Sexing a Solifugid & perfect environment

[nimbus]

Does anyone know how to sex a Solifugid?
This is my beauty!
It's an Egyptian Banded Solifugid as far as I can tell?

http://a4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/117/l_12c3db4388e887c6b7969bbf6b98b063.jpg

The shop it came from seemed to think it is female but my instincts tell me it's a male. It has spurs/hooks on its back legs, is this for mating as in some Tarantula's?

There seems to be alot of conflicting information on the net.
Mainly perpetrated by the U.S. troops in Iraq & Afghanistan it seems!
Some say they drink, others say they dont!

I've had him/her for 3 days now & he/she seems to have settled in well.
As soon as I turn the light off at nite he/she comes alive & hunts!
The tank is only about 2ft long but I intend to get a bigger one very soon, is this a wise move as I've read that too big a habitat is not so good!?
There's about 3 inches depth of sand, a water bowl & a rock for a cave. I gather the sand needs to be deeper so it can burrow? Although they dont all burrow? I would be most grateful for any advice!

I made a video of my wonderful beast:
HERE! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cr5mef0wtA)

[Widowman10]

Does anyone know how to sex a Solifugid?
This is my beauty!
It's an Egyptian Banded Solifugid as far as I can tell?

http://a4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/117/l_12c3db4388e887c6b7969bbf6b98b063.jpg]

very beautiful!:clap: i don't know if there's a "sure-fire" way, but the way i've sexed mine is as follows:
female: very fat body with short-er legs, not as long palps
male: skinny, long body with loooong legs, very long palps

~i would say yours looks male, unless it's a starving female... can you get another pic, with legs spread and all?

The shop it came from seemed to think it is female but my instincts tell me it's a male. It has spurs/hooks on its back legs, is this for mating as in some Tarantula's?]

spurs/hooks?:? i'm pretty sure the racquet organs (sp?) underneath play a role in mating.

There seems to be alot of conflicting information on the net.
Mainly perpetrated by the U.S. troops in Iraq & Afghanistan it seems!
Some say they drink, others say they dont!]

don't all animals need water?:? i put a water dish with mine, saw it squeeze water out of the cotton ball before.

I've had him/her for 3 days now & he/she seems to have settled in well.
As soon as I turn the light off at nite he/she comes alive & hunts!
The tank is only about 2ft long but I intend to get a bigger one very soon, is this a wise move as I've read that too big a habitat is not so good!?
There's about 3 inches depth of sand, a water bowl & a rock for a cave. I gather the sand needs to be deeper so it can burrow? Although they dont all burrow? I would be most grateful for any advice!

I made a video of my wonderful beast:
HERE! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cr5mef0wtA)

i've kept mine (diff species) on sand, with a scrape/hide. they will dig a little burrow/hide underneath something you give them. i gave mine a small piece of bark, and it made it's home under that. the first one i had, i didn't give it bark or a hide, so it burrowed underneath the water dish... they don't need crazy huge homes, but they sure do like to run around a lot!


some other people who have some experience as well can add on and give more advice. hope this helps a little!:D

oh- and they never get full...:wicked:

[Pulk]

Can't you look at the shape of the top fangs?

[Widowman10]

Can't you look at the shape of the top fangs?

yes, that works as well. looking at overall body shape/size is just a quick way. looking at the top mouthpart is a better way though, just takes a little closer inspection. the males should have smooth/straight top mouthparts, and the females should have "grooves" or "tooths/ridges" on theirs.


see if you can get a side shot of the mouthparts, or an upclose view of the head when you get a chance or clear shot.

[nimbus]

Fanx everso muchos guys!
Very helpful indeed!
Greatly appreciated!
I'm glad yoo like my pretty beast!
The jaws do look smooth & the legs are long especially the palps.
He's eating two crickets a day at the moment!
Although he doesnt finish them off.
I'm gonna try to get some locusts today.
I've named him Anubis, thought it quite fitting!
I'll get some more photo's & post them up for ya's!
Fanx again for ya advice & help!

I've been obsessed with Solifugae since I woz a small child after seeing one in an encyclopedia. My brother keeps Tarantulas (Goliath, Baboon, Chilean Rose, Mexican Red Knee, Indian Ornamental, Cobalt Blue) & has successfully bred a few species but this is my first time keeping such a beast!

...............................

Blurry pic as he woz moving but yoo can see the long legs:

http://a887.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/88/l_57d4dae35e85b3da903c1705c1c1d3ce.jpg

[Widowman10]

oooo yeah, loooong legs and palps!!
hard to see the top jaw tho...

