Funny story

Transylvania

Gondorian
Old Timer
Joined
Dec 26, 2006
Messages
593
A while ago I took my A. minatrix's freshly molted exoskeleton to my college's science building with the intention of trying to sex it using one of the nifty microscopes on the biology floor. I went to one of the professors, who's an expert on invertebrates (more specifically wolf spiders), asking him for permission to use the stereo microscope in the entomology storage room. At the time I thought "Hmm, maybe he'll actually help me sex it, since I'm not too great at doing it myself, and he's an expert on spiders," and sure enough, he offered his help.

First he asked me what species it was, and I replied "It's an Avicularia species." He stared blankly at me for a second and said, "So... is it a pinktoe?" I wondered if he would've asked that even if I hadn't said it was an Avic. first lol.

So we went to the microscope and I took out my copy of The Tarantula Keeper's Guide and flipped to the sexing section for reference. I didn't expect to have to use it at first, but when I looked up, I saw the professor pinning the exuvium and viewing the outer shell. Of course, I was like: :confused: "Um, shouldn't we moisten the abdomen and open it up?" But he replied with something like "Nah, you can't tell the sex right now, it's too small." (The molt was 2" - not too small at all.) I then insisted that it may be possible to tell the sex, but instead, he told me to bring in the live specimen and he could more accurately sex it, which made absolutely no sense to me lol. I couldn't believe that this man was a spider expert. I mean, I suppose I understand if his area of expertise is more revolved around wolf spiders, but aren't all spiders' anatomy basically about the same? Anyway, I took my then-destroyed exuvium back and left the building half-disappointed and half-amused that a 19-year-old student knew more about tarantulas than the spider Ph.D. {D
 
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BrettG

Arachnoprince
Old Timer
Joined
Aug 19, 2009
Messages
1,315
Some Universities more or less hand out degrees......There are "experts" out there in all fields that know squat compared to the hobbyist.
 

codykrr

Arachnoking
Old Timer
Joined
Sep 22, 2008
Messages
3,112
I like to call these types of people.

"over educated idiots"

just because you have a degree doesnt mean you know jack.

I have seen ASE certified mechanics know less about cars than some dumb hillbilly. its all about common sense and know how.

But A. minatrix isnt that bad to sex ventrally. maybe post a decent ventral shot.

Also to add in- Kelly swift of Swift invertebrates will sex your spiders for free via molt if its over an inch.
 

AmbushArachnids

Arachnoculturist
Old Timer
Joined
Jan 30, 2010
Messages
629
Some people dont have a true interest in the field they are supposed to be dedicating their life to.

BTW If you would like it sexed you can mail me the exo. I have a scope and sexed both my A. minitrix with 1.25" molts.. The biggest spermatheca you will ever see on such a small spider. {D
 

Salt

Arachnopeon
Joined
Jan 23, 2011
Messages
36
Clearly he's not a "sexpert."

Bahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaahahahahaha I think I may be the only one to find this hilarious.
 

Transylvania

Gondorian
Old Timer
Joined
Dec 26, 2006
Messages
593
Oh, so Kelly Swift still does sexing for people? I may just do that next time it molts. :) I'm just clumsy with it every time I try and I always end up destroying the thing.
 
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