Help - I [think?] my tarantula made an egg sac and I don't know what to do next.

[Phoenix G]

I field collected an aphonopelma hentzi (Texas Brown) in my native area of Arkansas on May 19th of this year. It hated my potting soil so I replaced the enclosure with local soil, rocks, and wood. It finally settled down once the soil dried out rather than trying to escape constantly. And began eating everything it could catch, which was wild caught june bugs, roaches, and crickets mostly.



This past week he or she has suddenly become very active, always clinging to the screen lid, and stopped eating. A large bald spot appeared, not from flicking hairs at me. Two days ago (she?) dug down a bit in her hide and completely covered the exit, floor, and other exit with thick webbing. I could barely see her through it, but she was horizontal with the almost-burrow floor, moving pretty constantly.

The day after, all the webbing was gone and only a few strands of webbing along the entrance to her hide remained.

Today I tried feeding her again, and when the june bug went down the tunnel, she immediately jerked this white stone-like thing back away from it. Then got on top of it and defensive postured.

My not tarantula keeping friend suggested maybe she "wrapped up food for later" but that doesn't sound right. I know this species begins a breeding migration in August-September, but I don't know when females lay their eggs.



She is sitting on top of it and guarding it. Is it likely this is an egg sac? The object looks JUST like the one on this page. But I imagine all webbing that picked up tarantula hairs and dirt looks like that.

If it is, when do they hatch? Do I put them into little containers right away? Do I mist her daily? I'm supposed to stop feeding her now, right?

Edit: When she backed off the sac, butt toward the tunnel entrance, head toward sac, I was able to get a photo of it through the side of the glass.

 

[Demonclaws]

Yes it is an egg sac. Keep it with female for 30 - 45 days if you want slings, if not take it from the female immediately and throw it away. You usually don't need to feed the female. Keep the substrate a little damp, don't mist. If the egg sack is fertile, you should see eggs with legs or 1st instar when you open the sac. Search on the boards for eggsac care or incubators.

 

[Phoenix G]

Yes it is an egg sac. Keep it with female for 30 - 45 days if you want slings, if not take it from the female immediately and throw it away. You usually don't need to feed the female. Keep the substrate a little damp, don't mist. If the egg sack is fertile, you should see eggs with legs or 1st instar when you open the sac. Search on the boards for eggsac care or incubators.

Oh my gosh!!! I'm so excited!!! How did she produce a (presumably fertile) egg sack so many months from breeding? (Edit: Can they produce infertile ones?) Is that how tarantulas do it? If someone has a link (not seeing something the FAQ for breeding tarantulas, just sling care) to resources I'll read and educate myself thoroughly. When I found her she was roaming in the open during drought.

I'll remove any stray food items I see then. The 1st instar is before the first molt or after the first molt? Or the mother's molt? She hasn't molted once since having her, but she was brightly colored when I found her so she was likely fresh out of molting then. I'll search for more information.

 

[Demonclaws]

How did she produce a (presumably fertile) egg sack so many months from breeding? (Edit: Can they produce infertile ones?)

They can produce "phantom" (infertile) egg sacs even without mating.

The 1st instar is before the first molt or after the first molt? Or the mother's molt? She hasn't molted once since having her, but she was brightly colored when I found her so she was likely fresh out of molting then.

eggs->EWLs->1st instar->2nd...
If the T didn't molt in your care then there is a chance that the sac is viable.

 

[Vanessa]

Oh my gosh!!! I'm so excited!!! How did she produce a (presumably fertile) egg sack so many months from breeding? (Edit: Can they produce infertile ones?) Is that how tarantulas do it? If someone has a link (not seeing something the FAQ for breeding tarantulas, just sling care) to resources I'll read and educate myself thoroughly. When I found her she was roaming in the open during drought.

They mate with the males from around August to October. They hunker down all winter and lay their eggs in spring and summer. They can sit on that sperm for a long time and, as long as they don't moult, they can lay fertile egg sacs for a while.
Yes, they can lay a phantom egg sac, but I would very much proceed as if this is a viable egg sac.

 

[ShyDragoness]

Also don't know if anyone else has mentioned but I recommend swapping the screen lid out for plexiglass to prevent her getting her tarsal claws stuck and potentially losing legs or worse! Good luck with the slings friend

 

[Phoenix G]

I feel pretty educated on the subject now and well prepared for raising the potential slings. Thanks for all the replies beautiful tarantula people.