I got a new digital microscope and so I reviewed a molt of my Vitalius Chromatus (ex Nhandu Chromatus) that I previously thought was male. Can see spermatheca with the new microscope.
IME, this species is kind of late blooming - I thought mine was male up until it molted at 4"+ and I got a look at the underside post-molt. What I saw made me second guess myself, so I pulled the molt out and checked it, and sure enough there were some big spermathecae that I'd never seen in previous molts! That's why it pays to always examine your molts, even if you think you already know the sex of the specimen.
IME, this species is kind of late blooming - I thought mine was male up until it molted at 4"+ and I got a look at the underside post-molt. What I saw made me second guess myself, so I pulled the molt out and checked it, and sure enough there were some big spermathecae that I'd never seen in previous molts! That's why it pays to always examine your molts, even if you think you already know the sex of the specimen.
Ooh good to know! And my chromatus is so small still, so much growing left to do. I’ll keep checking the molts to re-confirm. I also think it would be helpful to post more microscope pictures for other keepers references, even if it’s my same tarantula through the years. The more reference pictures there are in the hobby, the better.
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