- Joined
- Jan 25, 2007
- Messages
- 4,212
use what you want, but i use something similar to this:
good call. i actually keep mine in a large biscotti jar. it would be good to provide some sort of structure above, maybe something solid like you were saying (for a retreat). i have tried (and do not like) the flipped jar. not as applicable and doesn't look as good IMHO. but, there is still a need for a retreat, hence the solid overhead structure.That jar set-up would be perfect if you turned it over. Widows prefer solid structure overhead.
Having the jar lid at the bottom is also nice because it allows one to open the jar without messing up her "inner sanctum" tighter webbing.
Would be very interested in knowing what part of SAfrica you're at. ..and if your into the species... would LOVE to see some pics of your local widows.I was sitting outside my office the other day, and suddenly saw a male widow "sneaking" up to a female behind a pot plant. I rushed back into the office to grab a camera, and by the time I got back, the male had been killed and wraped up in a neat little ball.
The natural web was pretty small though (South African species). Though I must admit I am to scared still at this point to try keep on at home. Then again, I have enough of them running around free to worry about housing.
Well I have 3 different looking widows, that I know of at work. 2 are certainly brown versions (could be the same species), and then 1 that is black (Less comman and I have to search for them). I stay in the south of Johannesburg of Southern Africa BTWWould be very interested in knowing what part of SAfrica you're at. ..and if your into the species... would LOVE to see some pics of your local widows.
Are those adults? If so, they might be L. geometricus.Here are the only two decent photo's I got while rushing to try grab the camera.
From what I have read L.mactans generally has the hourglass as one whole marking while L.hesperus generally has it seperated into two triangles as in my pics.
Also L.hesperus is confined to the western US while L.mactans is generally found in the eastern US.
John
];')
they are beautiful.LOL, thanks for clearing that up.
She seems to be liking that cube, her webbing is taking some shape as we speak.
They really are beautiful with the jet-black coloring and red hourglass!
Just the way their legs move and how they crawl back up a dangled thread, is the definition of spider.
I never really appreciated them(or spiders in general) until I started buying tarantulas . . .
Now its like every big spider I see, I want to take home and put it in a cube.
I cant wait to feed this girl, but she just looks sooo fat that I think if I feed her shell pop!
Is this a clue that a sac is soon to come?
You could run into 4 or 5 species ...more likely 4 that are native. From what I understand Mactans (US native) has also been found there.Well I have 3 different looking widows, that I know of at work. 2 are certainly brown versions (could be the same species), and then 1 that is black (Less comman and I have to search for them). I stay in the south of Johannesburg of Southern Africa BTW