M. giganteus- Another Egg Sac?

[spideyspinneret78]

Last year my AF M. giganteus laid a fertile egg sac and I still have many of the babies. In fact, several of them have molted in their burrows and are looking like mini- adults. My AF hasn't molted since I've had her. She's excavated a deep burrow and is looking very rotund again. I'm unsure if she's gravid once more or is in premolt. Is it possible for this species to lay multiple egg sacs from one successful mating if the female hasn't molted? I'll obviously find out eventually either way but I'm curious.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

Not sure , I found this haven’t read it entirely yet.

Mastigoproctus giganteus

animaldiversity.org

 

[spideyspinneret78]

Not sure , I found this haven’t read it entirely yet.

Mastigoproctus giganteus

animaldiversity.org

I've read in multiple places that the female usually dies after laying a sac due to starvation and dehydration, but I fed mine very well after she emerged from her burrow with the babies and she thrived. So in this case....I don't know. It'll be interesting to see what happens.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

I've read in multiple places that the female usually dies after laying a sac due to starvation and dehydration, but I fed mine very well after she emerged from her burrow with the babies and she thrived. So in this case....I don't know. It'll be interesting to see what happens.

sounds like you’re doing pretty good.
I’ve never even seen one for sale pet shops Here don’t even carry them. Breeding them sounds challenging.

 

[Smotzer]

I've read in multiple places that the female usually dies after laying a sac due to starvation and dehydration,

This is not actually a documented biological problem, sources leave that out, it’s more so to do with the intense pressures on a developing gravid/gravid female being collected at this time and their overall sensitivity to disturbances during the process and then long journey to being sold in the pet trade and these factors lead to the process of significantly higher mortality rates when gravid.

 

[spideyspinneret78]

This is not actually a documented biological problem, sources leave that out, it’s more so to do with the intense pressures on a developing gravid/gravid female being collected at this time and their overall sensitivity to disturbances during the process and then long journey to being sold in the pet trade and these factors lead to the process of significantly higher mortality rates when gravid.

Interesting. I didn't know that but it makes sense.

 

[Smotzer]

Interesting. I didn't know that but it makes sense.

Yeah but either way, I haven’t heard of, or can currently recall, any literature or reports of Mastigoproctus double clutching, i do not believe it has ever been documented. So please keep me informed as this is extremely interesting.

I am about to start a round of pairings with my group once much more fattened up.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

This is not actually a documented biological problem, sources leave that out, it’s more so to do with the intense pressures on a developing gravid/gravid female being collected at this time and their overall sensitivity to disturbances during the process and then long journey to being sold in the pet trade and these factors lead to the process of significantly higher mortality rates when gravid.

I can say the same of wc Ts from pet shop. I got a cb last time instead .

Why Wc is Bad!!!

Wild caught tarantulas are often sold without labels saying they are. besides eradicating the wild stocks/populations of tarantulas they also can have bad health problems. for me I’ve been sold one t albo from pet stores that had underlying health issues and didn’t end well :sad: it lasted for...

arachnoboards.com

 

[spideyspinneret78]

Update: she's in the process of creating another egg sac right now. No idea if they'll be fertile or not.....we'll see!

Let's just say I saw the signs that this was happening but I'm still surprised. She hasn't molted since I've had her. I don't know how long the retained sperm remains viable int his species. I'm very curious about what will happen!

 

[spideyspinneret78]

UPDATE: I can see her through a window into her burrow. I've been checking on her occasionally with a dim, red flashlight at night. It appears to me that the eggs are indeed fertile. I can see embryos developing inside and the eggs themselves are gradually changing in appearance. She is still carrying the eggsac under her abdomen. This clutch appears larger than her last.