Managing Bloodlines for Healthy Genetics

[Tytyty]

Hello,

For the most part, more genetic diversity is always a good thing in captive populations. However, it seems that there are some animals which are more tolerant of low genetic diversity. For example, it seems that most millipedes, isopods, and roaches can create relatively healthy colonies from small initial populations. However, many animals are not tolerant to low genetic diversity, and populations can collapse within only a few generations. In this post, I am specifically concerned with P. regius. However, I am also broadly curious about centipedes and even geckos too.

How do people usually keep track of pedigrees and bloodlines? Is there a convenient program or format?

How many unrelated initial pairings are necessary for a healthy P. regius population? How distantly do two spiders need to be related to safely and responsibly pair them?

Thank you for any help!

 

[TheWidowsPeak]

I use the exotikeeper app to track egg sacs and molts. But my breeding females are labeled by their birth year/ species/ and a letter. So 23-L. mactans-A.

Then their sacs are labeled by the letter of the mom so if I got a sac from female A it would be labeled as sac mothers code A1, A2 etc.

Once the slings gets separated they are labeled 24-A-01, 24-A-02 etc. if I decide I'm keeping a few back as breeders I give them a new code like the mom but keep the records in exotikeeper of who the mother was.

The father's I do the same thing but really I just make sure I'm not breeding siblings or sons back to their moms. Sometimes I may put multiple males with a single female if I'm not positive she was bred. I try to use males from one lineage but sometimes i don't have that option.