Black widow question

[Dragoon]

Hello
This is mainly for RMBolton, since my widow was one he raised...

When I got my widow this summer, it molted the day I unpacked it. Since then, it has had plenty of food, occasional misting, and plenty of room. I have moved it once to clean the tank out. She has constructed new webs already.
So why hasn't she molted again???
Is this as big as she's going to get? Am I doing something wrong? What about you other people who bought ones from the same sac? Have yours molted, and how many times?
I'm going to get a pic of the girl, hang on...
D.

[Removed_2815]

That will be as big as she's gonna get I'd take a picture of her sister on my hand for reference, but, you know... They're not huge spiders so not to worry, I'm sure your husbandry is fine and she's just all done growin'. I still have one of her siblings here and I don't think she has molted since I sent you her sister, so she was done growing a long time ago too (she's only about 3/4" not including legs, her mother was bigger but she was always full of eggs).
Your spider had molted probably close to 4-6 times before I sent her to you (I figured she only had one left), she started out as a spider no bigger than a millimeter. Since she hasn't been mated I'd just continue offering her a cricket every couple of weeks and she'll live out the rest of her life quite happily...
Cheers,
Ryan

[Dragoon]

Thanks much for the reply!
Ok, I can stop fretting over it now. I am happy with her size, she is not too small. She's a good pet.
Here she is in her home:
D.
<IMG SRC="http://varanid.mvd2.com/Files/Dragoon/widow.jpg">

[Removed_2815]

That's definitely a big Black Widow! Good job on her!
Ryan

[bistrobob85]

HHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Dragoon, i just love your '' She's a good pet ''!!!

[Dragoon]

Well....she is....
She's always on display, and easily managed. Since she is not skittish, I can feed her from tweezers, wipe the inside glass, and catch her in a cup when I want to take her out. If I want to entertain visitors, all I have to do is mist her web, and she runs forward to see what's up with the vibration. These are a lot of good points that some of my other spiders lack.
My most frustrating spider is my baby Orphnaceous. I wait weeks to catch a glimpse of that thing...

But I have another question...
Why isn't my widow black? She's dark brown.
D.

[Removed_2815]

Originally posted by Dragoon

Why isn't my widow black? She's dark brown.

She's a Western Black Widow (Latrodectus hesperus) and these Widows range from brown to black. Most people see black when they look at a Black Widow as they usually have no interest in getting a closer look. It's not until you own one that you see that most are not actually black. Her sibling looks black but when I shine a strong light on her I can see that she is actually a very dark brown. I find they look more brown after a feeding and their abdomen is more swollen. There's a lot of variation with L. hesperus and some don't even have the red hour-glass, making identification difficult for most people.
Ryan

[Removed_2815]

Originally posted by Dragoon

Why isn't my widow black? She's dark brown.

Here's a pic that I just took of her sibling, very brown in colouration (she just ate last night):

Cheers,
Ryan

[Dragoon]

Thanks, Ryan!
Yes, that looks like mine.

I just read somewhere that you were at the last expo. I regret not meeting you! Which table was yours? I will look for you the next time I go to one. Are you at them all?

Now off to change the labels on my widow's tank. I had her tag reading L. mactans. Ooooppsss.
D.

[Removed_2815]

Yep, I was at the last expo selling Endangered Reptiles of Canada calendars at the Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre table right by the door (to your left when you walk in). I might be there in the future as well representing KTTC, we'll see...

I had originally surmised that my original Widow was mactans but since she came in on a shipment of grapes it seemed more likely that she was from out West in the USA. I found some entomological papers about subspecies identification and based on the red hourglass morphology, geographical information, overall colouration, etc, I have no doubt that they are Latrodectus hesperus.
Cheers,
Ryan

[Tarcan]

Hey guys, since you like black widows a lot, here are a few pictures of some of mine!

[Tarcan]

And here is a last one, I like that one a lot!

[Arthropimp]

hey guys i just noticed your discussion on widows and thought i'd get some advice from you guys. i've been collecting for a little while now i have 2 grammastola rosea, a lasiodora parahybana, a cyclosternum fasciatum, an aphonopelma seemanni, and an usumbara orange babboon. i have been seroiusly contemplating getting a widow but have been unsure that i have the experience that is needed to give one of the little beauties a good home. any tips on things i should research into and do before acquiring one would be awesome thanks in advance

[snakers55]

What does a black widow sell for in canada?? I have one that was found at a grocery store near me..

[JD@reptiles]

i have seen people trying to sell them for 70-80 bucks. but they are only worth 15-20 at the very most.