Cerat, just out of interest sake. How do you sex pokies based on patterns?

Swifty wrote: Cerat, just out of interest sake. How do you sex pokies based on patterns?

Sex them via the patterns on the carapace and abdomen. They need to be over 10cm though for most species.
Differs on each species whether I go for the patterns/markings on the carapace or abdomen.

Cool, is there any guide for doing this?

Swifty wrote: Cool, is there any guide for doing this?

First hand experience.
As a general rule, females white folio on the dorsal side of the abdomen marking becomes lighter with age, whereas males tend to get darker (Or less white). With some species like P.ornata, I use the markings on the carapace as a guide to the sex rather than abdominal markings.
The best is to see the male and female growing up in person and it makes it much easier.
Pictures are ok sometimes, but we all know the difference a flash or camera can make.

Disclaimer: I would not recommend anyone not knowing what they are doing to use this as an accurate sexing method. An exuvium is always best and full proof.

One day when I get some time, I will try take a few pics of my spiders and post comparisons here.

I have ammended the Guidelines Before Posting in the Classifieds slightly to include this.

Thank you for reminding me Cerat.

TH

Decided I wouldn't destroy the auction thread.
What has our human race become?

A few things I noticed the weekend at the auction:

1. People stealing spiders. I know it was covered in the auction thread, but the scary thing is, I was actually expecting more spiders to be stolen. Just shows how bad apples can get into anything.
2. A few people (Mainly the ladies) were busy cleaning up (Sweeping, packing chairs, packing tables, etc) and most of the guys (Including some well known guys from the site - Not that I expected much from them anyway) just stood there and watched. It is F#@ken disgusting. Felt like going over and giving most of them a good smack on the ear hole while they were watching some ladies (Some who were pregnant) lifting chairs to stack them. You know who you are. Karma is a bitch.
3. I hate smokers. After all the proceedings, frootbat and my wife (Who both don't smoke) had to go around picking stompies up off the ground. The majority of the smokers were there watching. I don't care who says any different, but smokers have no regard for other people 99% of the time. How about instead of throwing the stompies on the ground (Where someone else has to pick them up), you throw them away yourself???

Ok, thats all for this edition...for now.