Definitely a male?

[Andy Corbitt]

My G Porterei which was bought 2 and a half years ago as a wild caught sub-adult and has just completed it's second moult after not feeding for 10 months! As soon as it had recovered from the moult it started to heavily web it's enclosure. Is this a sperm web, making it a male. If so, how long might he live?
I have attached a photo.

 

[Thistles]

Can you take a pic from the side or underneath so I can see its front legs and pedipalps?

 

[kormath]

agree with @Thistles no way to tell from that pic. Webbing could be triplines to detect prey or decoration.

 

[MassExodus]

Doesn't look like a sperm web, and I don't see any spurs or bulbous palps on yours, can't see the palps at all, but I can see where the spurs should be. That web coming off the skull like a beard looks nice! Talented Webber.

 

[Andy Corbitt]

Here are better pics if they help

 

[MassExodus]

Oh yeah, pure male, my mistake. That still don't look like a sperm web though..its more of a tent or tunnel.

 

[Andy Corbitt]

Oh yeah, pure male, my mistake. That still don't look like a sperm web though..its more of a tent or tunnel.

What was the give away? I'm just a hobbyist, still a bit green in these matters..

 

[MassExodus]

in the second picture down near the bottom of the front legs, you see the spurs? They look like dew claws on dogs. Also, the first short pair of legs near the mouth, at the end you see the needle looking things? The male will spin a sperm web and load those up with sperm. When he mates he'll use the long pair of legs with the spurs to hold the females fangs, and push her backwards and upwards, so he can duck under and use the pedipalps to insert sperm in the females whoopsy do. Lol. Basically.

 

[MassExodus]

Btw, he has not spun a sperm web, when his palps are loaded it will look like he has boxing gloves on.

 

[Andy Corbitt]

Thanks for the info and the explanation, much appreciated, learning every day...

 

[Thistles]

Mazel tov! He's a man now!

 

[Thistles]

Now to play Yenta... find him a match