how can i tell if my female is mature

bradpaden

Arachnoknight
Old Timer
Joined
Aug 14, 2009
Messages
185
I have two female a genics. One is definately mature but I'm not sure about the other one. She recently molted but I'm afraid to say that I didn't keep her molt. She is between five and six inches but doesn't seem to be intrested in mating. She's been faced with two males and showes no intrest. So is there any way to tell if she is mature without her molt?
 

Kris-wIth-a-K

Arachnoprince
Old Timer
Joined
Oct 21, 2007
Messages
1,387
It depends on the sp.. It all depends on the size.. For A. Genics that is big enough to breed. Give it a little while. Sometimes they don't do it right off hand after a molt. I have a female Nhandu that just molted and hasnt shown an interest in mating yet but my older nhandu who hasn't had a molt some off months does when both have been in with a male.

Also, if the males don't make a sperm web theeeeen there wont be an outcomes..

Kris
 

Ice Cold Milk

Arachnobaron
Old Timer
Joined
Jul 21, 2004
Messages
398
From what I have heard, females are able to mate from a very early age. I believe technically they can mate as soon as their spermathecae are fully formed. Kinda like how in our culture, 10-12 year old female humans can have babies but generally don't til they are much older.
http://www.beccastarantulas.com/tarantulas/Spermathecae/P1090494.JPG
Snipes is right. I believe the word for fully formed spermathecae is that they are "scoleterized" (or something like that).

A couple general rules I also use are:
If the female is 2/3 of her known adult size for her species, she's ready.
If the female's carapace is as large or larger than the mature male's carapace, she is ready.
 

Lorgakor

Arachnomom
Staff member
Joined
Sep 9, 2004
Messages
2,369
The term is sclerotized. In my opinion, your own tarantula is telling you she is not ready. She is not interested in mating, if she was ready, she would be. Try again in a few weeks, if she still isn't interested, wait for another moult. Just my opinion.:)
 
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