Nhandu Chromatus maturity in under a year??

[infinitebohr]

Hello everyone!

Last October I got my first Nhandu Chromatus (named Dhalsim) as a 1-1/2 inch spiderling. It is now March and he just molted last night into his hooks!! It is unreal how fast he grew, and I think I am seeing the results of unintentional power feeding. When he was young I fed him probably twice a week, and he's only molted 2 or 3 times for me, but the difference between molts was tremendous!! I know this is going to sound stupid, but this almost seems impossible? From 1 1/2 inch spiderling to mature male in under a year and in just a few molts?? I have cut down to a weekly feeding schedule for everyone the last few months, but even if I was feeding twice weekly how could he possibly mature so quickly? He's always been a very good eater! I am not really upset about it (although it saddens me that he'll be gone soon) but I certainly am curious about this impressive growth. From what I've read on some caresheets, these guys should live 3 - 4 years as males...if that is true then this is even crazier.

On a side note I would be interested in sending him off to someone with a mature female, but as I haven't shipped anything yet I'd need someone who was willing to give me information on the process. I posted in the appropriate breeding loan forums about him as well.

 

[Prometheus]

Obviously not impossible if what you say is true and I am sure your not pulling my leg. One of my P.cambridgei molted out into a MM the other day and went from 3-3.5" into a 5.5-5.75". The latter being if I could really stretch him Males can grow quick especially if you can get them to eat alot. As for the shipping just search here on the boards for info and you tube is good as well to see the many different ways to go about it. Good luck finding him a lady!

 

[Dr Acula]

With feeding twice a week, that's definitely a possibility! My GBB matured and went from 1.5" to 4.25" in less than a year.

I just did my first T shipment last monday. It isn't cheap if you want to guarantee the safety of your T. On youtube (and even on this site, not a video though), there are great tutorials that I went by when I made the box and packed the T. They're by tarantulaguy1976. Here are some links to a few of his shipping videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZcBGuWN-I4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3cKX6y1NhI&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIzc75hYdCI&feature=relmfu

This one should prove most useful (seeing as you'd be shipping an N chromatus) :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IX-wepHDwYs&feature=relmfu

 

[BrettG]

Gotta realize that that Nhandu started life as an 1/8th inch spiderling,so at 1.5 inches it already had some time under its belt....and probably was WELL over a year old..

 

[Formerphobe]

I have a N. chromatus that has grown from ~0.5 inch to 4.0 inches over the span of 9 months. It's always been fed once a week. At ~3 inches I tried to back off to every 2 weeks and there was a noticeable weight loss, so it's back to once a week. I've heard others complain that their N. chromatus grow at Aphonopelma rates. Mine rivals my LPs. I could contact the breeder and get an exact age, but at 0.5", it was most likely much less than a year old at acquisition.

I've enjoyed this T a lot and a new N. chromatus sling (~0.25") should be arriving tomorrow.

 

[crawltech]

Brett hit the nail on the head here!.....1.5inch nhandu is prolly 5th-6th instar,..and when its male, that means only a couple more molts before he packing gunz!....this is not at all out of the norm!

..and the gains in size during the final few molts, is also very normal.


OP...find a lady for him!....MM nhandus are great lil drummer boyz!

Gotta realize that that Nhandu started life as an 1/8th inch spiderling,so at 1.5 inches it already had some time under its belt....and probably was WELL over a year old..

 

[captmarga]

I just shipped out 2nd instar NC's, and they were 1/4" at most. Certainly not .5". I have some 3rd instars that are barely half an inch and are over 4 months old.

I managed to mature a 1.5" LP into a 7" MM in 18 months. I feed ONCE a week. So it can happen.

Marga

 

[Amoeba]

I have a N. chromatus that has been molting like clockwork every three months. I got it at maybe an inch (5-6i) and it's probably ~2 now (3 molts later with full adult coloration). It's all about temps and feeding.

 

[gromgrom]

Males do grow faster after all...

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

my sexed female N cromatis is bigger then the male... actualy.. She is bulkier & thicker built..
He will probably hook out before shes full grown... but females can grow faster soemtimes:biggrin::biggrin:
I had em for about 2-3 years kept em at lower temps fed em less. there only 3-3.5" inches.. female might be almost 4"

my A. brocklehursti is growing way faster then them.. lol shes almost 5" inches