Poecilotheria regalis-Gravid?

[JC]

Images of my P.regalis. Is she gravid?

 

[YellowBrickRoad]

If not gravid, very well fed.

 

[flamesbane]

Cut off your light and shine an LED flashlight through her abdomen (candling) you should be able to see the yellow glow of eggs if she is gravid. talkenlate04 has some threads/videos about doing it (and I think originated the method?)

 

[JC]

Nope, it does not illuminate yellow. I guess she is not gravid, unless I'm doing it wrong.



Here is the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxyQg3S4ltg

 

[flamesbane]

It could just be too early, when was she paired with the male?

 

[Talkenlate04]

Ya it is very obvious if they are especially in the later stages before an egg sac. How long ago was she bred?

It could just be too early, when was she paired with the male?

One step faster!

 

[JC]

Ya it is very obvious if they are especially in the later stages before an egg sac. How long ago was she bred?



One step faster!

She ate the male at the end of August, so about 4 months now. Her last feeding was in October and then she went off feed. She just started eating again today(the mealworm in the last two pics.) I thought something was up with her. Her abdomen is a lot brighter than my other MF P.regalis and has a nice round shape to it.

 

[Talkenlate04]

Its never out of the question until she molts, but by 4 months almost 1/2 the abdomen was glowing yellow and easily seen with a flashlight on my gravid ladies and the difference between a gravid lady and a non gravid lady was very obvious.

 

[Smitty78]

Is that the fresh molt female you got from me? If so, I would bet that she is gravid. She was showing signs of becoming gravid (increasing in weight) and not being over fed before she left.

 

[JC]

Is that the fresh molt female you got from me? If so, I would bet that she is gravid. She was showing signs of becoming gravid (increasing in weight) and not being over fed before she left.

Yup, that's her. She was still showing those exact same signs you described. Problem is, after she took a B.dubia roach back in early October, she went off feed, and I could not tell if she was retaining any of the weight. So basically I have only fed her once since I got her(err, 3 months ago). She seems to have retained that weight pretty well, but I guess only time will tell on this one.

 

[Talkenlate04]

Plus once you see a confirmed females abdomen it instantly becomes clearer what do look for in the future. Good luck hope she drops for you.

 

[JC]

Plus once you see a confirmed females abdomen it instantly becomes clearer what do look for in the future. Good luck hope she drops for you.

Thanks, I hope so too!

 

[JC]

Hmmm. Still nothing, and she still refuses food, yet she retains her weight. Showing no signs of premolt either. What a odd combination of behavior.

 

[Smitty78]

One of my P. regalis females, and my P. striata did the same thing. Refused food for just about 2 months, showed no signs of premolt, etc.. The striata dropped her sack last week, and the regalis is webbing things up to drop a sack as I type this. Be patient and good things will happen. I would be curious to see how you have her enclosure setup.

 

[JC]

Congrats on the sack Smitty. At least I know it this has happened to someone else as well. Do you think that she might be uncomfortable with her hide and chooses to hold back the sack or something similar? Is this a possibility?