Spiderlings are getting big! *neat pics*

[Removed_2815]

Hello all,
Okay, I was able to finally get some good pics of the spiderlings! They have been feeding on each other and growing and now they are a suitable size to focus my camera on. So here are some pics:
http://home.cogeco.ca/~rbolton1/Folder/Spiderling%201.JPG
http://home.cogeco.ca/~rbolton1/Folder/Spiderling%202.JPG
http://home.cogeco.ca/~rbolton1/Folder/Spiderling%203.JPG
http://home.cogeco.ca/~rbolton1/Folder/Spiderling%204.JPG
So, there you have it. I am down to 10 spiderlings (I let the stronger ones feed on the weaker ones) and I have separated them into small aerated plastic vials. They are all doing fantastic and should be ready for sale in a month or so.
My associate will be taking care of the sales and I will post his e-mail address in the ads section when the spiders are available (they'll likely be around $20-25).
Thanks for looking,
Ryan

Edit: I have included some more pics at the end of this post...>>>

[SaIiLdVaEnR]

Very interesting, may I ask what species this is? If you come to the Reptile Expo I may be one to take one off your hands!

Aidan

[Removed_2815]

They are Western Black Widows (Latrodectus hesperus).
Cheers,
Ryan

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This is an adult:
http://home.cogeco.ca/~rbolton1/Folder/Upside%20down.JPG
http://home.cogeco.ca/~rbolton1/Folder/Upside%20down%202.JPG
R

[SaIiLdVaEnR]

Ah, I didn't realize that the juveniles hadthat much colour differentiation from their parents! Very beautiful. I think I want one!

Aidan

[Emily-Fisher]

I KNOW I want one! Aww they are SO cute!
The patterns on the slings' abdomens are really beautiful... I thought that the slings would just be dull, clear-ish, brown-ish things with legs but you proved me wrong! Would you be able to hold one back for me? I'll be going to the April expo..

[crazykeeper]

Awesome Widows Ryan,way to go!

[SaIiLdVaEnR]

Yeah I'll be there at the april expo as well.

Aidan

[boydsnakes]

The look great Ryan,you will wish you had more..

[Dragoon]

Please reserve one for me, too!!

And I must say, that body shot of an adult widow is the best pic I have seen yet of them.
They DO have heads!!
LOL
D.

[Removed_2815]

Originally posted by Dragoon
Please reserve one for me, too!!
Sure thing....

Originally posted by Dragoon
And I must say, that body shot of an adult widow is the best pic I have seen yet of them.
They DO have heads!!

Here are some better shots (that other pic is through plastic):
http://home.cogeco.ca/~rbolton1/Folder/Wgood1.JPG
http://home.cogeco.ca/~rbolton1/Folder/Wgood3.JPG
http://home.cogeco.ca/~rbolton1/Folder/Closeup%20head.JPG

And some more spiderlings:
http://home.cogeco.ca/~rbolton1/Folder/Spiderling%205.JPG
http://home.cogeco.ca/~rbolton1/Folder/Spiderling%206.JPG
http://home.cogeco.ca/~rbolton1/Folder/Spiderling%207.JPG

The nursery:
http://home.cogeco.ca/~rbolton1/Folder/Nursery.JPG

Enjoy!
Cheers,
Ryan

[Dragoon]

How very nice!!
Thank you!

But more curiosity here...
Why a QTip and no substrate? As slings, don't they require some humidity?
With such tiny fangs, what is the recommended prey item size? surely the T method of a meal the size of the butt is wrong in their case? I can't see how they could hang on to the food...
And what kind of retreat do they require? if any...

Thanks a million
D.

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I believe the more spartan the container the better. It's too easy to lose these little guys with too much cage furniture (substrate, etc).
I think standard room humidity is ample for these guys, I never mist the adults ever and they seem to thrive and reproduce. All of the moisture they require is in their prey.
The QTips are in there because I found they made it extremely easy to separate and manipulate the spiderlings. When I was transferring from the communal container I would just touch one with the QTip and they would easily hang on, I'd put the spider and the QTip in the little container and snap the lid, easy. I left the QTips in there just to provide a few anchor points to make their web.
They are all feeding, growing and moulting so I think they're doing okay. I feed them small crickets (not even pinheads) that are like 5 times their size (still a very small cricket, 1/4" perhaps). I kill the crickets first by putting them in the freezer, I then thaw them out and gently placing them on the little webs. The spiderlings will extract as much nutrients from the cricket as possible in the next 24 hours, then I remove the cricket.
Seems to be going well, this is my first time so I guess we'll see. These spiders are amazing colonizers of arid habitats so I don't think humidity is a major concern.
Cheers,
Ryan

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Oh yeah, they don't require any retreat. My adults are in little kritter-keepers with a few sterilized twigs and maple leaves, plenty of places to hide but I have never seen them anywhere but directly out in the open hanging upside down - great display animals.
Ryan

[urd]

they are wicked :) The spiderlings colouring is cool.

