Is this an egg sack?

[newscorpionowner]

So I purchased an avic a while back I'd say a week and a half or 2. And this was inside I didn't know if it was an egg or something else.. if it was an egg sack what's the chances of them still being alive if any

 

[chanda]

It sure looks like an egg sac to me. The real question, though, is whether the eggs are fertilized or not.

Generally, captive tarantulas are housed separately - to prevent cannibalism - except when males and females are intentionally brought together for breeding. If this is a captive bred tarantula and the person who sold this to you was not aware of the egg sac (or if the egg sac was created after they sold it to you), and they did not specify that it was a mated female, then it seems likely that the female was not mated and the sac is not fertile. Female spiders will still lay egg sacs, even if they are not fertilized ("phantom sacs") - but they won't hatch.

If you have contact information for the person who sold it to you, you could always contact them and ask whether the female might have been mated - or if she was wild-caught as an adult, in which case it's anybody's guess whether the sac is fertile or not.

 

[newscorpionowner]

It sure looks like an egg sac to me. The real question, though, is whether the eggs are fertilized or not.

Generally, captive tarantulas are housed separately - to prevent cannibalism - except when males and females are intentionally brought together for breeding. If this is a captive bred tarantula and the person who sold this to you was not aware of the egg sac (or if the egg sac was created after they sold it to you), and they did not specify that it was a mated female, then it seems likely that the female was not mated and the sac is not fertile. Female spiders will still lay egg sacs, even if they are not fertilized ("phantom sacs") - but they won't hatch.

If you have contact information for the person who sold it to you, you could always contact them and ask whether the female might have been mated - or if she was wild-caught, in which case it's anybody's guess whether the sac is fertile or not.

I bought it from a local pet shop so whether is wild-caught or captive-bred is really no telling. Is there a way of telling if it's a phantom sack? Also haven't sexed this one yet although it is rather large

 

[Spaceman]

it’s most defenitely an egg sac. I’ve heard female tarantulas laying un-fertilized egg sacs. I’d put it in a small bin with moist paper towels.. chances of them being alive could be pretty good if it’s not damaged and it hasn’t been in direct sunlight. Depends on if it had Hubba hubba time before capture :?

 

[chanda]

I bought it from a local pet shop so whether is wild-caught or captive-bred is really no telling. Is there a way of telling if it's a phantom sack? Also haven't sexed this one yet although it is rather large

If she's produced an egg sac, I'd say you don't really need to "sex" her at this point...

As for whether she was wild-caught or captive-bred, you could call or visit the shop and ask them where they got her and how long they've had her. If she came from an importer (or if they imported her themselves) then she is almost certainly wild-caught, unless they are importing from an overseas breeder. If they've had her sitting in the shop for a long time - and she has molted in their care - then she will not be fertile, regardless of whether she had ever mated or not. While female spiders can retain sperm and use it to fertilize their eggs for a very long time after mating, they do not retain sperm through a molt cycle. The lining of the spermatheca (along with any retained sperm) are shed with the exoskeleton, as are the linings of the tracheae and sucking stomach, during a molt.

If she did not molt in their care (or in yours) and she was wild caught, then it's entirely possible that the sac is fertile. (A fertile sac generally looks very similar to a phantom sac, so you can't tell just by looking at one - and opening it up to check too soon could kill the developing spiders, if it is fertile.)

Just in case it is fertile (assuming you are interested in hatching out baby spiders) use the search function to find threads on incubating Avicularia egg sacs. They do need moisture - but you don't want them too wet, or they'll mold.

 

[newscorpionowner]

it’s most defenitely an egg sac. I’ve heard female tarantulas laying un-fertilized egg sacs. I’d put it in a small bin with moist paper towels.. chances of them being alive could be pretty good if it’s not damaged and it hasn’t been in direct sunlight. Depends on if it had Hubba hubba time before capture :?

I'll try this and see if anything happens any idea how long it would take for them to hatch if it was fertile.

