How long to wait after molting to breed and why?

[14pokies]

Hi guys, My male P. rufilata matured about twenty days ago. Luckily my largest female molted 8 days ago.. Great timing I know ..

With all aspects of the male reproductive process aside. How long after the female molts do you pair, assuming your male is ready to go?

I have been told to wait thirty to sixty days after a molt, and have used that as standard practice over the years. I use that time to let her fully harden, which depending on species takes a week sometimes closer to a full month. On a side note, I had a big female LP take almost two months to resume feeding. So, I understand the time it takes for the tarantula to harden up and resume feeding varies greatly.

Also, I use the time ( apart from the initial time to harden up) to fatten her up.. So lets say two weeks to resume feeding, then thirty to build up her abdomen. That brings me to a basic minimum time from molt to first pairing at about forty five days. This isn't set in stone,as I have had some females molt and get back up to a weight that I see fit for breeding in as little as two weeks, so I understand there is room for variation there as well.

Other than the standard reconditioning we do for freshly molted females before pairing ,is there any other reason one would wait 30-60 days to pair? For example, if your female resumes feeding a week after she molts and eats non stop for three days untill she refuses food, why not pair her? This is purely an example, I'm just curious if there are any other reasons to wait to pair.

Thanks for any info or opinions you have to offer.

 

[KezyGLA]

I have had success in much less time, but with other species. I just wait until hardened. Feed up for a couple weeks then pair.

Not sure about Poecs though. Never bred them

 

[beaker41]

It’s tough to put a hard number on it as obviously it varies per individual but what you might consider is testing them out in a divided tank first and see how she responds to male taps. Given the same substrate they should certainly be able to communicate and if you get a response tap from the female that would be a good indication that she is ready for love. Of course you want to make sure your divider is secure as he will be doing everything he can to get over the wall. If he hasn’t made a sperm web yet it could also trigger him to do so, after the first pairing generally my males will make a sperm web the very next night.

 

[14pokies]

I have had success in much less time, but with other species. I just wait until hardened. Feed up for a couple weeks then pair.

Not sure about Poecs though. Never bred them

Thanks man. My question is in general, not just pertaining to poecs. What would you say is the least time you have waited after a molt?

 

[14pokies]

It’s tough to put a hard number on it as obviously it varies per individual but what you might consider is testing them out in a divided tank first and see how she responds to male taps. Given the same substrate they should certainly be able to communicate and if you get a response tap from the female that would be a good indication that she is ready for love. Of course you want to make sure your divider is secure as he will be doing everything he can to get over the wall. If he hasn’t made a sperm web yet it could also trigger him to do so, after the first pairing generally my males will make a sperm web the very next night.

My girl is so damn secretive I wouldn't know she was tapping back unless she used a snare drum! I'm not really asking about this pairing though.

It's just a generalized question. I used my Rufi's as kind of a segway to the topic because they will be my next pairing.

 

[KezyGLA]

Thanks man. My question is in general, not just pertaining to poecs. What would you say is the least time you have waited after a molt?

Probably a recent breeding of Usambara. I waited 14 days for hardened. Fed her like a pig for a week and then paired her once. Got a nice fat sac from her just over a month after that. So from moult to sac only 50 odd days.

If conditions are right then I dont see why would wait.

 

[14pokies]

Probably a recent breeding of Usambara. I waited 14 days for hardened. Fed her like a pig for a week and then paired her once. Got a nice fat sac from her just over a month after that. So from moult to sac only 50 odd days.

If conditions are right then I dont see why would wait.

Great info man, thanks!

 

[KezyGLA]

Great info man, thanks!

No problem. Males arent always available for long, especially with baboon species. Time is important in that respect.

 

[14pokies]

@KezyGLA and for anyone else that happens apon this thread.

I have a question. Would you say that you have noticed a higher percentage of predation on males by females that haven't been fattened up heavily before pairing?

 

[Venom1080]

@KezyGLA and for anyone else that happens apon this thread.

I have a question. Would you say that you have noticed a higher percentage of predation on males by females that haven't been fattened up heavily before pairing?

My regalis was a sweetheart and she wasn't very large. Abdomen about carapace size.

 

[KezyGLA]

@KezyGLA and for anyone else that happens apon this thread.

I have a question. Would you say that you have noticed a higher percentage of predation on males by females that haven't been fattened up heavily before pairing?

Not really. I feed up more for nutrition boost incase female decides not to eat much afterwards.

 

[14pokies]

Not really. I feed up more for nutrition boost incase female decides not to eat much afterwards.

Right, you don't want them getting rundown or hungry enough to munch the sac.

 

[KezyGLA]

Right, you don't want them getting rundown or hungry enough to munch the sac.

I believe it boosts the chance of healthier sac too

 

[14pokies]

I believe it boosts the chance of healthier sac too

I would imagine so. It would be interesting to compare the sac size and vitalitiy of slings from pregnant imports to that of sacs from captive Tarantulas that have been conditioned for breeding.

Like many things involving arachnids, the natural variables are probably to great to over come in order to reach a conclusion.

 

[Angel Minkov]

@KezyGLA and for anyone else that happens apon this thread.

I have a question. Would you say that you have noticed a higher percentage of predation on males by females that haven't been fattened up heavily before pairing?

Well, my miranda female has never been a big eater. When I got a sac from her I paired her about 3-4 weeks after she molted and she probably ate 2 crickets from her molt until the pairing and another 10 and a roach or two until the sac.

 

[14pokies]

Well, my miranda female has never been a big eater. When I got a sac from her I paired her about 3-4 weeks after she molted and she probably ate 2 crickets from her molt until the pairing and another 10 and a roach or two until the sac.

I'm dealing with same issue right now with my rufilata... She will only take small prey items and even then she is a sporadic feeder.. Makes life tough when you are trying to fatten them up in preparation to drop a sac..

 

[Theneil]

If I may go on a slight tangent, would this same strategy of heavy feeding until the lady doesn't eat also be applicable to introducing a male when double clutching?

 

[Angel Minkov]

I'm dealing with same issue right now with my rufilata... She will only take small prey items and even then she is a sporadic feeder.. Makes life tough when you are trying to fatten them up in preparation to drop a sac..

I very much doubt that in the wild they get a lot of food or start hunting when paired, so my assumption would be that a lot of food is not necessary for a sac. In fact, in theory, it might diminish your chances, as it speeds up their metabolism and might prompt them to molt instead of dropping, in my opinion.

 

[14pokies]

In fact, in theory, it might diminish your chances, as it speeds up their metabolism and might prompt them to molt instead of dropping, in my opinion.

That's kind of my train of thought also.. I recently stopped stuffing freshly molted breeding females... I still like to feed them a bit more just to keep them in good condition while they are holding the sac. I have had mixed results so far. Only time will tell if I have more sacs from females that have been heavily fed versus females that haven't..

 

[14pokies]

If I may go on a slight tangent, would this same strategy of heavy feeding until the lady doesn't eat also be applicable to introducing a male when double clutching?

If a female produces a sac I don't breed her for atleast another year... I would much rather keep her healthy than produce an abundance of slings.. I could understand attempting it with some very rare species within a genus that is known to double clutch,even then I question the ethics of it..

With species that are known to double clutch, it's something the female does with retained sperm from the male that made the deposit.. The choice to produce eggs is up to her..

So really 99.99% of the time I would say no don't pair a female that has recently made a sac even if it's a species that is known to double clutch.