Need help on what to do about jumping spider and babies

[wmx77]

Okay, so - I joined this forum hoping that someone here could give me advice on my current predicament. We have a jumping spider that has been living in the corner above our lamp for a couple months, I believe it is a Platycryptus undatus. Anyways, we allowed it to stay cause well, it's neat and eats stray insects, etc. (plus, we had a smaller one before in the SAME spot and let it be for awhile then took it outside, and we have speculations that this is the same one grown up that came back in..he's been our spider buddy okay) Don't judge me! lol

It built a nest at one point in the corner and started going in there when it got colder, and I even caught moths on the porch for it a few times (that's possibly weird to many people I know, lol) So when it started to get really cold recently and no more moths I started to worry about how it would survive, but now we have bigger problems because he is a SHE and there are a few tiny babies now venturing out of the web nest. I'm sure there are probably LOTS more than the four or five that I see...and I'm not really okay with them all staying there. Does anyone know how many eggs that kind of spider lays?

So Idk what to do...it is already getting freezing temps at night, but we have a few days coming up that will be in the 40s at night, is that enough for them to harden off if we put them out there? Where should I put them if so? And how on earth would I go about doing that anyways (getting the babies safely out of the corner and transported)?? What would happen (theoretically) if we left them? They can't even survive in here can they?

I feel kind of like an ass for letting it stay like we screwed up it's clock and now it's a death sentence Whether it's no food, or freezing.. Help! What should we do?? Any advice is greatly appreciated, we just started seeing babies tonight. TIA

 

[theDHill]

Ok, deep breath...

It says on Wikipedia clutch sizes can be up to 50 individuals.
Eggs are supposed to be laid and hatched over the summer.
During winter time they should each create their own web nest thing to winter over but can be found in pretty close proximity in one particular spot.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platycryptus_undatus

I actually have been keeping an individual, of what I think may be the same species, that came from a shipping box from the container store out of Texas for about a month or two, I have infrequently been feeding it fruit flies when I feed some of my other spiderlings.

If you really like the spiders, just leave them be for the time being and they will most likely disperse when it starts to warm up and they become larger and more active. If you are worried about a food source, try offering them some pinhead crickets or fruit-flies. In nature, with most spider species there will also be instances of cannibalism which will both feed the young and cut down on the total number of individuals as well (pretty grotesque but those are the facts).

I'd honestly love to have them but I know how small the individual is that I have currently and I know that trying to package and ship them may be more problematic for all parties involved (spiders and humans both).

Whatever you choose to do, Good luck!!!

 

[pannaking22]

Welcome to Arachnoboards! They've been doing this sort of thing for millions of years, I wouldn't worry too much about it. The young will find a place to hunker down for the winter and re-emerge in the spring, whether they're inside or outside.

 

[wmx77]

Thanks for your help. I think I'm going to try and make an exodus outside, since we have a couple of non-freezing nights. Hopefully she doesn't just come right back in and start all over lol! i wouldn't mind of the young dispersed into the attic or something, but above my entry table would be a little....just no. haha That's too many :/
I appreciate your replies