Tarantula Date of Birth

[DeusJeffrey]

Is it true that legal papers do not include birth date of Tarantulas? Why not? It is just so sad you wouldn't know their age when you bought them.

I bought mine somewhere that the seller cannot disclose the birth date as well.

 

[Ratmosphere]

There's always the option to ask the breeder for a "hatch date" if they do keep records.

They are not dogs and some people don't keep track of that kind of stuff. I do actually, but very few people ask for it.

 

[IntermittentSygnal]

Tarantulas stage in life is more determined by their current size, in relation to their adult size, rather than age. Some grow extremely slow (Brachypelmas for example) and some very fast (Psalmopoeus), so in the same time frame, one may be closer to adulthood than the other. Also, some get a lot bigger than others. A 3” tarantula could be an adult dwarf, a subadult “full size” T or a juvenile of the ones that grow the largest (Theraphosa).
PS: Also, different individuals of the same species can grow at different rates. I’ve had my genic for just shy of 2.5 yrs and he’s still a subadult.

 

[Mustafa67]

Is it true that legal papers do not include birth date of Tarantulas? Why not? It is just so sad you wouldn't know their age when you bought them.

I bought mine somewhere that the seller cannot disclose the birth date as well.

Can’t tell. Too many variables

 

[DeusJeffrey]

There's always the option to ask the breeder for a "hatch date" if they do keep records.

They are not dogs and some people don't keep track of that kind of stuff. I do actually, but very few people ask for it.

I am surprise that it is not common practice, some usually sell it base on size. Well I would like to know how young my tarantula is because they have limited limited life expectancy. I dont want to buy it on its last year of its life.

 

[sparticus]

I am surprise that it is not common practice, some usually sell it base on size. Well I would like to know how young my tarantula is because they have limited limited life expectancy. I dont want to buy it on its last year of its life.

You will have better luck buying a confirmed female from a reputable source than worrying about the tarantulas birthday. Learn to recognize a mature male so you can avoid accidentally buying one if you plan to shop in person. That will be a far bigger factor in potential lifespan than the amount of time it took to reach whatever size before you bought it. Captive bred will be a better choice than wild caught, no way to know how old they may be if they were taken from the wild as adult spiders. Certain species will be expected to live longer than others, so you can use that as a guideline.