What do YOU do with Past-Prime Males?

[kitty_b]

I know a lot of people on here breed as a hobby (or somewhat more).

What do you do with males once they've served their purpose?

I know some people (usually who have raised the males themselves) let them live out their remaining time in luxery. I know others slip them in the freezer as soon as they stop building sperm webs.

I'm not looking to start a huge debate (like what happens when someone mentions handling their arachnids), but I'm curious to see what people have to say.

 

[cheetah13mo]

I am not one to cut the T's life short. I think any male T that I have, after breeding, still serves the purpose of allowing me to enjoy him while I still can. After raising him to maturaty, letting him do his thing, I think he deserves a little retirement time to relax and it's my job to make it as comfortable and easy going as possible. :worship: It's going to be up to him when he wants to quit, not me. This is an entirely biased opinion as I am not in the hobby just to breed them. I have no children nor am I going to have so my wifes and my pets are our kids, as cheezy as that sounds. I feel I look at them in a different way than a lot so thats the reason for feeling the way I feel. Good question. :clap: I'd like to see what other keepers have to say.

 

[Mina]

Cherish them and care for them in the time they have left. I would have happily done so for my male GBB if he had survived his mating, and am hoping with all my heart that I am allowed to provide for and love my male A. avic after he returns to me from his current breeding project.

 

[Cerbera]

Absolutely 100% concur with the post above. Freeze it as soon as it stops making webs ? I am astonished that anyone involved in the care of spiders could even consider it.

 

[AfterTheAsylum]

I never cut them short. You never know what might happen. I had a mature male blondi pull off an extra molt. So they still have ways of making you amazed.

ATA

 

[stonemantis]

My thoughts:

If my male tarantula makes it through the mating ritual or rituals and he is still able to move, drink, and possibly eat without difficulty then I keep him alive as long as I can. I only consider freezing when he is struggling or suffering but, I usually let nature take it's course.

I miss all my animals when they pass but, I make sure he is able to breed so that I can enjoy his offspring as I enjoyed him. Sure it's not the same but, it helps me heal emotionally.

I know alot of people say "it's just a spider" but, I consider all my pets my children and I miss them equally when they die.

Just a few of my personal thoughts on the subject.

Brian

 

[Bedlam]

Good to see an agreement on this one!

I took a slightly different route sending my male G. rosea off to mate with anyone interested in mating the species without expecting to have him returned. I'm sure he's living out his days somewhere nice or he passed on while gettin nookie. Either way, he was a stud.

 

[Jonathan Rice]

Loan 'em or Leave 'em

I loan them to other breeders, or like many have posted before me, I leave them be. I let them live out the rest of their lives in peace.

I've heard of a very extreme way of prolonging a mature males life. Something about cutting off its pedipalps. Sounds barbaric so I haven't researched it any further to see if it's just a myth or if there is someone crazy enough out there to actually attemp such a thing. Who knows.

In conclusion.. Let them live until they die.

 

[_Nagash_]

Male Lasiodora parahybana

I only have one male, it`s a Lasiodora parahybana. He sometimes looks very worn out, but suddenly, he starts to eat and wandring around again. He is 100% doctile, except when he is trying to get out of the enclosure

I named him K.I.N.G, and that is what he is going to be treated like, for the rest of his life.

 

[Binky/Carol]

My first T was an ultimate male G. Rosea.. I had him for over 2 years before even knowing he was a mature male...He ate, wandered. was a great pet, helped teach little kids about T's..
I wasn't untill I got another G. Rosea that he went all gonzo.. I wish I had understood that they would have mated.. or at least thought about it.
He tried to molt again, and died, half way through.
They can live for a few years, after their mature molt, and are great pets.
Keep em alive !!
Carol

 

[green_bottle_04]

ive never had this problem to deal with. all of my mature spiders are females...but we will see how my 12 slings of different species turn out! i wanted to make a brief response to something someone had mentioned about cutting off the males pedipalps. i have heard of people doing this. however they dont cut the entire pedipalp off. just the last segment with the hooks. it lets the male molt and not get stuck. i doubt if i will do that since most of my ts are old world and i really dont want to get bit or put my t through that pain...but it IS a possibility.

 

[Lorgakor]

I too just let them live out their days in comfort. I only have one mature male right now and he never has been bred. He has been mature for a year now and is slowing down immensely. I don't think he has eaten for a couple of months. I am so sad to see him winding down like that.