Established 2026
Southern Black Widow Project Archive
Hourglass Exotics documents the establishment, husbandry, feeding, growth, and long-term development of a captive Southern Black Widow (Latrodectus mactans) colony founded in Oklahoma during 2026.
This archive preserves project records, photographs, observations, and milestone documentation as the colony develops from founder female through future generations.
Project Snapshot
- Founder Female
- Present
- Egg Sacs Produced
- 1
- Egg Sacs Hatched
- 1
- Current Active Cohort
- 197
- Project Age
- Days
- Cohort Age
- Days
- Most Recent Verification
Current Project Focus
Feeding and maintenance are complete, with 197 verified active Southern Black Widow slings. Molting activity continues, and increasing developmental variation is becoming more apparent across individuals. Ongoing growth monitoring and future sex-identification observations will document cohort development. Continued feeding and husbandry refinement, including a 48-hour prey-removal checkpoint, supports enclosure management. The slings remain individually housed in deli-cup enclosures.
Explore the About page for project context, the Timeline for milestones, and the Gallery for visual documentation.