Caught a moult happening today, it's not unusual for Hyllus to just moult like this hanging off a thread of silk! This is a male Hyllus diardi moulting to maturity.
A long video but worth it for the toe stretches 4 mins in 🥰
My South African Portia schultzi male matured a few days ago and is quite possibly the most stunning jumper I've ever had! Just look at those palps 😍 I'm surprised at his size too, much bigger than the SE Asian Portia fimbriata I bred a few years ago.
I have a mature female too so will hopefully pair them soon, although I'm already very nervous at the thought!
Portia schultzi, mature male.
Outta here 😂
Hyllus diardi sling 😍
Quick wash by one of my mature females. 🕷️🚿
Hyllus giganteus. ❤️
You shouldn't have favourites but.......male Hyllus walckenaeri are just such charmers 😍
Sub-adult so will be a decent size once mature!
Morning wash, stretch and a scratch, and obviously too early for breakfast 😄
Hyllus giganteus, mature male.
I've successfully bred and raised several species communally, but Hyllus walckenaeri have been the best so far!
A couple of months ago I moved 50 fourth instar slings to a larger communal 'nursery' enclosure. 39 were shipped off recently and I've just been counting the remaining ones as they come out of their latest moult...... definitely have 10 left so looks like only one spider lost during that period!
This is the next batch growing up fat and happy in their nursery. 😊 Plenty of space, food and nesting places is key for rearing like this, but it sure makes it easier than feeding lots of individual pots.
Hyllus have much smaller clutches than say Phidippus regius, so 50 is a decent amount of slings. P. regius are a bit more prone to cannibalism as they age so need seperating out earlier into smaller batches, but I've had 150 P. regius get to 10 weeks in the same type of setup.
This is only for raising slings straight from the sac, do not try to introduce older jumpers or keep them together unless for mating purposes - this would most likely not end well!
The latest batch emerging and exploring the big wide world for the first time 😍
Hyllus walckenaeri.