Molt Sequence, Sable010

 These are a few pictures from the July 23, 2012 molt of Sable010. I found her on her back at 0107 hours and began watching and taking pictures through the night. She was finally free from the exuvium at 0927 hours, taking a total 8.5 hours+ to complete the process. I missed the initial flip and the final return flip.
She moved off her molt mat for the first time just this evening; nearly a month after her molt.

Sable on her back

She is a big girl

Finally free

Resting after a long night

Stretching, and showing off her massive fangs

Not the greatest pics, but here she is the next morning.

Growing and Pairing

I have been able to determine gender on a few of the spiderlings, and will continue as each one molts. Most are 5th instar now with a few going into 6th instar; they are about 2" leg span now. As I get more gender I.D.s and the temps cool for safer shipping, I will offer some of the spiderlings for sale, soon. Keep watch on my blog.

Minx, peeking out after her recent molt.

Sable and Minx are now becoming more active, after their recent molt. I will be looking to pair them both again, in the hope that they will produce sacs.

Sable's canyon fortress.

Ebony has been actively modifying her trench fortress, I am hoping this activity is a sign she is preparing for a sac.

Sable010

Well, no sac from Sable. She has decided it is time to molt. After about three weeks I will pair her again. My thought is, if she is carrying eggs, I can pair her again and she will still be able to lay a viable sac. If not, then I will begin working on next years sacs. I will have 5 mature females come this fall; one is under right now, and the other is very brown, and should be ready to go under soon.

Sable010

Fat as ever, but no sac, yet. This girl is definitely teaching me patience.

Sable(010) is still just sitting on her silk mat, taunting me. IS she going to molt, or make an egg sac? She is driving me nuts. I check on her a dozen times a day, hoping to catch her in the act of laying, and hopefully get it on video.
Tic toc  tic toc tic toc........

Sable(010) MF preparing to lay???

Sable has been working on a large thick silk mat. She is not premolt, so I am optimistic that she may be preparing to make a sac.

Hello everyone,
Thank you for your interest and comments on my blog. I know I don't post nearly as often I should, but life often inhibits my pursuits.
I have had quite a few requests for G pulchra spiderlings and juveniles. I do currently have 17 spiderlings that are about 1" leg span right now (Captive bred by Alfredo Inocencio, hatched 14Aug11). I may consider selling some of them after I am able to determine gender on each of them, which may take another molt or two.
I am still waiting on my three females to decide conditions are right for producing an egg sac. Sable(010) is looking particularly plump. I expect she will be the first to produce a sac. If I do get a successful sac soon, I will have spiderlings available after they reach 2nd insatr, hopefully before winter sets in.

Sable(010)

 Sable(010) looking very plump

Egg Sac(s), still waiting

Sable(010) has created a depression about 5cm deep and spends a lot of time sitting in it. I am hoping she preparing the depression to lay a sac. She is still eating, and active, but looking huge. Sable(008) has begun to get quite large but has not shown any signs of preparing for a sac.
I am anxiously waiting to see if I made conditions to their liking.

Sable010 and Ebony008

Still waiting on the girls to decide conditions are good enough to produce egg sacs.

MF G pulchra

Sable, is looking very gravid. If I can keep conditions right she may reward me with an egg sac soon.

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