If she's produced an egg sac, I'd say you don't really need to "sex" her at this point...

As for whether she was wild-caught or captive-bred, you could call or visit the shop and ask them where they got her and how long they've had her. If she came from an importer (or if they imported her themselves) then she is almost certainly wild-caught, unless they are importing from an overseas breeder. If they've had her sitting in the shop for a long time - and she has molted in their care - then she will not be fertile, regardless of whether she had ever mated or not. While female spiders can retain sperm and use it to fertilize their eggs for a very long time after mating, they do not retain sperm through a molt cycle. The lining of the spermatheca (along with any retained sperm) are shed with the exoskeleton, as are the linings of the tracheae and sucking stomach, during a molt.

If she did not molt in their care (or in yours) and she was wild caught, then it's entirely possible that the sac is fertile. (A fertile sac generally looks very similar to a phantom sac, so you can't tell just by looking at one - and opening it up to check too soon could kill the developing spiders, if it is fertile.)

Just in case it is fertile (assuming you are interested in hatching out baby spiders) use the search function to find threads on incubating Avicularia egg sacs. They do need moisture - but you don't want them too wet, or they'll mold.

I will look into this thank you!

 

[chanda]

I'll try this and see if anything happens any idea how long it would take for them to hatch if it was fertile.

How long has she had the sac? Did she create it in your care, within the past couple of weeks? Or did it come from the shop with her, in which case you've no idea how long ago it was created?

Usually, tarantula keepers will leave the egg sac with the mother for the first month or month-and-a-half, then pull the sac and transfer it to an incubator. The sac is also frequently cut open to expose the developing eggs or EWLs (Eggs With Legs) at this time, then they are allowed to develop in the incubator. See here for pictures of eggs and developing spider embryos: https://arachnoboards.com/threads/avicularia-avicularia-egg-sac-questions.306788/

Here's a thread on making an incubator: https://arachnoboards.com/threads/incubator-tutorial.245614/ and here's another style: https://arachnoboards.com/threads/rearing-container-hammock-style-manual-incubator.17496/ (There are also other styles of making them. The important thing is that the eggs are kept warm - but not too hot, have adequate moisture in the air, but are not directly wet, and have adequate ventilation so the incubator does not get stuffy or moldy.)

Eggs need to be turned periodically as they're developing. Usually, the mother spider takes care of this - but if you've pulled the sac, then you may need to take over. Once the eggs have developed into EWL's you don't need to turn them any more.

More information about Avic breeding and incubation: https://arachnoboards.com/threads/avicularia-avicularia.13647/

 

[newscorpionowner]

How long has she had the sac? Did she create it in your care, within the past couple of weeks? Or did it come from the shop with her, in which case you've no idea how long ago it was created?

Usually, tarantula keepers will leave the egg sac with the mother for the first month or month-and-a-half, then pull the sac and transfer it to an incubator. The sac is also frequently cut open to expose the developing EWLs (Eggs With Legs) at this time, then they are allowed to develop in the incubator. See here for pictures of eggs and developing spider embryos: https://arachnoboards.com/threads/avicularia-avicularia-egg-sac-questions.306788/

Here's a thread on making an incubator: https://arachnoboards.com/threads/incubator-tutorial.245614/ (There are also other styles of making them. The important thing is that the eggs are kept warm - but not too hot, have adequate moisture in the air, but are not directly wet, and have adequate ventilation so the incubator does not get stuffy or moldy.)

Eggs need to be rotated - but once they've developed into EWL's you don't need to rotate them any more.

