Oldest Tarantula???

[Cooper]

That is truly incredible. I am now going to guy a one/one and a half inch B. smithi and raise it, and see just how long it lives! I think this could be really neat, still having a spider when I am sixty!

 

[Code Monkey]

My oldest confirmed was a WC B. smithi that I had for over 16 years before she died.

Probably the oldest I ever had was WC female A. bicoloratum that was full grown when I got her and died of apparent old age a few months ago.

The oldest one in my collection now is undoubtedly a WC sub-adult A. anax that grows at a rate that makes bristlecone pines look rushed. I've had it 3 years now and unless it turns out to be a male, I may very well have it the rest of my natural life (along with the Flagstaff orange slings I've been raising from 2nd instars for the same length of time).

Otherwise, if talking confirmed age and presently living, nothing so impressive at the moment, just a couple of CB sub-adult B. smithi males that are 4 years old.

 

[Immortal_sin]

my oldest is also a B smithi adult female, she's 13 years old this year. I expect she'll live alot longer. I also have a very small A eutylenum that I got as a tiny sling 3 years ago. It's still only about 2.5", confirmed female, and I suspect she will outlive me!

 

[Vanisher]

Just wondering who has the oldest tarantula here. What kind and how old?

I have no idea! But i have an G rosea and she is around 15 cm in legspan, so i think she is very old. But i bought her as an adult, so i really dont know her age though it should would be fun to know.! CHEERS!!!///Johan

 

[Cooper]

My oldest is 14, G. rosea.

 

[Czalz]

I have a B. Smithi that is 10+ yrs, they said she was 7 when I bought her(like they really knew though). I am eagerly waiting to get her bred (hopefully in a few months). She's a beautiful t. measuring 6 inches without even pulling on her legs. ( ) <------insert grin here.

 

[Raqua]

...grown when I got her and died of apparent old age a few months ago.

How do you know this for sure ?

 

[Code Monkey]

How do you know this for sure ?

I don't, but I don't need to, hence the word "apparent".

As for why I figure it's old age: There were no signs of parasitic infection, no accidents, and the spider has been slowing down (intermoult periods roughly 2 years) and only eating every few months. The spider was also a smuggled adult from Mexico when I got her as "captive bred" from a European import (I paid $60 for an adult female of a species that would take 15 years to rear a decent juvenile/sub size in captivity - that ain't captive bred).

You add that up and you either believe she died of a premature brain aneurysm, or you go with the most likely explanation: end of her lifespan.

 

[Raqua]

I don't, but I don't need to, hence the word "apparent".

As for why I figure it's old age: There were no signs of parasitic infection, no accidents, and the spider has been slowing down (intermoult periods roughly 2 years) and only eating every few months. The spider was also a smuggled adult from Mexico when I got her as "captive bred" from a European import (I paid $60 for an adult female of a species that would take 15 years to rear a decent juvenile/sub size in captivity - that ain't captive bred).

You add that up and you either believe she died of a premature brain aneurysm, or you go with the most likely explanation: end of her lifespan.

My bad ... Understood that 'apparent' in a different meaning ....

BTW. She might have died of being kept too long in a bad conditions .... ;P ;P
(noticed the reference to another thread ??)

 

[Jesse607]

My oldest besides my wc adult A. anax (which I don't know their age), is a 5 1/2 yr old P. murinus "usumbara orange" that I got as a 0.5" sling and has been an adult for at least 3 yrs.

 

[Code Monkey]

BTW. She might have died of being kept too long in a bad conditions .... ;P ;P

Doubtful since she'd been in my care for years at the point she died; that would be one seriously long decline if it had something to do with her initial capture. Then again, speculate is the best you can do when an adult T of unknown history kicks it without any obvious cause of death.

 

[mackids]

how old?

hey everyone I just thought this would be a fun/interesting question to throw out to you all. How old is or was the oldest T you have had to date?

-Julius (G.rosea) I've had for 14 and a half years and when I got her she was already quite large so her true age is most likey far beyond that. (and shes still very active!)

 

[Staley]

Chilean rose

My brother has had his Chilean rose for over 18 years i believe
its is really getting old now

 

[Sobrino]

My G. Rosea is only...........5 months. lol!

 

[Beccas_824]

I'm just wondering, for those of you who have wild caught T's and you've "estimated their age" how on earth do you do that? I mean, once they reach maturity (given they are female) don't they all kind of look the same? For example, how can you distinguish between a a T that is 10 years versus one thats maybe 20 plus years?

 

[Windchaser]

I'm just wondering, for those of you who have wild caught T's and you've "estimated their age" how on earth do you do that? I mean, once they reach maturity (given they are female) don't they all kind of look the same? For example, how can you distinguish between a a T that is 10 years versus one thats maybe 20 plus years?

Unless you know the date the tarantula was hatched, there is no way to know or even estimate its age. Too many variables affect the growth rate. And as you state, sub-adults and mature tarantulas look pretty much the same. Sub-adults may be a little smaller, but again, unless you know the hatch date, size will not give you enough information to estimate the age.

 

[Cpt.nemO]

Holy 35+!!! that's insane, my G rosea is only 7....

O MY GOD !~!!!

BTW your book totally kicks ass , i love IT !!!!!! simply love it, I have quite a few books and yours is the best by far. Even better, its the best book i ever came across about Ts.

 

[eman]

Unless you know the date the tarantula was hatched, there is no way to know or even estimate its age. Too many variables affect the growth rate. And as you state, sub-adults and mature tarantulas look pretty much the same. Sub-adults may be a little smaller, but again, unless you know the hatch date, size will not give you enough information to estimate the age.

This is quite true. I don't think one could factually guess the true age of any given T based on speculative data.

Although, one possible determining factor is the size of the carapace. After comparing a considerable amount of wild caught specimens over the years to CB adults, the most distinctive feature I have noticed (aside from locality and color variations) is the size of the carapace. I've seen some pretty scary looking carapaces on certain wild-caught specimens! I've also seen some of these wild caught monsters produce eggsacs with viable offspring - so I don't think carapace size has anything to do with fertility. But, how much it has to do with age however is certainly food for thought/research...

 

[psionix]

i had 2 female WC Aphonopelma Hentzi that lived 15+ yrs.

 

[syndicate]

my oldest t would be my b.smithi.havent had her for to long but she/he? is round 4"+.dunno how old that makes it tho:?