H. lividum Male?

[Varden]

I've been fairly accurate with most of my Ts. Not a hundred percent by any means, but pretty good. But this one has me stumped. This is the best pic I could get. He just about shredded his molt getting it off and I didn't do the skin any favors trying to untangle it. So there is no chance of a second try. Can anyone tell me, am I right to suspect this might be a male? LBM2 is about 4" now.

Thanks

[Varden]

This is him/her after the molt. Talk to the butt, the rest of me's goin' home.

[Windchaser]

I don't see any evidence to suggest it is a female. At any rate, that is a nice looking H. lividum you have there.

[BertWright]

One post indicated that there were no indications that this was a female, yet I see indications that this is a female simply by color. To me, and from my limited experience with the Cobalt Blue, I would expect this picture to be of a female Cobalt Blue. Although males will display some blueness on their legs as spiderlings, the male haplopelma lvidum is more brown, dark brown and has light tan markings with very little blue. This picture provided seems to be of a female. My male Cobalt Blue had lost any hint of real blueness when it reached the size of the one in the picture. My money says that this is a female Cobalt Blue and not male - please let us know when you find out for sure. :)

Bert Wright
Fellow Tarantula Keeper/Enthusiast

[Windchaser]

One post indicated that there were no indications that this was a female, yet I see indications that this is a female simply by color. To me, and from my limited experience with the Cobalt Blue, I would expect this picture to be of a female Cobalt Blue. Although males will display some blueness on their legs as spiderlings, the male haplopelma lvidum is more brown, dark brown and has light tan markings with very little blue. This picture provided seems to be of a female. My male Cobalt Blue had lost any hint of real blueness when it reached the size of the one in the picture. My money says that this is a female Cobalt Blue and not male - please let us know when you find out for sure. :)

Bert Wright
Fellow Tarantula Keeper/Enthusiast

Color is not a reliable indication of sex for a H. lividum. Immature males are blue just like females. Though there is some glare in the pictures, I see no evidence of spermathecae which would indicate that this is a male. I would rely on what is seen in the exuvium vesus simply the color.

[Thoth]

I'm with windchaser on this one, unfortunately there is glare on the area of intreset in the photo.

The brown color of male H.lividium doesn't become apparent till the ultimate molt, till then most males are blue, but then there are other indicators after the ultimate moltas well, the appearance of the hooks and palps.

If you could get a ventral shot of your t, it might add additional info to confirm suspicions its a male (or confuse thing). Though in any case it its a lovely t and consider yourself luck that you actually see yours (Going on 5 months haven't seen hide nor hair of mine)

[Varden]

The only reason I got to see him at all is because I changed his substrate, wiped his walls and re-potted him. LOL The rest of the time I get to spot him with my flashlight in the bottom of his burrow.

[BertWright]

I'm with windchaser on this one, unfortunately there is glare on the area of intreset in the photo.

The brown color of male H.lividium doesn't become apparent till the ultimate molt, till then most males are blue, but then there are other indicators after the ultimate moltas well, the appearance of the hooks and palps.

If you could get a ventral shot of your t, it might add additional info to confirm suspicions its a male (or confuse thing). Though in any case it its a lovely t and consider yourself luck that you actually see yours (Going on 5 months haven't seen hide nor hair of mine)


You are incorrect about the brown color of the Cobalt Blue not becoming manifest until Ultimate molt :) - my cobalt blue had a brown and tan appearance as a spiderling - and I did not have to wait until Ultimate molt to decide it was a boy. Stating that the Cobalt Blue does not get this tan and dark brown appearance until their ultimate molt is just plain wrong. I speak from direct experience on this one, I'm afraid. They WILL exhibit blue-ness as spiderlings, but this species does have clear color indicators of sex. I suppose it all goes back to 'who cares' since, from the words used such as he and his, it seems as though the 'post-er' is convinced that this tarantula is a boy. A nice pretty blue boy, I might add. If that is your male, the females must really be BLUE. Good luck with your boy Cobalt Blue - who knows, it may be hermaphrodite. :cool: It happens.