[nimbus]

The top jaw looks smooth so it may very well be male.
I'll post more pics when I can get them.
Got him meal worms today which he gorged on immediately!
Gonna try him on locusts tomorrow!
He's becoming more active each day!
Wahey!!

I posted a new video:
HERE! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hFbcpIW6Xw)

[Tarantula_Hawk]

just a tip.. be sure to not overfeed them... and btw the abdomen size is not rly something to look at when tryin to distnguish a male from a female... males can have abdomen just as large as females if overfed (even though they dont tend to eat that much).. easiest way to distinguish males from females in your species is lookin for a whip like structure, called flagellum, located on the upper finger of the chelicerae..anyways rly nice guy there u got :D

[nimbus]

Many fanx for ya advice Hawk!
I shall check it out!
I'll be careful re: feeding.
There's so much conflicting advice on the web it gets a tad confusing!
I'm so glad I found this place & yoo guys!

He sleeps out in the open & hasn't burrowed at all.
He digs a bit but seems to give up.
Is this normal for his species?
The sand is about 3 inches deep, is that enough?
I read somewhere to mix the sand with peat?

Also how often do I need to change his/her water?

Fanx in advance for all your invaluable help!

[nimbus]

I can't make out any Flagellum so maybe he is a she after all!?

http://a918.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/51/l_99880c4bd38b7c629242223086919025.gif

[Widowman10]

Many fanx for ya advice Hawk!
I shall check it out!
I'll be careful re: feeding.
There's so much conflicting advice on the web it gets a tad confusing!
I'm so glad I found this place & yoo guys!

He sleeps out in the open & hasn't burrowed at all.
He digs a bit but seems to give up.
Is this normal for his species?
The sand is about 3 inches deep, is that enough?
I read somewhere to mix the sand with peat?

Also how often do I need to change his/her water?

Fanx in advance for all your invaluable help!

mine stayed out in the open a lot. the younger/smaller ones seem more skittish/prone to hide IME. and don't worry, mine just sorta played around with digging, but seemed to give up. peat- if you want to mix it in it would make it a little easier for him to burrow/dig. water- change it when needed! dirty, etc...

[nimbus]

Fanx everso Widowman!
Yoo've put my mind at rest!

I guess he/ she is not scared of anything so doesn't need to hide!?

[Tarantula_Hawk]

I can't make out any Flagellum so maybe he is a she after all!?

http://a918.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/51/l_99880c4bd38b7c629242223086919025.gif

well if u rly cant manage to find the flagellum (there are 2, one on each cheliceare) then she's definitley a female... the only family where males dont have a flagellum is in Eremobatidae.. urs is a Galeodidae (Galeodes granti) so males will definitely have a flagellum.. its not very large in galeodidae u might want to take another look for ur curiosity :) .. anyways np for the help :D... too bad i cant get my hands on one of them :(

[nessa]

if you dont mind me asking, where did you buy the solifugid? I've been looking around for them and I haven't been successful.

[nimbus]

I gather they are very hard to get hold of.
I am extremely lucky to have her!
My brother found her here:
Emsworth Aquaria & Pets, Eddie Munt, 242/244 Havant Road, Drayton, Hants, PO6 1PA Telephone: 02392 214047 emsworthaquaria@btinternet.com
She woz the only one they had.
I'm waiting to hear from a Tarantula breeder in Sussex, UK, who apparently has experience with Solifugids. He may know where to get them. I'll let ya's know asap!
I'd like to try to breed them one day if I can. I gather I need a license for such activities?

http://a349.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/103/l_dc5746da764c39e9b774c2e8b3d9a1ac.jpg

http://a475.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/55/l_b86df1732c3c3608b6322612fdf6e9a2.jpg

No sign of any Flagellum!?

[Tarantula_Hawk]

nope... i'd definitely say she's a female :)

[problemchildx]

I've seen a couple for sale online.. Check out the reviews page.

These are really neat! That video was classic :D

How much do they eat?

[Widowman10]

How much do they eat?

however much they can stuff in their mouth fast enough...;P

[nimbus]

I've had Anubis since last Thursday night (27-09-07).
She has got through about 9 crickets, 4 locusts & 1 meal worm.
Amazing to watch! Breath-taking!
The jaws work seperately like two sets of pliers. Quite machine-like!
She's like a Tank crossed with a JCB!

http://a167.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/85/l_a640ddb840c49de018bff83540ba6f36.jpg

I'm chuffed yoo like my video problemchildx! More to come!