Jumping spider eggsac questions

[Tarangela]

I have a few questions to ask about a black jumping spider I aquired about a month or so, maybe a little longer, ago. P. salticidae I believe...anyway, I have been feeding her really good, she was getting fat, and eating anything I put in the little deli cup.

I was wondering when she would molt....I seen her last night, wrapped up in a little concoon type thing, and figured, well, finally, she will molt...all is well...this morning, I woke up to see her wrapped around a new eggsac, and abdomen greatly deflated...

What I want to know is...what is the chance of these eggs being fertile? Or was she just so large, she laid a dud eggsac, out of mommy instinct?

If it is fertile, how long will it take them to hatch, and do I try to take the sac from her?

Hope to get some ideas :)

Thanks!

[Salticstance]

It sounds like you have a P. audax. If somebody collected her as an adult, then there is a very good chance that they are fertile. If the eggs are fertile, you'll have spiderlings in a few weeks. You need to leave them with the mother till they are second instars. They'll leave the eggsac when they're ready. Jumpers will lay their eggs whether or not they are fertile.

[insekta]

Aw, P. audax was probably my most fascinating spider. I had her live with me for quite a long time, maybe a year. She seemed very content living in the terrarium I had set up, till she fell in the water and couldn't get out. :( She never laid an egg sac, though, so maybe she was a he...

[Tarangela]

It sounds like you have a P. audax. If somebody collected her as an adult, then there is a very good chance that they are fertile. If the eggs are fertile, you'll have spiderlings in a few weeks. You need to leave them with the mother till they are second instars. They'll leave the eggsac when they're ready. Jumpers will lay their eggs whether or not they are fertile.

Thanks so much for your reply!

I noticed she has NOT let go of that eggsac since she laid it. Can I feed her right now? I would think she would be hungry?

Not sure what to do w/ all of those spiderlings! Let's hope she fertile, and I get to have babies :)

[jynxxxedangel]

If you go catch a fly and toss it in there, I'd almost guarantee she'll come out of the cocoon to snag it.

She'll most likely drag it back in her little tent to eat.

My baby girl just laid more eggs, too! {D {D I'm over the frickin' MOON!!

[Tarangela]

If you go catch a fly and toss it in there, I'd almost guarantee she'll come out of the cocoon to snag it.

She'll most likely drag it back in her little tent to eat.

My baby girl just laid more eggs, too! {D {D I'm over the frickin' MOON!!

I agree! I think I will throw her a cricket in tonight!

I know she has to be hungry!

Love your sig' by the way!