I've read some great info on this forum regarding maternally incubating a clutch. From what I've read it seems that feeding females who are maternally incubating is ok. Some will eat, some will not. This is my first clutch so I'm a bit paranoid about disturbing the natural process.

I bred a pastel male and a spider female. The mom spider is young (right around 3 years old) but she was fat and very healthy when she laid a clutch of 7 eggs. She is clearly hungry now however, I'm concerned about disturbing her by taking her out of the enclosure to feed her (frozen) in a separate large container (which I normally do.)

BIG NOTE: I also can't move her easily without disturbing her clutch because she is incubating in a nice cozy shelter inside the enclosure that she is filling up with her coils. I'm worried the eggs will roll/move if I move the shelter and take her out to feed her.

If I don't feed her it will have been about 3 1/2 months since this first-time mom will have eaten.

Questions:
  1. With my info above should I just thaw a small rat and leave it in the enclosure *outside* of the protective shelter she's in? Note: male is now in separate cage.
  2. Could she hurt an egg by striking at the thawed rat?
  3. Also, if she eats I'm assuming she'll get back on the egg clutch...?
  4. The temp is good (85-88F on clutch, 83F ambient) and the humidity is ok - should I not risk this and just let her be hungry until they hatch?


Much appreciated!