How to care for Steatoda eggsack ?

[KristianDobias]

Hello fellow hobbyists

Today I woke up and found out that my Steatoda bipunctata laid an eggsack
Iam really happy for it as this species is kinda uncomon here (unlike Steatoda triangulosa and Steatoda grossa) and I want to take care of the eggsack best as I can but I have a few questions regarding that
1, Should I feed the mother or should I wait until the spiderlings hatch ?
2, Should I remove the eggsack from the enclousure and move it to it's own enclousure or not ? (And if so how should the enclousure for the eggsack look ?)
3, In what moisture should I keep the eggsack ?
4, How long does it take for spiderlings to hatch in room temperature ?
5, How to care for Steatoda spiderlings in general (enclousure, best food, moisture etc.) ?
6, Are the spiderlings communal and if so for how long ?

Thanks Everyone Very much for any advices
(In the images is the mother Steatoda bipunctata in her enclousure with the eggsack)

 

[Ratmosphere]

@darkness975

 

[KristianDobias]

@darkness975

LOL
Thanks for calling the proffesional tho (no like really thanks ^ ^)

 

[Godsmack1934]

When I was conducting observations on steatoda triangulosa I left some of the eggsacs with the mother and separated some of the others. I didn't notice any diffrence that would be of note between the two; however if you leave them with the mother until they hatch it'll make them a bit harder to separate and may result in the mother cannibalizing the slings. You could also wait until their close to hatching to separate the eggs if you wanted. As for feeding you should be fine as long as you avoid dropping the prey on the eggs. With Triangulosa, it took about a month (sometimes a little more) to hatch. And for enclosure I just used a clean jar with small ventilation holes.

Hope this helps!

Others maybe able to help more/give better information. You may also want to check old posts on the subject if you haven't already.

Edit:
The information I gave is based around Triangulosa and may not translate entirely, but most should be applicable.

 

[KristianDobias]

When I was conducting observations on steatoda triangulosa I left some of the eggsacs with the mother and separated some of the others. I didn't notice any diffrence that would be of note between the two; however if you leave them with the mother until they hatch it'll make them a bit harder to separate and may result in the mother cannibalizing the slings. You could also wait until their close to hatching to separate the eggs if you wanted. As for feeding you should be fine as long as you avoid dropping the prey on the eggs. With Triangulosa, it took about a month (sometimes a little more) to hatch. And for enclosure I just used a clean jar with small ventilation holes.

Hope this helps!

Others maybe able to help more/give better information. You may also want to check old posts on the subject if you haven't already.

Edit:
The information I gave is based around Triangulosa and may not translate entirely, but most should be applicable.

Thank Youuuuu Very Much for advices ^ ^

It probably is similar since Steatoda triangulosa and Steatoda bipunctata both live in pretty similar habitat (synantropic), but S. bipunctata is able to survive in much drier conditions

I read some old threads and they have been kinda helpful tho they didn't answered every of my questions thanks tho

Can I ask did you just putted the eggsack to the jar or did you made it hang to something (like stick) to mimic the natural conditions ?
And how did you cared for the eggsack then (like did you had to dew it or not) ?
Also when did you removed the eggsack from mothers enclousure (how old it was) ?
Also can I ask how did you cared for the spiderlings after they hatched (enclousure, food, moisture etc.) ?

Thanks very much again ^ ^

 

[Godsmack1934]

Can I ask did you just putted the eggsack to the jar or did you made it hang to something (like stick) to mimic the natural conditions ?
And how did you cared for the eggsack then (like did you had to dew it or not) ?
Also when did you removed the eggsack from mothers enclousure (how old it was) ?
Also can I ask how did you cared for the spiderlings after they hatched (enclousure, food, moisture etc.) ?

I just put them at the bottom after separating them, as for when I separated them I did it either right after finding them for the ones that I observed separated, or right before they hatched for the ones that I left with the mother (I could tell they were about to hatch when they took on a very dark color) I did this to prevent cannibalism as much as possible. I left the eggsac in the same conditions as they were in with the mother, the only thing I didn't keep constant was were the were so likely either room moisture or what you keep the female at should work, but if that involves misting you may want to find an alternative in order to minimize the risk of any damage. After they hatched I kept them in the same conditions as the female as with the eggsac. when it comes to food I let them eat eachother until they were big enough to confidently seperate and eat small prey such as fruit flies. There are likely other alternitives if you want to keep all of them.

