Inverted female questions

[chapskis1]

I have been pairing my normal female with my male spider since March 1. They had successful locks three times in March. Then the beginning of April I could have sworn I saw an ovulation...but who knows, probably not. A few days later, she went blue, and then shed about 10-14 days later.

I have paired them once a week for the last three weeks. I am quite certain there has not been a lock, although it appears that the female scents within a half an hour of the introduction.

Now today, I noticed that she is inverted a little bit.



I know that being inverted is good, but what is the breeding timeline looking like? Has she ovulated or not? Am I gonna see eggs soon, or is it a ways off? Do I keep pairing -- it doesn't seem like either of them are very interested...

Thanks!

Oh...BTW -- she is still pounding a rat once a week. She has never missed a meal in the year that I have had her -- I wouldn't be surprised if she would eat in the middle of laying eggs

[Action Reptiles]

Well up till you stated she was still eating I was going to say you should be seeing eggs soon... from the looks of her I would say her last shed was a prelay shed and I would expect eggs around 30 days from the time of shed.. but I have never had a female eat after ovulation.. I would be ready for eggs soon but might take longer only she knows for sure..

Great looking girl BTW ..

[snakesRkewl]

I'm with Pat, up till you said she was eating still it sounded like and looks like she's gravid, and she still could be, but I have yet to have a female eat after ovulation and I don't offer either.
I'd be prepared for eggs very soon either way

[chapskis1]

I am ready for eggs...I had an incubator built and ready after the first lock

Has anyone ever had a female eat after ovulation? She is an eating machine...my males are pathetic compared to her. She is the one that will strike at the front of her tub if you walk to close to the rack!!

So...do I still keep pairing the two?? Or is it past that, and just time to wait impatiantly?

Thanks for the help!!

[aalomon]

If you are not 110% sure she ovulated, I would keep pairing. If she hasnt ovulated, you dont want to miss your chance and end up with slugs (I made this mistake with my BRBs last year). On the other hand, if she has already ovulated, continuing to pair her wont do anything, but it wont hurt her either.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Can females still eat after ovy? Yes, its rare but possible and it happens, though if your female has ovulated I would refrain from offering food simply to avoid any unnecessary stress.

Females often lay like this when gravid just so they get comfortable however this alone does not mean your female is gravid.

If your female "ovulated" in early April you should be able to see the eggs right now.

Pick her up holding her head down and tail up and than invert the position so she is head up and tail down, if she is gravid you will see the eggs moving very clearly

[chapskis1]

Thanks for the tips! I will refrain from feeding her for the next few weeks just in case she is gravid. If I don't see eggs in three weeks, then back to feeding. I will also try the holding and inverting trick.

BTW -- how is feeding a gravid female stressful?

Thanks!