Missing spinneret

[Zeph]

I recently received an adult female G. concepcion from my favorite online store. She seems healthy, lively, and is absolutely gorgeous! I did notice, however, that she is missing a spinneret. I assume there's a possibility that it could regenerate, but I'm still a little concerned. I know these aren't big webbers, but what if she tries to spin an egg sack one day? Should I be concerned?

I haven't told the vendor because they have always been excellent and this is a beautiful specimen. I think this "flaw" would be easy to overlook even by the most careful tarantula breeders.

I'll post a pic if I can!

 

[Bugmom]

She'll regenerate the spinneret next time she molts. She shouldn't be making an egg sac at all unless you pair her, or she's already gravid, or she's one of the few spiders that lay a phantom sac in which case it wouldn't matter how well she spun it. Do you have any reason to suspect she's gravid, or any plans to pair her prior to her next molt?

 

[Hobo]

She'll regenerate the spinneret next time she molts.

There is a possibility that it won't.
It could be that it has always been missing a spinneret since birth, and so will not regenerate at all.

I suspect this is the case with one of mine, as she is missing a spinneret and has molted more than once in my care with no regeneration at all. Can't grow back something that wasn't there to begin with!

 

[roaddog]

There is a possibility that it won't.
It could be that it has always been missing a spinneret since birth, and so will not regenerate at all.

I suspect this is the case with one of mine, as she is missing a spinneret and has molted more than once in my care with no regeneration at all. Can't grow back something that wasn't there to begin with!

I have to agree with Hobo. I have a giant T. stirmi missing half of one of her spinnerets when I got her. She has molted 3 times since I have had her. It is still has not grown any longer and she is pushing 11+ inches! The good news is that stub has not made a difference making webs and or egg sacs.

It will just take longer for your female to spin webbing and or sacs with one spinneret.

 

[Shrike]

There is a possibility that it won't.
It could be that it has always been missing a spinneret since birth, and so will not regenerate at all.

I suspect this is the case with one of mine, as she is missing a spinneret and has molted more than once in my care with no regeneration at all. Can't grow back something that wasn't there to begin with!

Out of curiosity, what species, and did it noticeably affect the tarantula's silk production? I know that seems like a dumb question but I'm just wondering if it produced less, took twice as long to produce the same amount...you get the picture.

 

[Bugmom]

There is a possibility that it won't.
It could be that it has always been missing a spinneret since birth, and so will not regenerate at all.

I suspect this is the case with one of mine, as she is missing a spinneret and has molted more than once in my care with no regeneration at all. Can't grow back something that wasn't there to begin with!

True. That's in the case of a birth defect though, not a bad molt. I don't think Zeph will really know until she molts, unless he can look and see if it looks like there's even suppose to be one there at all. I'd be interested in seeing a picture. Does it look like a spinneret broke off, or is it just smooth like one never formed there to begin with?

 

[MrCrackerpants]

I have to agree with Hobo. I have a giant T. stirmi missing half of one of her spinnerets when I got her. She has molted 3 times since I have had her. It is still has not grown any longer and she is pushing 11+ inches! The good news is that stub has not made a difference making webs and or egg sacs.

It will just take longer for your female to spin webbing and or sacs with one spinneret.

I would love to see a picture of her. 11+ inches! Wow!

 

[Hobo]

Out of curiosity, what species, and did it noticeably affect the tarantula's silk production? I know that seems like a dumb question but I'm just wondering if it produced less, took twice as long to produce the same amount...you get the picture.

It's a X. immanis. while it seems to have no issue wrapping up prey and all that, I've noticed that there is almost no webbing in the enclosure, and that the webbing she does produce (wrapping prey, molting mats, etc) is very thin.