Black Phase P.met?

shawno821 · May 19, 2015

My P.metallica has been black with almost no blue on her since I got her 6 months or so ago.I assumed she would molt out and be blue.This is not the case.She's just finishing molting,so I'm not going to make her pose for a pic yet,but she is black.Only a little blue on her knees.She almost looks like a black and white pic of a P.met.She just hit 6" with this molt,so I doubt she's old or anything like that.So,I guess my question is "what's up with that?" I'm going to be looking to sell her after she hardens up,because she's my last OW spider in a NW T room,and I want to be honest with the buyer,but I don't know what to make of this??
I will post some pics when she is ready.

awiec · May 19, 2015

If I recall correctly female P.metallica naturally "black out" as they get older, some females may just darken quicker than others.

DVMT · May 19, 2015

This may shed some light on the subject.

http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?215345-Poecilotheria-metallica-quot-black-morph-quot

From what I can see, they all darken as they get older starting at about 2.5-3". My female is about 3" now and is looking bluer than ever, so I'm not 100% sure.

By the way shawno, love the sig! I'm a big fan of The Duke!

shawno821 · May 19, 2015

It seems there has never been a true conclusion to this question. Only guesses and people assuming they know what's up.This is definitely not an old T,she's not full grown.I will post pics as soon as she is ready,right now she's still by her molt,not moving,I don't want to bother her.The Duke rules!

Angel Minkov · May 19, 2015

At 6",she pretty much is. P. metallicas dont get very big.

Nich · May 19, 2015

They all darken up with age, some moreso than others but they all loose that brilliant blue overtime.

Arachnomaniac19 · May 19, 2015

Seems like it could be a problem with a bottlenecked, captive population?

pyro fiend · May 19, 2015

some are dif from others. theres a few members here who have freshly mature [within last molt or 2] p. met fems who are almost have no blue. including Austin.. idr who else has them tho but its a unique thing i think

Austin S. · May 20, 2015

This lady molted in Feb of this year. She is only pushing 4 years old

But after introducing the MM for several weeks, it triggered a molt. I haven't seen her out, but as soon as she is, I'll grab some pictures. It's killing me to see what she looks like now.

pyro fiend · May 20, 2015

Austin S. said:
This lady molted in Feb of this year. She is only pushing 4 years old

But after introducing the MM for several weeks, it triggered a molt. I haven't seen her out, but as soon as she is, I'll grab some pictures. It's killing me to see what she looks like now.

always love seeing the purples on this girl! and isnt all blue so big plus to me lmao ^_^ <3 *must has her! lol*

Philth · May 21, 2015

At 6 inches she's big/old enough to be a "black morph".

Later, Tom

shawno821 · May 22, 2015

She started showing her blue again after her molt.I guess it's just a P.met thing.

Austin S. · May 26, 2015

Mine molted a few weeks ago, finally decided to come out for a roach. She has more black than prior to molting IMO.

Storm76 · May 26, 2015

Be happy - the contrast was always stunning to me. And I've yet to get a P. mettallica...still like P. subfusca "lowland" way more for some reason... :sarcasm:

Austin S. · May 26, 2015

Storm76 said:
Be happy - the contrast was always stunning to me. And I've yet to get a P. mettallica...still like P. subfusca "lowland" way more for some reason... :sarcasm:

And I've always, for the life of me, have wanted a low land. LOL. They are awesome looking T's as well.

Storm76 · May 26, 2015

Austin S. said:
And I've always, for the life of me, have wanted a low land. LOL. They are awesome looking T's as well.

Indeed they are! Sadly the one I got as a sling molted into a MM within a year. Oh well...at some point I'll get another

truecreature · May 26, 2015

Nich said:
They all darken up with age, some moreso than others but they all loose that brilliant blue overtime.

That's a shame, seems to be a common curse with blue herps and inverts - that blue doesn't stick around.

awiec · May 27, 2015

raisinjelly said:
That's a shame, seems to be a common curse with blue herps and inverts - that blue doesn't stick around.

My Thrix is still quite an intense blue but I'll have to agree that in general the blue is lost over time.

Black Phase P.met?

shawno821

Arachno Pimp

awiec

Arachnoprince

DVMT

Arachnosquire

shawno821

Arachno Pimp

Angel Minkov

Arachnobaron

Nich

Curator of glass boxes

Arachnomaniac19

Arachnolord

pyro fiend

Arachnoprince

Austin S.

Arachnoprince

pyro fiend

Arachnoprince

Philth

N.Y.H.C.

shawno821

Arachno Pimp

Austin S.

Arachnoprince

Storm76

Arachnoemperor

Austin S.

Arachnoprince

Storm76

Arachnoemperor

truecreature

Arachnoknight

awiec

Arachnoprince