More information about Avic breeding and incubation: https://arachnoboards.com/threads/avicularia-avicularia.13647/

Im not sure when it was created they hadnt had it very long maybe a few days before i got her, and i actually didnt see the sac at that time but a few days later i noticed it, i figured no im crazy thats a rock well today while walking by it i decided to check it out. its bone dry in there but room temp. gonna check these out now and just hope for the best

 

[chanda]

Im not sure when it was created they hadnt had it very long maybe a few days before i got her, and i actually didnt see the sac at that time but a few days later i noticed it, i figured no im crazy thats a rock well today while walking by it i decided to check it out. its bone dry in there but room temp. gonna check these out now and just hope for the best

Did she try to keep the sac when you took it out of the cage? If she was guarding it and trying to hang onto it, you could just put it back with her and let her take care of it until it gets to around the 30-45 day mark.

It is normal for the mother spider to take care of her egg sac, even if it is a phantom sac - but eventually, after the phantom sac fails to develop or hatch, the mother will lose interest and abandon it or discard it. However, sometimes a mother spider will lose interest in a fertile sac, so even if she wasn't trying to defend it when you pulled it, that does not necessarily mean that it wasn't fertile. (Also, sometimes the mother will eat the egg sac. Sometimes it's a means of getting rid of a sac that is no good - but other times it may be a reaction to stress or she may just be really hungry.)

*Also, see my edit to post #8 with additional link to hammock-style incubator

 

[newscorpionowner]

Did she try to keep the sac when you took it out of the cage? If she was guarding it and trying to hang onto it, you could just put it back with her and let her take care of it until it gets to around the 30-45 day mark.

It is normal for the mother spider to take care of her egg sac, even if it is a phantom sac - but eventually, after the phantom sac fails to develop or hatch, the mother will lose interest and abandon it or discard it. However, sometimes a mother spider will lose interest in a fertile sac, so even if she wasn't trying to defend it when you pulled it, that does not necessarily mean that it wasn't fertile. (Also, sometimes the mother will eat the egg sac. Sometimes it's a means of getting rid of a sac that is no good - but other times it may be a reaction to stress or she may just be really hungry.)

*Also, see my edit to post #8 with additional link to hammock-style incubator

I saw your edit, i think ive got it set up pretty close. and i actually just cupped her and never even saw it, so im assuming she was on the other side of the enclosure and couldnt get back to it to defend it or she wasnt interested.

 

[chanda]

I saw your edit, i think ive got it set up pretty close. and i actually just cupped her and never even saw it, so im assuming she was on the other side of the enclosure and couldnt get back to it to defend it or she wasnt interested.

Good luck with it!

 

[viper69]

That's a sac. Could be a phantom sac though.

 

[lazarus]

Adult Avics sold in pet shops are almost certain wild caught.
Good luck with incubation, even if you don't get slings at least you know you have a female

 

[cold blood]

If you found the sac sitting there away from the female, its fertility is a moot point.

A sac must be manipulated and rolled to have a chance at hatching....a sac left in a corner for a day, or days, would not be likely to be viable any longer.

When in doubt though....ALWAYS open the sac and if it doesnt look bad, incubate.

 

[newscorpionowner]

I guess i could hope for the best and wait. Like lazarus said though if anything at least i know i have a female lol Opening the sac felt like a weird idea to me, but if its not harmful, ill do it.

 

[cold blood]

How on earth would opening the sac be harmful?

 

[newscorpionowner]

How on earth would opening the sac be harmful?

I havent been in this predicament before, i assume they are in there for a reason, maybe its just keeping dirt out as well as smaller bugs. It makes sense though that air contact probably wouldnt be harmful. I'll see what i have and let you guys know.

 

[cold blood]

I havent been in this predicament before, i assume they are in there for a reason, maybe its just keeping dirt out as well as smaller bugs. It makes sense though that air contact probably wouldnt be harmful. I'll see what i have and let you guys know.

Nearly every sac breeders see are opened early and incubated....doing so can eliminate problems that may arise inside the sac and allows the breeder to actually observe the progress.

 

[newscorpionowner]

Phantom sac, at least i know shes female. learned this for later too. thanks guys

 

[cold blood]

Phantom sac, at least i know shes female. learned this for later too. thanks guys

Was it empty?