Typical growth rate for L. Parahybana?

[Popkorn118]

Hello! I've just been wondering, since I've had 3 LPs for about 2 years and a half now, if their growth rate is normal or not. They were tiny slings when I received them, and now one is over 2 inches DLS, but the other two are still under... the smallest is maybe 1.5 -1.75 inches long. I know they don't grow as fast as other species, but is this a sign of underfeeding or something? Other than that they seem fine, stay plump for a while after feeding. Only thing I can think of is maybe too few holes in their tubs, maybe if the O2 concentration is slightly lower, their metabolism slows down or something?

Thanks, just curious.

 

[Mustafa67]

Hello! I've just been wondering, since I've had 3 LPs for about 2 years and a half now, if their growth rate is normal or not. They were tiny slings when I received them, and now one is over 2 inches DLS, but the other two are still under... the smallest is maybe 1.5 -1.75 inches long. I know they don't grow as fast as other species, but is this a sign of underfeeding or something? Other than that they seem fine, stay plump for a while after feeding. Only thing I can think of is maybe too few holes in their tubs, maybe if the O2 concentration is slightly lower, their metabolism slows down or something?

Thanks, just curious.

Fast

Lots of variables, temps, housing, feeding, etc.

Show pics of the enclosure

 

[A guy]

Too many factors to come up with a concrete answer.

 

[viper69]

Only thing I can think of is maybe too few holes in their tubs, maybe if the O2 concentration is slightly lower, their metabolism slows down or something?

No, there are many factors which affect growth.

 

[Popkorn118]

Too many factors to come up with a concrete answer.

yeah I know, I was more asking if the size is an indicator that something is not ideal or something

 

[sparticus]

Mine grew REALLY fast. Here is where he started, about 3/4".
And here he is today, 2 years later (I cheated, measure starts at 1"). He's easily 6" stretched out and probably penultimate:
Growth rates can vary wildly depending of food sources, feeding frequency, temps, etc.

 

[Popkorn118]

Fast

Lots of variables, temps, housing, feeding, etc.

Show pics of the enclosure

First is the bigger one, chilling on the side. Second is one of the smaller ones; all 3 enclosures are about the same size (6x6.5x10 inches).

About 10 - 15 small holes around; I open them at least once or twice a week to drip water so I thought that was plenty of air exchange. They don't eat that often bc most people here said to feed based on abdomen size, so about once every three weeks, no more. Not sure what else might be up or if it's normal...

EDIT: temperature pretty mild year round, our place is heated, so it doesn't get below 68F in winter

 

[sparticus]

First is the bigger one, chilling on the side. Second is one of the smaller ones; all 3 enclosures are about the same size (6x6.5x10 inches).

About 10 - 15 small holes around; I open them at least once or twice a week to drip water so I thought that was plenty of air exchange. They don't eat that often bc most people here said to feed based on abdomen size, so about once every three weeks, no more. Not sure what else might be up or if it's normal...

If you're feeding once every 3 weeks that's why they're growing slowly. If you want faster growth, feed more often. If you want to keep it slow, keep doing what you're doing. No right or wrong answer here.
EDIT: I do like my vent holes a bit larger than that, personally.

 

[Popkorn118]

If you're feeding once every 3 weeks that's why they're growing slowly. If you want faster growth, feed more often. If you want to keep it slow, keep doing what you're doing. No right or wrong answer here.
EDIT: I do like my vent holes a bit larger than that, personally.

Ok! So even if yours was fat, would you feed him anyway like every week/2 weeks? And yeah I was thinking of adding some more holes, can't hurt as long as I have the water dish.

Dang similar age to mine but yours is more than twice as big... cool

 

[Mustafa67]

First is the bigger one, chilling on the side. Second is one of the smaller ones; all 3 enclosures are about the same size (6x6.5x10 inches).

