Old Man River

[EulersK]

I legitimately can't believe this spider is still alive.

I acquired my C. andersoni about two and a half years ago, and he was a joy. I knew he was a male when I bought him, but it was a killer deal, so I couldn't pass him up. He matured shortly after into this good looking male. I decided to keep him, as he was still extremely aggressive and I was still a greenhorn. Packaging him is not something I wanted to do. Here he is posing proudly directly after his molt, ready for the ladies:


He matured two years and two days ago. In case you're wondering what a male past his prime looks like, it's this:


Being a senior, his hobbies now include staying in a death curl at all hours, hanging out by the water dish in hopes that a lady will wander by, and pretending to be dead when prodded with a straw. He still eats, but he can only manage to take down half of a roach. The abdomen half. He's not aggressive in the least, because frankly, I don't think he has the energy. I expect him to die any day now, but frankly, I've been saying that for a year.

Does anyone else have stories of mature males that are way past their prime? What effects do you see on their temperament? Any other interesting observations?

 

[8Legs8Eyes]

Aww. He's a cute little old man. I just had my first male mature on me, not sure how long he'll be around for but hoping long enough for me to get some offspring out of him. Did yours successfully get a lady spider knocked up?

 

[johnny quango]

I have a Euathlus sp north that matured in January 2015 he was sent out to do the deed which was successful. The best thing was he returned to me looking as good as ever and his temperament is still as calm and docile as ever, just like you I expect him to be gone anytime soon and I know I'll be gutted as he is 1 of my favourite tarantulas I've ever owned

 

[Sarkhan42]

My mature male B albopilosum matured something like 2 years ago, and while he visually looks very worn out he's still making sperm webs and wandering like he should, though he's started to really struggle in catching prey, On top of the fact he's never taken roaches even since he was a small juvie.

 

[EulersK]

Did yours successfully get a lady spider knocked up?

Unfortunately, no. He stopped wandering and (to my knowledge) making sperm webs a long time ago.

... he visually looks very worn out

That's crazy, isn't it? It's beyond the constant death curl. I swear he looks gray! Of course I realize that this is just my imagination, but still.

 

[Vanessa]

I legitimately can't believe this spider is still alive.
Being a senior, his hobbies now include staying in a death curl at all hours, hanging out by the water dish in hopes that a lady will wander by, and pretending to be dead when prodded with a straw. He still eats, but he can only manage to take down half of a roach. The abdomen half. He's not aggressive in the least, because frankly, I don't think he has the energy. I expect him to die any day now, but frankly, I've been saying that for a year.

Poor little dude, that is so sad. I'm not looking forward to my boy's 'golden' year(s).

 

[EulersK]

Poor little dude, that is so sad. I'm not looking forward to my boy's 'golden' year(s).

Ship him off! From what I recall, you have a Brachypelma sp., yes? Should be easy enough to package and ship.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

Uh, i'm sorry man, but watching the second pic, isn't that substrate a bit too dry and not even that much (inches, i mean) for a genus Chilobrachys?

I've always kept mine/s with 7/8 inches of moist substrate.

 

[Vanessa]

Ship him off! From what I recall, you have a Brachypelma sp., yes? Should be easy enough to package and ship.

Most of my group are either female or currently unsexed. The only sure male I have is the juvenile G. pulchripes. I'm hoping that, at least, one of my two unsexed G. pulchras are female. I am getting a few unsexed spiderlings next weekend as well.
There isn't a huge demand in Canada for males. I will maybe offer when they have hooked out and see if anyone is interested.

 

[creepa]

So correct me if i'm wrong...., he matured 2 years ago?
And at the time you where still a greenhorn?

So you had a whole year to un-greenhorn and another year to find him a female, or to ship him of....

But instead you did nothing to get him to pass on his genes?, major cockblocker dude...

 

[EulersK]

So correct me if i'm wrong...., he matured 2 years ago?
And at the time you where still a greenhorn?

So you had a whole year to un-greenhorn and another year to find him a female, or to ship him of....

But instead you did nothing to get him to pass on his genes?, major [censored] dude...

Females will almost invariably eat the male if he doesn't attempt to pair within a few months after maturing, let alone a whole year (or more). Trying to pair him would have almost certainly been a death sentence. This is pretty common knowledge, which is why no one else called me out on it.

 

[creepa]

Thats not entirely treu...

I know of someone succelfully breeding T. stirmi twice with the same male..., with 1.5 years in between.

But i dont know how that is with Chilobrachys sp.
It never hurts to try imo...

 

[Toxoderidae]

Thats not entirely treu...

I know of someone succelfully breeding T. stirmi twice with the same male..., with 1.5 years in between.

But i dont know how that is with Chilobrachys sp.
It never hurts to try imo...

With chilobrachys, or any OW, it's a slaughterfest for the male. I'm pairing my P. regalis with the skittish one first, as the WILL be killed by the more aggressive female.

 

[lalberts9310]

I have a male P. Irmina that has been mature now 1 year 1 month and 6 days. Still wandering, making sperm webs and threat poses so hard that he ends up laying on his back.

 

[Vanessa]

He's more of a 'Trifle' than a 'Truffle' nowadays.

Sorry, because that is kinda mean, but I couldn't help myself.

 

[EulersK]

He's more of a 'Trifle' than a 'Truffle' nowadays.

No, that's about right! I recently got another Chilobrachys sp. (C. fimbriatus) who I named Lindor. Gonna keep that going with all my chilo's

 

[creepa]

With chilobrachys, or any OW, it's a slaughterfest for the male. I'm pairing my P. regalis with the skittish one first, as the WILL be killed by the more aggressive female.

I'm still convinced thats not entirely treu..., i've done a lot of pairings of asian species exept Chilobrachys and it allways ended up good for the male...
Even if the male was old and i was 4th in row.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

who I named Lindor.

Uahahahah, like the chocolate, man?

 

[EulersK]

Uahahahah, like the chocolate, man?

You got it! That's why the one in the picture above is named Truffle. The next one will likely be Hershal!

 

[Chris LXXIX]

You got it! That's why the one in the picture above is named Truffle. The next one will likely be Hershal!

Yup, Lindor, i know well those "dirty deeds done dirt - not so - cheap" things

Just finished to eat the last "remnant" of this delicatessen three hours ago, old Italian bakery Venezia treasure <3

http://www.loison.com/prodotto/98/37/2/00006230/Colomba-Classica-a-D--1552/