Egg in ambyplygid aquarium

[cwebster]

We have had an ambyplygid for six months who was sold to us as a female damon medius. She lives in a 10 gallon aquarium with cork bark. We try to maintain 80% humidity. She eats an occasional cricket but has not molted. I check her tank twice daily. About two days ago, noted a very white egg sac hanging from the cork bark. It is round, very white, surface like paper. I have never seen another spider in her tank but we do have lots of house spiders coexisting in our home. Am concerned because i thought ambyplygids carry their eggs and this one is attachwd to the cork bark. There is no webbing. I dont want anything in her tank that could harm her but if it is her egg, i want to leave it alone. Any suggestions? Thank you.

 

[WeightedAbyss75]

To be honest, I would need pics and size of the sac. This seems very strange, never heard of anything like this...

 

[cwebster]

Will try to post photos later today. Egg is pretty large...maybe 1/4 inch, smooth, very white, like paper, hanging from cork bark. Elvira the ambyplygid has a width of about two inches with her legs not spread out. She hides behind the cork bark. We love her ... Looked for a whipspider for a long time. She could be a phrynus, not sure.

 

[chanda]

It sounds like you've got a freeloader in your tank. Amblypygi carry their eggs in a ventral brood pouch - they don't wrap them up and leave them hanging around. I have the same problem with house spiders slipping into my tanks. As slings they can get right through screening or air holes, then grow up discretely, mooching off your amblypygid's feeders. They are really good at hiding in the cracks and crevices in the cork bark - the day you see one you'll be amazed that something that size could have been hiding out unnoticed in your tank. You should remove the egg sac promptly - or you'll find yourself doing an emergency rehouse while you try to remove several hundred baby spiders from the cage and cork bark.

 

[cwebster]

Will try to upload a photo or two. Eggis about 1/4 inch. Will try to remove it and look for an intruder.

 

[cwebster]

these are photos of the egg. Will remove it. Am not seeing any intruders. Am surprised a house spider would move into a tank kept at 80% humidity.

 

[cwebster]

Just noticed she is missing a leg! Hope it will regrow when she molts.

 

[Hisserdude]

Pretty sure that's nothing made by an Amblypygid. As for what it really is... no idea.

 

[cwebster]

Have carefully checked the tank, with a flashlight. Egg is gone. See nothing but springtails in the ecoearth. Found a dismembered cricket. Can springtails harm an ambyplygid?