Is my spider fat or gravid?

[gorybmovie]

This is Ichabod. She is a P. Audax. As you can see, she is a very big girl. So big that I'm wondering if it is possible that she is gravid? She molted about 4 weeks ago. I found her about 2 weeks before that. Before her molt, she was a sub-adult with orange spots. I don't think she was sexually mature, but her size is alarming so I'm curious. Also, is it possible that she is preparing to lay infertile eggs? I'm more inclined to believe that she's just fat. She did eat a big mealworm yesterday.

 

[ThemantismanofPA]

Definitely just a big meal

 

[gorybmovie]

Definitely just a big meal

Good to know! I don't think I'm ready to handle an egg sac.

 

[viper69]

Both

 

[gorybmovie]

So I thought Ichabod was just making a new nest last night, but it turns out that she was laying eggs! Should I start preparing for baby spiders or or these eggs infertile?

UPDATE: The egg sack has dropped to the bottom of the nest and it looks like she is in the process of laying more. Do they usually do that?

 

[gorybmovie]

Both

Apparently, you were spot on. So are they fertile? Is that even possible?

 

[gorybmovie]

Definitely just a big meal

So, she laid eggs. Is it possible that they are fertile?

 

[me and my Ts]

Was she wild caught?

 

[gorybmovie]

Was she wild caught?

Yes, I found her January but she was a sub adult and I don't think she was sexually mature. She molted two weeks later and is now an adult. Now, I'm confused. Could she have been impregnanted as a sub adult?

 

[me and my Ts]

Maybe, it could be a false egg sac but I would say be prepared for babys

 

[The Snark]

Maybe, it could be a false egg sac but I would say be prepared for babys

Stand by for an impending horde, and internecine warfare as they predate each other. I'd suggest moving the sacs to a chamber with some rotten fruit so they have abundant fruit flies instead of siblings for food. Place the chamber in a safe location where the spiderlings can disperse into the wild.

 

[gorybmovie]

It looks like Ichabod is done laying eggs now and is now guarding the mass on the top of the nest. The strange thing is that there is a large mass of eggs that has fallen to the bottom of the nest that is just sitting there unguarded. You can see them in the photos I posted above. I read that often the false sacs are runny. I am wondering if that is why the eggs separated. The egg mass at the top of the nest appears smaller but it is hard to tell because Ichabod has covered them in webbing, probably to prevent them from falling like the other mass.

Here is my question. Does anyone have experience with a clutch of spider eggs that has separated in two? In your experience, were the eggs fertile?

 

[PidderPeets]

Perhaps it's different with true spiders vs tarantulas (which is what I have more experience with), but I would think that unless she was in contact with a mature male since molting, it should be an infertile phantom sac. Even if it is fertile, I would expect the fallen eggs to be duds or go bad due to not receiving the same maintenance as the proper egg sac.

If it were me in your position, I would expect the eggs to be infertile,

 

[gorybmovie]

After talking to someone that breeds jumpers, I'm confident now that the eggs are infertile. She has webbed over the eggs at the bottom, but she's already losing interest in both groups of eggs. She comes out to eat and hang out in her enclosure. I'm sure she'll abandon them soon. They're kind of like baby dolls for spiders. She gets to play mommy without having to raise any baby spiders.