- Joined
- Aug 20, 2002
- Messages
- 394
Success!!!
I'm very happy to report the first captive production of P. tigrinawesseli in the U.S.!!
Pairing took place in Oct. of 2010.
Female produced an eggsac in Feb. 2011.
Pulled the eggsac after 41 days on March 22nd, 2011.
When opening the eggsac, I first saw the black eggs sprinkled throughout the sac. At postembryo stage,many of the nymphs had a black egg either stuck to it, or in it's chelicerae. It was obvious that the ones with black eggs in their chelicerae, had filled their abdomens with the eggs contents. I counted approx. 60 eggs, (including infertile). Once I had soften then for a few days with slightly damp paper towel in the incubator, I carefully removed anything infertile. After cleaning I ended up with 36 postembryo nymphs, and I could see a few of their legs darkening for an upcoming molt. They molted into 1st instar on March 26th, 2011. I lost 4 during this molt. I was amazed that on April 5th, their legs began to darken again, and on the 8th, they began to molt into 2nd instar. I didn't lose any during this molt. On April 17th, again their legs began to darken, at this time I separated them into 50 dram vials. Most have molted at this time (April 22nd) into 3rd instar. I'm extreamely impressed at the size of the spiderlings, with most at a solid inch in legspan. I'll start feeding shortly!
Swifty
http://www.swiftinverts.com/pix/P.tigrina-eggsac1.jpg
http://www.swiftinverts.com/pix/P.tigrina-eggsac2.jpg
http://www.swiftinverts.com/pix/P.tigrina-eggsac3.jpg
http://www.swiftinverts.com/pix/P.tigrina-eggsac4.jpg
http://www.swiftinverts.com/pix/P.tigrina-eggsac5.jpg
http://www.swiftinverts.com/pix/P.tigrina-eggsac6.jpg
I'm very happy to report the first captive production of P. tigrinawesseli in the U.S.!!
Pairing took place in Oct. of 2010.
Female produced an eggsac in Feb. 2011.
Pulled the eggsac after 41 days on March 22nd, 2011.
When opening the eggsac, I first saw the black eggs sprinkled throughout the sac. At postembryo stage,many of the nymphs had a black egg either stuck to it, or in it's chelicerae. It was obvious that the ones with black eggs in their chelicerae, had filled their abdomens with the eggs contents. I counted approx. 60 eggs, (including infertile). Once I had soften then for a few days with slightly damp paper towel in the incubator, I carefully removed anything infertile. After cleaning I ended up with 36 postembryo nymphs, and I could see a few of their legs darkening for an upcoming molt. They molted into 1st instar on March 26th, 2011. I lost 4 during this molt. I was amazed that on April 5th, their legs began to darken again, and on the 8th, they began to molt into 2nd instar. I didn't lose any during this molt. On April 17th, again their legs began to darken, at this time I separated them into 50 dram vials. Most have molted at this time (April 22nd) into 3rd instar. I'm extreamely impressed at the size of the spiderlings, with most at a solid inch in legspan. I'll start feeding shortly!
Swifty
http://www.swiftinverts.com/pix/P.tigrina-eggsac1.jpg
http://www.swiftinverts.com/pix/P.tigrina-eggsac2.jpg
http://www.swiftinverts.com/pix/P.tigrina-eggsac3.jpg
http://www.swiftinverts.com/pix/P.tigrina-eggsac4.jpg
http://www.swiftinverts.com/pix/P.tigrina-eggsac5.jpg
http://www.swiftinverts.com/pix/P.tigrina-eggsac6.jpg