I know its off subject, but RMBolten, do you have any more pics of the blue tailed skink ( i think thats what it is anyway) in your avatar?

Nick

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Originally posted by urd
I know its off subject, but RMBolten, do you have any more pics of the blue tailed skink ( i think thats what it is anyway) in your avatar?

Hi Nick,
That lizard in my avatar is called a 5-lined Skink (Eumeces faciatus). Only the juveniles have the blue tails. Here are a few more pics of E. fasciatus:
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/28155-lined_skink.jpg
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/1295skink.jpg
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/2984first_skink.jpg
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/1295little_skink.jpg
Enjoy!
Cheers,
Ryan

[marisa]

NICE photos!

I would have to agree with your description of the humidity. At my house in California black widows thrive under my dads deck. The temps under there have reached 110F and its a DRY climate. No humidity unless its raining really. :)

Marisa

[TheRedDragon]

Wow! Those Widows are beautiful! If it wasn't for Invictus' allergies, I'd take a few! :)

[crazykeeper]

How big do those widows get,aprox,,Like 1/2 inch or so?and is there any type of AV for widows?:eek:

[Removed_2815]

Originally posted by crazykeeper
How big do those widows get,aprox,,Like 1/2 inch or so?and is there any type of AV for widows?:eek:
My female is about 1.5" (including legs).
Bites from Widows are always in defense, mainly occuring after having been crushed. It is VERY easy not to get bitten by a Widow, however, if for some reason a person manages to get envenomated, there is usually no serious risk to the person's health. The venom is a neurotoxin and cramping (spasm) of the abdominal muscles may occur. Bites are rarely fatal and only the young, sick, and/or old are at serious risk (aside from life-threatening allergic reactions).
There is an antivenin but it is rarely used in healthy adults. Muscle relaxants can be taken to ease the pain, but most people just sweat it out.
Ryan

[BoidKeeper]

Until this very moment I could never understand why when I tell people I keep snakes that they always say that the only good snake is a dead snake. When I look at these spiders I know how they feel. And like them I just can't relate to you spider lovers.
Cheers,
Trevor

[Emily-Fisher]

Trevor: Yeah well you're just a weirdo :)

I spoke to my parents about getting a widow... ugh.. I'm not sure if I'd be allowed but I'm still working on it. You see, we have this tiny 4lb chihuahua and mom doesn't want to see her lying on her back on the floor with her legs up ;) But I told her that the chances of Ilumai(our dog) getting bitten are super slim since the widow wont be able to escape. Ughhhh...

Anyway, I'll email her some websites about widows and hopefully she'll change her mind :) (She probably will, considering how much of a spoiled brat I am. teehee!)

Is there any info that I can give her that may help me change her mind? Thanks..

[Removed_2815]

Well, of course, mother knows best.....;)
There really aren't any websites that advocate the keeping of black widow spiders. It would be irresponsible to promote them as a "pet." So, in this sense, any and all websites you can find should be shown to your mother so that she can make an informed decision. There are some better sites out there but I don't have any of them bookmarked, you could find them just by doing a google search for "Black Widow."

This information is from the University of California UofC (http://cecalaveras.ucdavis.edu/bwidow.htm):
"Only the bite of the female, usually the adult female, is potentially dangerous. Although extremely painful and temporarily debilitating, fatalities from untreated widow bites are uncommon. During the period between 1926 to 1943, mortality ranged from 4 percent to 5 percent, but current medical treatments have reduced this to a much smaller incidence. Death usually results from respiratory paralysis. The very old, very young, and those with a history of high blood pressure (hypertensive) are at greatest risk. Prompt medical treatment can greatly reduce the danger from widow bites and has reduced fatalities to extremely low rates in recent years."

"Because of the possible severity of black widow bites, immediate medical attention is important. Physicians can intravenously inject calcium gluconate to counteract most effects of the toxin. The injection helps bolster levels of calcium salts that are depressed by the effects of the bite. A black widow antiserum also is available, although effects usually are less dramatic than the calcium gluconate treatment. First aid prior to the physician visit involves treating the bite site with antiseptics to prevent infections and trying to keep the patient quiet and warm. Because the toxin moves quickly in the body, attempting to suck out the poison is ineffective."

[SaIiLdVaEnR]

Hey Ryan, do you still have one for sale and will you be attending the expo?

Aidan

[Removed_2815]

Originally posted by SaIiLdVaEnR
Hey Ryan, do you still have one for sale and will you be attending the expo?

Aidan
Hey Aidan,
Yep, I still have all of them. I have you on the list but I will not be attending on Sunday, I have some work here in Kingston to finish up. They are not ready to go yet anyway, they still seem too small right now. Granted they are about 15x bigger than when they emerged, but I would like them to be a little bigger before I sell them. I will contact all interested parties in due time.... no worries.....
Cheers,
Ryan