Phidippus regius egg sac now x 3

[IamKrush]

Very cool

 

[Enn49]

102 of them rehoused into vials but still some more in the cocoon. They all behaved amazingly well, I had been having nightmares about them jumping all over the place but only one almost escaped me. That's the one that filled the gap in the bottom left box.

 

[Pasodama]

Awesome that you have rehoused most all of them. Glad it went relatively smooth.
That is a lot of babies.

 

[Enn49]

I spread a white sheet on the floor with a 9lt box in the middle, box of vials to hand. As most of the babies were on the lid that's where I began. Using a small piece of thin card I coaxed them one by one into the vials, most went quite happily. Those that wandered off the lid into the 9lt box were easy to catch using the vial as a catch cup and the card slid under, once I turned the vial upright most were happy to stay. I only had 1 escape from the 9lt box and that was easily spotted on the white sheet.

One thing I did notice was any that avoided the vial tended to drop on a web rather than run so they were easy to re-catch.

 

[kormath]

I spread a white sheet on the floor with a 9lt box in the middle, box of vials to hand. As most of the babies were on the lid that's where I began. Using a small piece of thin card I coaxed them one by one into the vials, most went quite happily. Those that wandered off the lid into the 9lt box were easy to catch using the vial as a catch cup and the card slid under, once I turned the vial upright most were happy to stay. I only had 1 escape from the 9lt box and that was easily spotted on the white sheet.

One thing I did notice was any that avoided the vial tended to drop on a web rather than run so they were easy to re-catch.

Jumper slings are easy to catch. The one's i've watched and couple my son and i caught didn't try and run, they'd spin circles looking for a way out, or drop with a web line to get away. I've never seen a jumper actually jump, other than the short hop to catch prey.

Congrats on slings!! i'd love to buy a few if i wasn't across the pond

 

[Enn49]

Jumper slings are easy to catch. The one's i've watched and couple my son and i caught didn't try and run, they'd spin circles looking for a way out, or drop with a web line to get away. I've never seen a jumper actually jump, other than the short hop to catch prey.

Congrats on slings!! i'd love to buy a few if i wasn't across the pond

It did surprise me how easy it was after all my worrying.

Thanks, I wish it was easier to get them over to you.

 

[Enn49]

Another 16 rehoused today and I think there are about 5-7 left in the cocoon

 

[Loafman]

Haha, had your work cut out there then.. awesome job though!

 

[Enn49]

I finally got the last few into vials today, there is the grand total of 121 and they've all been fed and watered, here's hoping they eat. I found that half a wooden lollipop stick just fits in the vials and gives them something to web to.
Most of the vials have no air holes in, this was just an odd old one I had to use.

 

[IamKrush]

I finally got the last few into vials today, there is the grand total of 121 and they've all been fed and watered, here's hoping they eat. I found that half a wooden lollipop stick just fits in the vials and gives them something to web to.
Most of the vials have no air holes in, this was just an odd old one I had to use.

View attachment 22526

Super tiny

 

[Enn49]

What did you use as a feed? I'm starting to flap lol

I used pinhead crickets.

 

[Pasodama]

What did you use as a feed? I'm starting to flap lol

Do you know anybody who breeds crickets? You could get newborns, from them, if so.
If not, there are places, here or there, that sell true pinheads.
Tiny roach nymphs can work too.

 

[Enn49]

Do you know anybody who breeds crickets? You could get newborns, from them, if so.
If not, there are places, here or there, that sell true pinheads.
Tiny roach nymphs can work too.

I buy mine online from http://www.reptiledirect.co.uk/products/micro-silent-crickets?variant=8075249987 and they really are tiny.

 

[Enn49]

Have they been eating them?

Some of them seem to have eaten but not all. The pinheads in most vials are now trapped in webs so harmless.

 

[Enn49]

Do you think springtails will work?

I'll be honest I don't know, I've never used them so I know little about them

 

[Enn49]

@Shampain Yours are younger than mine so as long as they have water they'll be fine for a while yet.

 

[Enn49]

@Shampain That's true. Mine have just had a quick squirt of water down the side of the vial.

 

[kormath]

springtails should be fine, or FFF if you can get them.

 

[Enn49]

I'm at 3 now, found one on the wall So there's a good chance there's been an escape of uncomfortable proportions, crap!

My few escapees were fairly easy to find, none went far and they all went upwards so with a bright torch they were quite easy to spot.

 

[Pasodama]

I'm at 3 now, found one on the wall So there's a good chance there's been an escape of uncomfortable proportions, crap!

So sorry for the losses but, if any are escapees, I hope you are able to find, if not all or most, at least some.