[brigebane]

You are incorrect about the brown color of the Cobalt Blue not becoming manifest until Ultimate molt :) - my cobalt blue had a brown and tan appearance as a spiderling - and I did not have to wait until Ultimate molt to decide it was a boy. Stating that the Cobalt Blue does not get this tan and dark brown appearance until their ultimate molt is just plain wrong. I speak from direct experience on this one, I'm afraid. They WILL exhibit blue-ness as spiderlings, but this species does have clear color indicators of sex. I suppose it all goes back to 'who cares' since, from the words used such as he and his, it seems as though the 'post-er' is convinced that this tarantula is a boy. A nice pretty blue boy, I might add. If that is your male, the females must really be BLUE. Good luck with your boy Cobalt Blue - who knows, it may be hermaphrodite. :cool: It happens.

I think he was discussing juvenile to adult coloration. Yes spiderlings are rather drab, more of a charcoal grey, but males do attain the characteristic blue coloration until their ultimate molts. After that they are an even grey to black with some Patella striping similar to H. albostriatum.

[Windchaser]

You are incorrect about the brown color of the Cobalt Blue not becoming manifest until Ultimate molt :) - my cobalt blue had a brown and tan appearance as a spiderling - and I did not have to wait until Ultimate molt to decide it was a boy. Stating that the Cobalt Blue does not get this tan and dark brown appearance until their ultimate molt is just plain wrong. I speak from direct experience on this one, I'm afraid. They WILL exhibit blue-ness as spiderlings, but this species does have clear color indicators of sex. I suppose it all goes back to 'who cares' since, from the words used such as he and his, it seems as though the 'post-er' is convinced that this tarantula is a boy. A nice pretty blue boy, I might add. If that is your male, the females must really be BLUE. Good luck with your boy Cobalt Blue - who knows, it may be hermaphrodite. :cool: It happens.

Actually, this topic has been discussed quite a bit. Immatures males are blue, though there is color variation in H. lividums as a whole. They are not all vibrant blue. Anyway, here are a few links to previous discussions:

http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?t=24069&highlight=lividum+male+color+blue
http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?t=11345&highlight=lividum+male+blue

[Lopez]

Here are a few pictures charting the growth of a male Haplopelma lividum from spiderling. I purchased it from Thomas Vinmann in May 2003.

http://www.vsupermarket.co.uk/~lopez/MySpiders/HLIM01.jpg

Same spider, July 2003

http://www.vsupermarket.co.uk/~lopez/MySpiders/HLIM02.jpg

Same spider, January 2004

http://www.vsupermarket.co.uk/~lopez/MySpiders/HLIM03.jpg

Same spider, May 2004

http://www.vsupermarket.co.uk/~lopez/MySpiders/HLIM04.jpg

Same spider, May 2004

http://www.vsupermarket.co.uk/~lopez/MySpiders/HLIM05.jpg

Same spider, August 2005

http://www.vsupermarket.co.uk/~lopez/MySpiders/HLIM06.jpg

[Blasphemy]

I don't believe in the color sexing method either. I think the post above pretty much smashes any color sexing debate. Pics 2, 3, 4 and 5 look pretty blue to me. BTW from the exuvium pic I am pretty sure it is a male. Nice lividum none the less.

[fangsalot]

you guys are crushing any hopes that mine stays blue,boo hoo hoooo!

[Cpt.nemO]

you guys are crushing any hopes that mine stays blue,boo hoo hoooo!


Jesus man i am in the exact same position , bought a semi adult as female, but i am starting to think it might become a male. I won't be sure until i see a spermatecae.

[Joe1968]

Going back to the original question base on the molt I would say its a male. like everyone said, dont be fooled by the blue coloration. Last year I was sold a very nice blue lividum pet store guy said it was a female (I didnt know any better back then), well it molted a few time then turned brown/black into a mature male.

I kinda sence there was something fishy due to the fact that the petstore guys were giggling a lil bit but I was blinded by this beautiful T so I bought it, months later on tried to breed it with my other female but no success, and then the male finally died like 2 months after its ultimate molt.

Oh BTW, last time I heared that petstore is closing and going out of buisness, the guy (employee) who sold me the male is looking for another job with no luck and the owner is shutting down his store and also applying for a job at some other local petstore.