Here she is. Finally got a decent picture of her and her eggs.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/66658066
Have been watching her for a few weeks now (got a direct view of her from the toilet, so that’s pretty much a given).
I know spiders, especially cellar spiders, don’t need food often, but I’m still frequently wondering if and what I could feed her. Want her and her offspring to be strong and healthy. All of her limbs are intact, so she hasn’t resorted to self-cannibalism yet, which is at least a good sign.
Got some dried mealworms for garden songbirds, which I could rehydrate for her, but I’m not sure if she’ll take non-moving food. Same goes for mammalian/avian/fish meat I got around, and I don’t even know if that’s good for spiders. Taratulas eat vertebrates, sure, but is it any good for other types of spiders?
The live feeder animals in pet stores all seem a bit to big. The smallest crickets and mealworms have a lot more mass than her. Don’t want her to get injured or otherwise disturbed.
Anyone got any suggestions? There is also the question of how to feed her. She’s pretty close to the ceiling and I’m not sure how I can safely offer food without disturbing her.
And here’s two more questions: How long do spiderlings usually need to hatch? And does anyone have name suggestions for her? She has been my flatmate for so long now, she needs a name.
BIG UPDADE!
Babies! https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/66840066