Hope this helps, and I wish you and your spider(s) the best!

Also if you don't mind my asking, do you know if your female was mated before you got her?

 

[KristianDobias]

I just put them at the bottom after separating them, as for when I separated them I did it either right after finding them for the ones that I observed separated, or right before they hatched for the ones that I left with the mother (I could tell they were about to hatch when they took on a very dark color) I did this to prevent cannibalism as much as possible. I left the eggsac in the same conditions as they were in with the mother, the only thing I didn't keep constant was were the were so likely either room moisture or what you keep the female at should work, but if that involves misting you may want to find an alternative in order to minimize the risk of any damage. After they hatched I kept them in the same conditions as the female as with the eggsac. when it comes to food I let them eat eachother until they were big enough to confidently seperate and eat small prey such as fruit flies. There are likely other alternitives if you want to keep all of them.

Hope this helps, and I wish you and your spider(s) the best!

Also if you don't mind my asking, do you know if your female was mated before you got her?

Thank You Very Much for help ^ ^

I actually don't know I found her outside on the flat wall day before Christmas (somebody probably threw her out) and she didn't molted ever in my care so she probably was mated
I would want to keep most of them tho that depends on how many of them there will be and how many enclousures I will have available, but certainly better more than less
Would it be possible to possible to separate them right away and give them flightless fruitflies instead of letting them canibalize on eachother ?
Can I Also ask please what is better alternative for misting ?
And should I put some tissues or something at the bottom of the jar with the eggsack or it isn't neccesary ?

Btw you mentioned Steatoda triangulosa I actually have 2 specimens of it in my care (one from them is probably pregnant too as she has been fat for very long time)

Thanks very much again ^ ^

 

[Godsmack1934]

Would it be possible to possible to separate them right away and give them flightless fruitflies instead of letting them canibalize on eachother ?
Can I Also ask please what is better alternative for misting ?
And should I put some tissues or something at the bottom of the jar with the eggsack or it isn't neccesary ?

Yes, it would be possible, I'd better recommend flightless over ones with wings. An alternative for misting would be something like a moist paper towel under the eggs. As for the tissue, if you want to put a moist paper towel or something of the like for humidity it'll likely be fine.

Hope this helps!

Thank You Very Much for help ^ ^

Btw you mentioned Steatoda triangulosa I actually have 2 specimens of it in my care (one from them is probably pregnant too as she has been fat for very long time)

Thanks very much again ^ ^

That's cool! I love steatoda triangulosa, and recently wrote about their potential for parthenogenic reproduction.

 

[KristianDobias]

Yes, it would be possible, I'd better recommend flightless over ones with wings. An alternative for misting would be something like a moist paper towel under the eggs. As for the tissue, if you want to put a moist paper towel or something of the like for humidity it'll likely be fine.

Hope this helps!



That's cool! I love steatoda triangulosa, and recently wrote about their potential for parthenogenic reproduction.

Oh Thank Youuuu Very Much ^ ^
Is the moisture needed tho or is it exesive and the eggs will hatch just fine without it ?

Also can I ask what's the best way to remove the eggsack without damaging it ? (Sorry if I have too much questions but I wanna make sure Iam doing everything right)

 

[KristianDobias]

Yes, it would be possible, I'd better recommend flightless over ones with wings. An alternative for misting would be something like a moist paper towel under the eggs. As for the tissue, if you want to put a moist paper towel or something of the like for humidity it'll likely be fine.

Hope this helps!



That's cool! I love steatoda triangulosa, and recently wrote about their potential for parthenogenic reproduction.

Cool I love them too it is a beautiful species also I heard about that debate about potential parthenogenesis in this species
Also did you know that they can have a coloration where they are dark with just few white markings (sort of like night sky)

I actually have specimen with coloration like that but Iam not sure if it's an age thing or a color variation

 

[Godsmack1934]

Cool I love them too it is a beautiful species also I heard about that debate about potential parthenogenesis in this species
Also did you know that they can have a coloration where they are dark with just few white markings (sort of like night sky)

I actually have specimen with coloration like that but Iam not sure if it's an age thing or a color variation

I didn't know that, is there any chance you could get a picture of it?

