solifugids actually lives longer than we think

Randolph XX() · Jan 14, 2006

Just got a news from my friend in Taiwan
his captive hatched solifugids (presumebly G.granti) is still alive and kicking now, and not mature yet(plz check the solifugids molting thread i posted a while ago)
the story goes back to a wc mom laid 13 eggs, and it is only one left now
it has been two yrs since hatched
the point is
they hibernate in winter!
my freind just let it hibernate under normal winter temperature in Taiwan, around 15-20c, and it just wakes up in spring
2004/8/4 born
2004/8/19 first molt
2004/10/21 second molt
hibernated
2005/7/14 third
2005/8/31 fourth
2005/10/3 fifth
hibernating now

pictures will be updated soon

Bungholio · Jan 14, 2006

This is a very interesting point, I´m never heard it about solifugids.
Do they hibernate in they natural habitate too?

Anthony · Jan 17, 2006

That is good information, thank you.

Scolopeon · Jan 17, 2006

Hmm well I heard that they are seasonal animals.. just like a praying mantid, which explains why mine only lasted a few months.. anyway this'll be an interesting turn of invents I think solfugids are very cool..

If their mortality rate does rise i'll be looking to get another..

Stylopidae · Jan 19, 2006

Keep us posted. That is really cool

Scorp guy · Jan 20, 2006

sound interesting randel!

Randolph XX() · Feb 6, 2006

update
it's awake now

see
http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?t=48763
for molting
the reason that solifugids have such short live span is the frequency of feeding!
my budy feed this bugger one meal worm per week, non during the hibernation period
he used to feed them daily like everybody said, and they all got fat then die without any reason
hope this help

Wade · Feb 6, 2006

I suspect much of the "common wisdom" concerning these animals is incorrect. You always hear that they have to be kept hot, in big cages, and fed alot. All three of these may, in fact, be incorrect and actually detrimental to their longevity.

It should be pointed out that lifespan may be variable fom species to species as well as individual to individual.

Wade

danread · Feb 6, 2006

Also bear in mind that what happens in captivity might not occur the wild. Just because one solphugid has lived for two years in artificial conditions doesn't mean this happens reguarly in the wild (although thats not to say it doesn't).

Cheers,

bistrobob85 · Feb 6, 2006

I would be really interested to know if feeding frequently would burn the solifugid's methabolism that much... It would probably be necessary to purchase a small group and see which ones live the longest...

Randolph XX() · Feb 6, 2006

Wade said:
I suspect much of the "common wisdom" concerning these animals is incorrect. You always hear that they have to be kept hot, in big cages, and fed alot. All three of these may, in fact, be incorrect and actually detrimental to their longevity.

It should be pointed out that lifespan may be variable fom species to species as well as individual to individual.

Wade

true wade, but the thing is, it's not mature yet
as 5th instr, so it's quite possible it will live for longer than two yrs

I am not sure if the case of CB scorps can compare to the situation

i received few CBB A.australis which were born in July 05, and one of them is 6th instar now, cuz i feed her as much as she wants under the temp of 90F

a lot of scorpion breeders in Taiwan reports that most CBB scorps(Androctonus, Parabuthus) fed well and raised by constant hot temperature(85f+) have tendency to mature faster in smaller sizes and have shorter lifespan
for example WC P.trans can reach 15 cm, but cbs that mature in a yr are mostly around 10cm. Same case apply to A.australis, WC 10cm, CBBs 7-8cm
with only 2 yrs lifespan, and those WC scorps which have been through seasonal change and not well fed live for 5+yrs

besides , they do have a short period of winter in the dessert, but the assumption is hard to make due to lack of field research evidence

but if this only happens in captivity, it is still good for the hobby to keep solifugids that way

Wade · Feb 6, 2006

Metabolism of all arthropods is regulated by temperature, so it would be surprising if solipugids were an exception, so your comparison to scorpions is probably quite appropriate. By heating and feeding heavy, keepers may be pushing their captive solipugids to the end of their lifespan faster.

Also, G granti is a desert species from a region that does not experience extreme winters, so such species may live longer than temperate ones, such as those that occur in the US. Most of the Galeodes in the trade are collected as WC adults and may be at the end of their lifepan already. We will need more success with breeding or at least rearing babies from WC females to get the whole picture. Could be these hot-climate species just take longer to reach adulthood than previously assumed.

Wade

Randolph XX() · Jun 20, 2006

Sorry to bring this up again
by the short period of winter i stated above is the winter in Taiwan, which is different than the winter in North America
it's about 15 C,even Even hotter then a summer night here in Canada

Ganoderma · Jun 20, 2006

Taiwan has a winter? i must have been sleeping.

do you guys hapen to have more info on conditions? what sort of cage setup were they in? heat, humidity, water etc? any idea on habitat conditions they were foudn in? were they the taiwanese specie?

BLS Blondi · Jun 20, 2006

Solifugids

It is good to hear that they can live a while in captivity. I have been wanting to get one for a while. Who out there in the US has any for sale?

rattler_mt · Jun 20, 2006

being that i find large ones(for here) early in the spring i would think that they can hibernate, we can have snow on the ground for up to 6 months so i cant believe these things only live for 6 monthst when ive found a wide range of sizes at any point during the late spring, summer and early fall. never tried to keep one long though. might have to try and let it hibernate in my unheated garage.

Randolph XX() · Jun 20, 2006

well, just a deli cup
no heating, no water supply, as I SAid b4, they are G.granti, the Arabian sps

zinto · Jun 20, 2006

That picture you posted of it is what it's living in??? :?

Randolph XX() · Jun 20, 2006

Yes
my friend keeps all his CBB desert scorpions (Androtonus, Parabuthus, Hottentona) and desert solifufids this way

zinto · Jun 20, 2006

That seems awfully cruel to me...

solifugids actually lives longer than we think

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