Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I caught it at school today and took it home, and I'm probably not going to keep it for very long. Anyway,
a) How do I sex it?
b) It built some web, hung widow-ishly, and caught a cricket in the small container I brought it home in, but since I put it in a slightly larger cage, it's just stayed in a ceiling corner, not building a web. The little canister had just smooth walls, and this new cage has perfect sticks for web-building... why won't it build a web again?
c) If it builds an egg case, can I just take that outside and not worry about tiny black widows?
e) What do I do if it gets out?

>>I caught it at school today and took it home, and I'm probably not going to keep it for very long. Anyway,
>>a) How do I sex it?

At this time of year, it's most likely a female. You tend to only find males out and about during the breeding season which is still a few weeks away. Round fat abdomen would be a female. Elongated skinny abdomen would be a male.

>>b) It built some web, hung widow-ishly, and caught a cricket in the small container I brought it home in, but since I put it in a slightly larger cage, it's just stayed in a ceiling corner, not building a web. The little canister had just smooth walls, and this new cage has perfect sticks for web-building... why won't it build a web again?

If it is an adult female, she is likely at the end of her life cycle. They lose vigor and stop doing a lot of things such as web building and eventually stop eating and die. You could try angling some of the sticks to reach up into that corner.. maybe easier access could help.

>>c) If it builds an egg case, can I just take that outside and not worry about tiny black widows?

egg sac still has a chance for hatching even if taken outside. I would recommend putting it in the freezer over night before throwing it out if you don't want any chance of babies showing up later.

>>e) What do I do if it gets out?

You should always make sure that the container it is housed in is escape proof in the first place. There should be no way for it to escape when it is not under your direct supervision (as in just happenstance to crawl out of an open cage that is being cleaned at that very moment). They are not very fast moving so having a jar or something to corral it is helpful.
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Wyvern

The Invert Collection:
* 0.0.1 Aphonopelma anax - Texas Tan
* 0.0.4 Avicularia geroldi - Brazilian Blue Pink-toe
* 0.1.0 Brachypelma auratum - Mexican Flameknee
* 1.2.0 Brachypelma emilia - Mexican Red-leg
* 0.1.1 Brachypelma smithi - Mexican Red-knee
* 0.0.1 Cyclosternum fasciatum - Costa Rican Tiger Rump
* 1.0.2 Grammostola pulchra - Brazilian Black

Thanks!

I suppose it is a female, then - but she's not at the end of her life cycle. She built an awesome web, moulted, and caught a cricket (doubly bigger!). The moult came off perfectly, with all eight legs intact.
Also, I'm not worried about egg cases or escaping anymore.

Two more questions: Is it okay to take her out and destroy the web to clean the cage every once in a while? It's hard for me to ruin all that work.
Should I dust her crickets?
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2.0 Melopsittacus undulatus
1.0 Sceloporus occidentalis
1.0 Python regius
0.1 Eublepharis macularius
0.1 Grammostola rosea
0.1 Pandinus imperator
0.1 Aphonopelma
0.1 Latrodectus hesperus

>>Two more questions: Is it okay to take her out and destroy the web to clean the cage every once in a while? It's hard for me to ruin all that work.

Don't clean the tank. You don't really need to clean it. Besides all it does is upset the spider and stress it out when you destroy all that work.

>>Should I dust her crickets?

there is no need to waste money on dusts. spiders don't need them.
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____

Wyvern

The Invert Collection:
* 0.0.1 Aphonopelma anax - Texas Tan
* 0.0.4 Avicularia geroldi - Brazilian Blue Pink-toe
* 0.1.0 Brachypelma auratum - Mexican Flameknee
* 1.2.0 Brachypelma emilia - Mexican Red-leg
* 0.1.1 Brachypelma smithi - Mexican Red-knee
* 0.0.1 Cyclosternum fasciatum - Costa Rican Tiger Rump
* 1.0.2 Grammostola pulchra - Brazilian Black

'preciate it. Also I read about their tube-shaped web, so I know it's normal. Thanks again..
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2.0 Melopsittacus undulatus
1.0 Sceloporus occidentalis
1.0 Python regius
0.1 Eublepharis macularius
0.1 Grammostola rosea
0.1 Pandinus imperator
0.1 Aphonopelma
0.1 Latrodectus hesperus