Mature male question

[tony77tony77]

I was just wondering what you guys do with the Mature Males that is to old and not good for breeding anymore?

 

[Moltar]

Just try to keep 'em happy. Food, water and dirt until they run out of steam.

 

[Anastasia]

Just try to keep 'em happy. Food, water and dirt until they run out of steam.

yep, that is what I do

 

[gecko_keeper/KBfauna]

I'm with them. Make the little bugger happy.

 

[Mina]

I agree, I do my best to make their "golden years" happy. Sometimes with really old ones I need to give them some special attention, but they are worth it.

 

[hamfoto]

Put them in the freezer and then into a jar of alcohol...

Chris

 

[robc]

I agree, I do my best to make their "golden years" happy. Sometimes with really old ones I need to give them some special attention, but they are worth it.

I agree....rob

 

[PunkPrestige]

Put them in the freezer and then into a jar of alcohol...

Chris

That's horrible!

 

[robc]

Put them in the freezer and then into a jar of alcohol...

Chris

That is cruel, and you don't have the right to do that IMHO....they are still living creatures....I am glad I am not one of your MM...

 

[Zoltan]

That's horrible!

That is cruel, and you don't have the right to do that IMHO....they are still living creatures....I am glad I am not one of your MM...

No, I think it's not actually. I see it rather as practical. Since it's too old to mate, its days are numbered, and in that state they usually just "suffer" since they are getting weaker every day. If one does what Chris suggested, it may be even beneficial for the hobby, especially if it's a rare species. It may be of use to taxonomists.

 

[PunkPrestige]

?

Would you stick an old man in a freezer because he's just getting weaker every day?;P

 

[robc]

No, I think it's not actually. I see it rather as practical. Since it's too old to mate, its days are numbered, and in that state they usually just "suffer" since they are getting weaker every day. If one does what Chris suggested, it may be even beneficial for the hobby, especially if it's a rare species. It may be of use to taxonomists.

If it is sufferering wich he did not state, I can see that (how would you know if it is suffering?) but old does not = suffering. I think every creature deserves the right to live.....just my 2 cents.....I also could have the rarest Sp in the hobby, I am not going to kill it just for taxonomist reports, it is my pet and I will treat it as such.....rob

 

[robc]

Would you stick an old man in a freezer because he's just getting weaker every day?;P

Exactly.....what about grandma & grandpa???

 

[PunkPrestige]

dignity

They are living things, so treat them with the same dignity you would anything else. Like an old man. Keep him happy til the end--I mean, why not? You can always put him in a jar of alcohol AFTER he dies naturally, right?

 

[Talkenlate04]

When mine mature males start to run out of steam I let them co habit with the females till they die of natural causes or are eaten. Most of the time they are eaten. And when they get to the point where they start curling their legs because they are so weak I put them in the freezer.

 

[Zoltan]

Would you stick an old man in a freezer because he's just getting weaker every day?;P

Huh?

If it is sufferering wich he did not state, I can see that (how would you know if it is suffering?) but old does not = suffering. I think every creature deserves the right to live.....just my 2 cents.....I also could have the rarest Sp in the hobby, I am not going to kill it just for taxonomist reports, it is my pet and I will treat it as such.....rob

Yes, he didn't mention it. I just went ahead and assumed that if a male is past his prime, then there's no telling when will he kick the bucket. With my limited experience with mature males, I know that as they near to the end you can visually see signs of deterioration - that's the kind of "suffering" (note the quotes) I meant. BTW I'm sure you both know that this is called euthanasia ("good death") - so this, in a way, could eventually relate to grandpa, since it's also used in case of humans. Everyone can choose if they want to give their spiders a fast end or watch them die slowly.

 

[robc]

When mine mature males start to run out of steam I let them co habit with the females till they die of natural causes or are eaten. Most of the time they are eaten. And when they get to the point where they start curling their legs because they are so weak I put them in the freezer.

I agree with that...if they are already in the process of dying then helping them out so it doesn't drag out and cause them to suffer is a humane thing to do...just putting them in the freezer when they are 'old' and 'getting weak' is a different story. Maybe that's what he meant by his statement but it sure sounded cruel...

 

[Talkenlate04]

just putting them in the freezer when they are 'old' and 'getting weak' is a different story

That is when I put them in the freezer too. Old and weak. What is the point in watching them slowly get worse and worse till they die?

 

[7mary3]

BTW I'm sure you both know that this is called euthanasia ("good death") - so this, in a way, could eventually relate to grandpa, since it's also used in case of humans.

Actually euthanasia with humans is just a little bit illegal. That'd be assisted suicide, and I'm sure that you've heard of Dr. Jack Kevorkian. Or perhaps not.

 

[Moltar]

Put them in the freezer and then into a jar of alcohol...

Chris

Personally, I don't see any problem with this. Watching a MM progress once it's begun to go downhill sucks. There's no way it's enjoyable for the T either. In fact, I'm sitting here thinking of doing this with my great big MM A genic. Nobody seemed to want him for breeding so now i'm just keeping him. I like watching him as he watches roaches crawl over his foot. (As in he's not particularly interested in food now.)