About 10 - 15 small holes around; I open them at least once or twice a week to drip water so I thought that was plenty of air exchange. They don't eat that often bc most people here said to feed based on abdomen size, so about once every three weeks, no more. Not sure what else might be up or if it's normal...

I’d put a lot more holes in the lid. Also in the 3rd pic, I can’t see with the reflection is there a rock in there? What is your substrate?

Feed often and keep water fish full

 

[Popkorn118]

I’d put a lot more holes in the lid. Also in the 3rd pic, I can’t see with the reflection is there a rock in there? What is your substrate?

Feed often and keep water fish full

Ok, yeah hole time. (Altho there are more holes on the sides that you can't see).
No that's just a reflection of the rock in front of it, substrate is peat moss mixed with a small amount of pure clay powder to help retain moisture.

And what do you mean by feed often?

 

[sparticus]

Ok! So even if yours was fat, would you feed him anyway like every week/2 weeks? And yeah I was thinking of adding some more holes, can't hurt as long as I have the water dish.

Dang similar age to mine but yours is more than twice as big... cool

I feed heavy at the start of the molt cycle when they're hungry and then slow it off as they get full. Maybe a couple times a week the first two or three feedings, then if they're not as hungry I slow way down. He's been fasting the last couple months, and I offer pretty infrequently because he's already pretty full. I think I've offered him food twice in the last 4 months, maybe. I also feed dubia roaches as a staple, and it seems to give better growth rates than some of the other feeder options in my opinion, but that could be biased.

 

[Popkorn118]

I feed heavy at the start of the molt cycle when they're hungry and then slow it off as they get full. Maybe a couple times a week the first two or three feedings, then if they're not as hungry I slow way down. He's been fasting the last couple months, and I offer pretty infrequently because he's already pretty full. I think I've offered him food twice in the last 4 months, maybe. I also feed dubia roaches as a staple, and it seems to give better growth rates than some of the other feeder options in my opinion, but that could be biased.

Ok, thanks for the advice. So by act hungry you mean whether they jump on the food immediately or not, (not the abdomen size) and you just offer them food and adjust based on that.

 

[sparticus]

Ok, thanks for the advice. So by act hungry you mean whether they jump on the food immediately or not, (not the abdomen size) and you just offer them food and adjust based on that.

Exactly. More judging on behavior than the abdomen. But if they are trying to get to be a little grape butt, I will cut them off.

 

[Westicles]

I can only speak from my experience. I have a juvie/ sub adult female for a few yrs now. She grew larger very quickly and then kind of plateaued off. But, like everyone else said, there's a lot off factors that play into that

 

[Popkorn118]

Exactly. More judging on behavior than the abdomen. But if they are trying to get to be a little grape butt, I will cut them off.

Finally got a decent closeup of bro. See it's pretty fat, last ate almost 2 weeks ago and will probably take 2 more weeks for abdomen to get normal size again...

I normally give them crickets fed on carrots and the like

 

[sparticus]

It still looks pretty young, I would offer more frequently if it's acting hungry. It will convert the stored energy in the abdomen to growth when it molts. Crickets have a really high water content, so if you're feeding mostly crickets I would suspect you'd get a slower growth rate from that also. I feed mostly dubia roaches from my colony, but supplement with a variety of other feeders like mealworm/superworms, crickets, waxworms, maggots (bought as fishing bait), chunks of earthworm (also fishing bait), etc.
Most spiders will slow down the feeding response on their own when they're getting full. If they don't, I switch to tiny snacks/no prey offered when the abdomen looks like this:
She's plenty full now, and I'm waiting for a molt to shrink down that booty. Plus as nearly an adult she'll be molting much less frequently, so that plays into my decisions as well. The downside is you can get long fasts before they molt with the way I feed, so if that stresses you, keep doing what you're doing.

 

[Popkorn118]

Ok, that makes sense about the crickets! If it's mostly water that would explain why they're chubby but not gowing much. Also I read that a variety of insects is thought to be better.

Thanks for the extra advice. And she looks like a halloween tarantula, cool!