 

[darkness975]

Hello fellow hobbyists

Today I woke up and found out that my Steatoda bipunctata laid an eggsack
Iam really happy for it as this species is kinda uncomon here (unlike Steatoda triangulosa and Steatoda grossa) and I want to take care of the eggsack best as I can but I have a few questions regarding that
1, Should I feed the mother or should I wait until the spiderlings hatch ?
2, Should I remove the eggsack from the enclousure and move it to it's own enclousure or not ? (And if so how should the enclousure for the eggsack look ?)
3, In what moisture should I keep the eggsack ?
4, How long does it take for spiderlings to hatch in room temperature ?
5, How to care for Steatoda spiderlings in general (enclousure, best food, moisture etc.) ?
6, Are the spiderlings communal and if so for how long ?

Thanks Everyone Very much for any advices
(In the images is the mother Steatoda bipunctata in her enclousure with the eggsack)

Pull the sac in a couple days and you can use a 32 oz deli cup with cloth covering so they can't escape.

If the eggs are viable they will hatch within the month at normal room temperature.

 

[darkness975]

Oh Thank Youuuu Very Much ^ ^
Is the moisture needed tho or is it exesive and the eggs will hatch just fine without it ?

Also can I ask what's the best way to remove the eggsack without damaging it ? (Sorry if I have too much questions but I wanna make sure Iam doing everything right)

Adding moisture poses the risk of rotting the sacs. I made that mistake in the beginning.

I use long handled tweezers and gently pull it out by the tip top.

 

[KristianDobias]

I didn't know that, is there any chance you could get a picture of it?

Yes I have picture of her when I was rehousing her she's interesting specimen (and cute :3)
She also seems to be smaller than the other S. triangulosa I have (which is of normal coloration) tho that can be maybe a thing of genetics, how well fed she was when she lived "outside" or just by the fact that she is not gravid (or maybe she 's just young)
Tho right after I caught her she was pretty white and looked like male Steatoda triangulosa but the day after she seemed to change coloration into the one that she has now so maybe she was freshly molted when I caught her Iam not sure actually (if you want I can try finding that image too)

 

[Godsmack1934]

Yes I have picture of her when I was rehousing her she's interesting specimen (and cute :3)
She also seems to be smaller than the other S. triangulosa I have (which is of normal coloration) tho that can be maybe a thing of genetics, how well fed she was when she lived "outside" or just by the fact that she is not gravid (or maybe she 's just young)
Tho right after I caught her she was pretty white and looked like male Steatoda triangulosa but the day after she seemed to change coloration into the one that she has now so maybe she was freshly molted when I caught her Iam not sure actually (if you want I can try finding that image too)

That's really cool!

 

[darkness975]

 

[KristianDobias]

Adding moisture poses the risk of rotting the sacs. I made that mistake in the beginning.

I use long handled tweezers and gently pull it out by the tip top.

Thank Youuuu Very Very Much for All your advices you really helped me clarify things ^ ^
Also can I ask please how to care for the spiderlings (like what enclousure should I give them, what food and if they need more moisture than adult or not and if there are some other things I need to know or keep an eye on) ?

 

[KristianDobias]

View attachment 489093

Oh Thanks very much for visualization ^ ^
So they are communal for some time or do you separate them as soon as possible ?

 

[KristianDobias]

That's really cool!

Thanks I think she's cool too

 

[darkness975]

Thank Youuuu Very Very Much for All your advices you really helped me clarify things ^ ^
Also can I ask please how to care for the spiderlings (like what enclousure should I give them, what food and if they need more moisture than adult or not and if there are some other things I need to know or keep an eye on) ?

Oh Thanks very much for visualization ^ ^
So they are communal for some time or do you separate them as soon as possible ?

If you leave them together they will start to cannibalize within a day or so. I do this intentionally with some of my Latrodectus (black widow) sacs but if your intention is to keep every specimen alive then separate them within 24 to 48 hours.

When you separate them into their own deli cups make sure you spritz water droplets every day or so for them to drink. Don't soak , just spritz.

Feed appropriate sized prey as discussed above.