millipede sexing

[Arachnokid 93]

I need help . I am thinking of breeding giant african millipedes but I dont know how to sex them do you have to look at there molts or can you tell by just looking at them or what i have no clue please help.

 

[cacoseraph]

look up gonopods

 

[psionix]

just look for gonopods on the 7th segment.

if present, male
if not present, female

EDIT ~ here's a semi decent pic of what you are looking for... >> Linky <<

 

[Arachnokid 93]

What are gonopods are they the on the under belly or top side and is it the seventh segmant from the head or but

 

[psionix]

7th segment from the front.

gonopods literally are sex [gono-] legs [pods].

the gonopods are those funny looking legs in the pic i posted above, they are used to transmit the sperm to the female. the males coil up and "charge" the gonopods with the sperm from the gonopores [also visible in males, but on the 3rd segment], once charged they will then use the gonopods to inseminate the females.

 

[Arachnokid 93]

very cool just one more Q do the males only get these gonopods at the end of there life or do thay have them at birth ?

 

[psionix]

yes, only the males will have them. and they wont be visible until after the penultimate molt [and it will be very small then]. after the ultimate molt it will be "normal" sized.

 

[Arachnokid 93]

Nice info . Any pepole who have bred giant african millipedes please post .

 

[Spider-Man v2.0]

3rd or 7th segment??

 

[McPede]

Does these images help:

 

[fantasticp]

yes, only the males will have them. and they wont be visible until after the penultimate molt [and it will be very small then]. after the ultimate molt it will be "normal" sized.

You can sex millis as small as you eyes will allow. I guess I can't remember if they always had visible gonopods, but the leg gap is certainly always there.

 

[fantasticp]

yes, only the males will have them. and they wont be visible until after the penultimate molt [and it will be very small then]. after the ultimate molt it will be "normal" sized.

Actually, I'm not sure what you mean by "ultimate molt" either as far as miils are comcerned.

 

[psionix]

You can sex millis as small as you eyes will allow. I guess I can't remember if they always had visible gonopods, but the leg gap is certainly always there.

this is true about the gap, however if he's getting GAMs then they'll most likely be WC adults, at this point gap is gone and the gonopods will be visible.

Actually, I'm not sure what you mean by "ultimate molt" either as far as miils are comcerned.

i meant the molt by which they obtain maximum size.

 

[fantasticp]

this is true about the gap, however if he's getting GAMs then they'll most likely be WC adults, at this point gap is gone and the gonopods will be visible.

i meant the molt by which they obtain maximum size.

I guess either I am just unsure about millipede mechanics or just anal about semantics. I have had male individuals breed at about 6.5in and kinda skinny, and have had monster 9 in males too. Are you saying the 6.5 in milli will never get any bigger? "maximum size" would seem to apply to inverts with less variation in mature sizing. I have only had this AGB millipede breeding group for about 4 years, so I can not say from experience whether the smaller males are incapable of molting to a bigger size or not. Right now I have 2 males less than or at 7 inches with full sized gonopods attacking the ladies left and right.

 

[J Morningstar]

From what I have assimilated throughout the years the "Ultimate"molt or final molt is the end of the growth cycle as far as size goes. So 7 inches or 15 inches is it. It just depends how much growth between molts. And yes theycan live for years after this I have heard.

 

[fantasticp]

the "Ultimate"molt or final molt is the end of the growth cycle as far as size goes.

I had no idea they had a molt like that.