Is this POECILOTHERIA ORNATA male or female??

[Noexcuse4you]

This picture should definitely clear things up. The carapace is looking rather lady like. I guess sexing by spermatecae is virtually impossible at this size. What size does the black band on the abdomen start fading away?

 

[TarantulaLV]

.....looking rather lady like.

I agree. :clap:

What size does the black band on the abdomen start fading away?

You will notice it in the next molt.

 

[Tunedbeat]

Well, i didn't get pass page4. :8o
But, what do you guys think of this little one?
Male/female or is it just too small?

 

[Tunedbeat]

Here's another one i received as a freebie.

 

[Tunedbeat]

This picture should definitely clear things up. The carapace is looking rather lady like. I guess sexing by spermatecae is virtually impossible at this size. What size does the black band on the abdomen start fading away?

Not impossible, i just sexed one 2" as female. You'll need a good scope or lens, the spermathecae is pretty much invisible to the naked eye at that size.

Ventral shot of female close to 2",

 

[Noexcuse4you]

Here's an update to my particular T. My P. ornata just molted and is now 3.75" - 4" and is now showing the male carapace pattern. Perhaps this method is only accurate from this size on? I've found ventral sexing (looking for the light, hairless triangle) is accurate down to 1.75". However, this is coming from my limited experience with pokies (I only have this ornata and a 1.75" fasciata).

Kyle.

 

[Tunedbeat]

Hey, Kyle, can you get a shot of that possible male carapace?

 

[Noexcuse4you]

Yeah, I really didn't want to do this since he was looking so comfy in his burrow (aren't these arboreal? lol) but I got him out anyway for the sake of this thread. He wasn't happy at all and in fact gave the most impressive display I'd ever seen! My evil P. irminia doesn't even come close! Although my P. irminia will actually strike rather than just throw up her arms and then run away.

Anyway, here he is...

 

[Talkenlate04]

Noexcuse4you,
110% male, make sure you find him a lady when he is ready!

 

[Harrod]

I'm looking for a male. :}

 

[Tunedbeat]

The last photo he posted look very female. I guess, sexing from carapace isn't very accurate after all.

 

[Talkenlate04]

The last photo he posted look very female. I guess, sexing from carapace isn't very accurate after all.

What makes you think that exactly? I don't see one single thing that looks female. I mean it though I am just curious what you see, I could be wrong.
When I get home I will take some shots of my females and immature males. But I have seen enough of them and I agree 100% that the carapace can be a great indicator of the sex. Abdomen pattern too.

 

[Tunedbeat]

By last photo, i don't mean the last photo he recently posted.

From reading the info. in this thread, the photo below indicates a female.

So, are you still sure sexing by carapace is 100% accurate?

 

[Talkenlate04]

The below picture and the top picture are the same T? Ok well then I think this might be the first time I have seen that much color in a T go away in one molt, other then maturing. And this molt just made it 3.75-4"? Hmm interesting. It's male for sure though.
Ahh well. I still think you can sex them by color, just not at such a small size. There is a huge difference between the colors in my immature males and my females.

 

[xgrafcorex]

i've never heard of sexing by carapace..just the folio on the abdomen...and the pic that talkenlate reposted looks like a male to me as well. the dark folio, and the overall details of the coloration don't seem as distinct. i guess it could just need a molt..but from what i understand..the females have more clearly defined markings. (heh even though i said i've never heard of sexing by carapace..i guess i am largely looking at the lack of detail in the markings on the carapace.)

 

[Noexcuse4you]

Whoa now! Lets try to keep the peace.

What we're basing our theory on is the fact that once P. ornatas reach a certain size, in my case 3.75", males develop a lower contrast of color in in their carapace (the color is generally uniform). In females, there is high contrast (a distinct darkened lateral stripe in the center of the carapace).

Now, I wouldn't feel comfortable saying that a specimen is 100% male below this size without first looking at the epigastric area. The lightened, hairless triangle is a dead give away.

Hopefully this thread won't help dealers "weed out" their males so people get stuck with males instead of getting a 50-50 chance. I would personally hand pick my pokies unless I knew the person. Edit: and even then I might have to bust out my macro lens to double check as the triangle is not so obvious in some species.

Kyle.

 

[Rochelle]

Time for blue ringed cigars. It's a boy!
No question.

 

[Talkenlate04]

What we're basing our theory on is the fact that once P. ornatas reach a certain size, in my case 3.75", males develop a lower contrast of color in in their carapace (the color is generally uniform). In females, there is high contrast (a distinct darkened lateral stripe in the center of the carapace).

I really like how some males can have color morphs. I have about 7 immature males right now and some are really dark, some are lighter. They do hold that red color on their palps that stays kind of bright.
With confirmed small females I like watching the colors get brighter with every molt, makes it extra exciting!

 

[†-MarK-†]

Can anybody take a guess at the sex of my P. ornata?
Freshly molted today . 2.75''

 

[Talkenlate04]

Looks female to me.