Infertile egg sac?

[Enn49]

One of my little Kochiana brunnipes, Pixie, hasn't been seen for a week or so, so tonight I had a look underneath the container and couldn't believe my eyes. She's hollowed out a big cave right on the bottom and she's down there guarding an egg sac. I know it's infertile but as I've never had any experience of this, what do I do, leave it with her for a while or remove it now? At least I know now that she is a female.

 

[Redacted]

One of my little Kochiana brunnipes, Pixie, hasn't been seen for a week or so, so tonight I had a look underneath the container and couldn't believe my eyes. She's hollowed out a big cave right on the bottom and she's down there guarding an egg sac. I know it's infertile but as I've never had any experience of this, what do I do, leave it with her for a while or remove it now? At least I know now that she is a female.

If you're certain that she's had no contact with a male prior to your getting her or if she molted before having dropped the sac with no male in between, I'd pull it and cheer her up with a dubia.

 

[Enn49]

If you're certain that she's had no contact with a male prior to your getting her or if she molted before having dropped the sac with no male in between, I'd pull it and cheer her up with a dubia.

I'm certain she's not been with a male as I've had her since she was 1st/2nd instar. It looks huge compared to her and I'm going to have to dig down to retrieve it. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Thistles]

Hey, she worked hard on that! I'd leave it, personally. She might eat it, so it won't be wasted. It won't hurt anything. If it starts to mold she'll toss it out.

 

[Kymura]

I agree with Thistles, she worked hard at that. Let her enjoy it for a while.

 

[Fuzzball79]

Happened with my A. Versicolor: She'd been hiding for ages (I thought she'd been molting), then emerged, changed her web around and a few days later left this next to her water dish:

I nearly had a heart attack lol. But she'd not been with a male since I got her as a grown on sling, so the conclusion was, Phantom egg sac. As you say, at least you know now she's 100% female. On reading up, it said that the spider obviously feels safe and comfortable enough to reproduce, so I take it as a good sign.
Mine has since molted, too, and she is now nearly 6 inches.

 

[Enn49]

@Thistles, @Kymura and @Fuzzball79 Ok, I'll leave it with her until she's ready to throw it out.
I couldn't believe my eyes but at least I also know now that she's a happy T

 

[Enn49]

Today Pixie has dumped her egg sac on the surface so I'm guessing she's realised it was a waste of time. I do feel sorry for her after all her work.