When did your P.metallica turn blue?

[rosehaired1979]

We bought a P.metallica back in March it was 1" and now its 1.5"-1.75" . I was wondering when they start showing blue because the spider we have has no blue on it. I hear they start showing blue at 2" but just wanted to make sure I wish we could take a pic of him but it hides 90% of the time. So can anyone give me some info on the blueness.

 

[mick]

If you dont mind me asking...how often do you feed it? :?
Mick

 

[rosehaired1979]

We feed ours at least 2-3 times a week w/crickets and on occassion superworms.

 

[mick]

Really....I guess that they grow slower than P.Regalis or Ornata as mine grew to about 3- 4 inches in that time and they were about 1 inch. Mind you I feed daily until they stop eating. Man, you're lucky to have one..I cant wait to get one...soon I hope. but 500.00 hurts a bit
Mick

 

[rosehaired1979]

I didn't pay that much for it I got the one we have for $225 at 1"

 

[Lopez]

I didn't pay that much for it I got the one we have for $225 at 1"

Hmmm...it cost you half to one third of the market value at double the size of the imported batches and it hasn't turned blue yet.....


Are you sure you were sold a metallica?

 

[rknralf]

I would suspect there may be variations in coloration between individuals within this species. I've seen pictures on Rick West's site that showed one that was almost black in color. Possibly the one you got comes from a bloodline where they are darker in color.

 

[rosehaired1979]

The guy who was selling them was selling for $400 but he was moving and had to sell his stock so he lowered the price down to get the 4 he had sold.

 

[pelo]

Here's a picture of mine around the same size as yours.I'd think you should be seeing some sort of blue...maybe not intense blues,but at least some sort of blueish hues/highlights anyways.Even prior to this molt some blues were evident..subtle but visible.I was told mine may be of a batch of less colorful ones,that some even at this size are way more blue.If you're not seeing any sort of blue at that size..I'd be wondering a bit if indeed it is a P.metallica??

 

[Andrew vV]

P. metallica will loose colour prior to a moult, but I have not noticed too much colour loss as slings.
You should be able to see the beginnings of yellow "spots" on the undersides of the tibia,maybe not intense yellow yet, but there should be no other banding than that.
C'mon, coax it outta hiding and get a picture for us

 

[pokiecollector]

shine a light on it, if you don't see any blue at the size it is now you don't have a p.metallica or the rumored dark form.

 

[Immortal_sin]

mine is about 2.25" or so, and as blue as Pete's. It's underside is even more blue, and the yellow is pretty intense too. If you are not even seeing blue highlights...you might have gotten a very expensive regalis....etc.

 

[Professor T]

We bought a P.metallica back in March it was 1" and now its 1.5"-1.75" . I was wondering when they start showing blue because the spider we have has no blue on it. I hear they start showing blue at 2" but just wanted to make sure I wish we could take a pic of him but it hides 90% of the time. So can anyone give me some info on the blueness.

Could someone clear this up? I was under the impression they were blue as slings. Is it true that they aren't blue as small slings?

 

[Andrew vV]

Not really blue....more of a grayish blue/purple and quite dark. The abdomen actually has some brown and cream as well. I have found afer they hit around 1.5" the real blue *starts* to show.

 

[GoTerps]

Maybe this will help a little.... here's one of my slings at ~ 0.75", 1.25", 2", and 2.5"

 

[Henry Kane]

We bought a P.metallica back in March it was 1" and now its 1.5"-1.75" . I was wondering when they start showing blue because the spider we have has no blue on it. I hear they start showing blue at 2" but just wanted to make sure I wish we could take a pic of him but it hides 90% of the time. So can anyone give me some info on the blueness.

So far by most replies, the appearance of your "metallica" seems to contradict the status q..

Of course, until we can actually see a clear pic, preferably of the ventral side, all you will get is speculation. After spending $200.00 something bucks (let alone twice that), I would be looking for concrete answers like frikkin' Sherlock Holmes and I sure as hell wouldn't hesitate to (gently of course) dig that little sucker up.

Good luck.

Atrax

 

[Botar]

mine is about 2.25" or so, and as blue as Pete's. It's underside is even more blue, and the yellow is pretty intense too. If you are not even seeing blue highlights...you might have gotten a very expensive regalis....etc.

I was wondering how it was doing. Have you had a chance to sex it yet? I've still got one out of that bunch and it is about the same size and is showing the blue/purples.

@Rosehair - I'm always suspicious of what seems to be lower than normal prices, but a lower than normal price of a species in which there were only about 200 in the US at the time you purchased it should have set off many red flags. Bottom line, if you're buying something well below the market price, you'd better know your supplier. I'm all for a bargain, but a $200 P. regalis isn't a bargain.

Having said that, I hope we're all wrong and it turns sky-blue with the next molt.

Botar

 

[Ron_K]

Sounds to me like you got ripped. Perhaps you should try to get some pictures to post for us.

 

[Immortal_sin]

I was wondering how it was doing. Have you had a chance to sex it yet? I've still got one out of that bunch and it is about the same size and is showing the blue/purples.



Botar

it's doing great Charlie...but I'm pretty certain it's a boy!
The last molt was pretty torn up though, so I'm still hoping
It's doing fantastic...it's a real piggy eating machine. It's molted twice since you sent it.

 

[MilkmanWes]

So what traits or patterning, other than color, can you use to identify a P. metallica from other pokies?