attempts 2 and 3 they stayed still for about 20 minutes, no drumming or anything,
and then he moved toward her numerous times and she runs from him,
to which he'd wait and then try again, but more aggressively.

Attempt 4 was kinda the same except she moved toward him in a playing hard to get kind of way,
slight tapping once or twice in 20 minutes, and repeat of the same scared behaviour.

She is alot smaller and more agile than him and escapes every time.
It looks as though she is running for her life. She winds up on the other side of the enclosure or in her hide. I removed the hide, and she is still avoiding him, and manages to escape every time. He's large and clumsy in his movements and approaches.
Any chance she's in danger here? I need input.
Also, next moves/tries suggestions.... ???

I think to keep trying but don't know if I am pushing it..

(My original main concern was their size difference, and her level of maturity.)

 

[Bird Man]

none of my roseas drum, and with the one mating I did, the day before she molted, he went right up to her and got the job done. The other female is playing hard to get too. Maybe shark tank him?

 

[Miss Bianca]

none of my roseas drum, and with the one mating I did, the day before she molted, he went right up to her and got the job done. The other female is playing hard to get too. Maybe shark tank him?

what do you mean like get rid of him?

 

[Boanerges]

Put the male in his own tank and put that tank in the females tank.

 

[Bird Man]

what do you mean like get rid of him?

No what I mean is what boanerges said.

 

[wedge07]

You know how divers go into a shark cage to meet a large shark. Your male is the diver and your female is the shark.

 

[Miss Bianca]

You know how divers go into a shark cage to meet a large shark. Your male is the diver and your female is the shark.

I get it I get it.. LOL..

however their enclosures are about the same size...

anything else?

and also, what's this about Roseas??

 

[Bird Man]

You could put him in a deli cup maybe. I was just mentioning what I noticed with my roseas is all.

 

[Miss Bianca]

ok I'll ask again... does anyone feel she may be in danger here?
Or is there no chance of that mostly??

 

[un33dit]

There is always a chance that either spider could be in danger. Females have been eaten by males before...it just doesn't seem to be as common as the males getting eaten by the female from what I have read.

-Gary

 

[Miss Bianca]

This has been really frustrating for me,
but they haven't done a thing.
She seems half-interested and then if he approaches she runs away.
The tapping is ever so slight but they are both doing it,
and she even approaches him sometimes..

This guy matured in December so I don't know how potent he is..
but he looks healthy and active, just a little clumsy.
I keep wondering if the size difference is to blame.

 

[burmish101]

Did I read that right or is the female 3 inches? Stupid question i know

 

[Miss Bianca]

Did I read that right or is the female 3 inches? Stupid question i know

The female is about 5" but not a large or stocky 5",
but a petite-barely 5".... at first I thought she wasn't ready
and in a way still do, but after consulting with more than one
breeder about the circumstances
(size difference & especially that this guy molted in Dec.),
I was advised to mate them anyway...
and here we are now... frustrated...

 

[Miss Bianca]

This just in-
I decided to measure him, since I never officially got his size in..
he is 7" exact! I didn't even stretch him to his max. He is a big guy...

here they both are, him and then her........

 

[wedge07]

So have you had any luck yet?

 

[Miss Bianca]

nothing.... they live well as room mates but no action. I seperated them to try again tmrw... am losing hope...