Phases
Arachnoknight
- Joined
- Jun 1, 2017
- Messages
- 205
Hey all. Been a minute.
So, I have a Subfusca communal/group that have been living together a couple years now. The 3 females are large, at least six inches, at this point. They do vary in size. They share the same hide usually, but they spread out sometimes as well.
The 3 males matured a year ago this month. One disappeared about a month ago. I guess - As they do hide easily and sometimes it was a challenge to find all six but, I'm 99% sure he is gone. I hope he mated first! One died naturally couple days ago.
So, I have 1 MM left. He shares the hide with the females too, and also wanders and has his own spot(s).
Now - had the ban not hit last year this would be no question for me. I would just continue on as is, but with it in place I'm very nervous at this point. I do not want my only MM to be killed or eaten prior to a successful mating, because due to the ban, I do want to get at least one sac out of them if I can. That said, I hate to break them up after so much success, and with him in there, there is constant chance of mating.
My main question - do you think when tarantulas grow up together as these have, they are less likely to mate? Sibling thing? Would I have better odds if I moved him out, or even ... sigh.. separated them all.. then had monitored mating session per normal? Or, would you think leaving him in with the three girls as he has been a while now would have just as well chances as yielding sac(s)?
I hate to separate - this has been one of my most proud projects and has been so successful and almost a work of art (when the tank is clean LOL!) to come in and see three, four, five, six tarantulas all out together. Beautiful tarantulas. But, in the interest of helping ensure survival of ALL due to this ban, I may just have to.
btw lots of pics/vids on insta and youtube.
Last MM: https://www.instagram.com/p/B1WrgmXhjBt/
Beautiful molting: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz5z7kQB_UT/
MM and F: https://www.instagram.com/p/BzItJFThqs1/
F walked out during cleaning: https://www.instagram.com/p/BxTdo_qHWde/
All 6 few months back: https://www.instagram.com/p/BvM9PWJHDUr/
Anyway. Thoughts on mating?
So, I have a Subfusca communal/group that have been living together a couple years now. The 3 females are large, at least six inches, at this point. They do vary in size. They share the same hide usually, but they spread out sometimes as well.
The 3 males matured a year ago this month. One disappeared about a month ago. I guess - As they do hide easily and sometimes it was a challenge to find all six but, I'm 99% sure he is gone. I hope he mated first! One died naturally couple days ago.
So, I have 1 MM left. He shares the hide with the females too, and also wanders and has his own spot(s).
Now - had the ban not hit last year this would be no question for me. I would just continue on as is, but with it in place I'm very nervous at this point. I do not want my only MM to be killed or eaten prior to a successful mating, because due to the ban, I do want to get at least one sac out of them if I can. That said, I hate to break them up after so much success, and with him in there, there is constant chance of mating.
My main question - do you think when tarantulas grow up together as these have, they are less likely to mate? Sibling thing? Would I have better odds if I moved him out, or even ... sigh.. separated them all.. then had monitored mating session per normal? Or, would you think leaving him in with the three girls as he has been a while now would have just as well chances as yielding sac(s)?
I hate to separate - this has been one of my most proud projects and has been so successful and almost a work of art (when the tank is clean LOL!) to come in and see three, four, five, six tarantulas all out together. Beautiful tarantulas. But, in the interest of helping ensure survival of ALL due to this ban, I may just have to.
btw lots of pics/vids on insta and youtube.
Last MM: https://www.instagram.com/p/B1WrgmXhjBt/
Beautiful molting: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz5z7kQB_UT/
MM and F: https://www.instagram.com/p/BzItJFThqs1/
F walked out during cleaning: https://www.instagram.com/p/BxTdo_qHWde/
All 6 few months back: https://www.instagram.com/p/BvM9PWJHDUr/
Anyway. Thoughts on mating?