Why do arachnids grow so slowly?

[khil]

The absolute fastest growing tarantulas may reach 3 or 4 inches a year from birth, but that is generally the exception and not the norm. Most take years to reach that size, even with continuous feeding and warmth. I've had scorpions haven't reached an inch a year after their birth, not even 50% of their adult size. Heck many insects grow quite slow as well (beetles etc).

Meanwhile someone barges in with a 30 lb puppy that's 6 months old. Endo/ectotherm aside, why do insects and arachnids grow so damn slow? It's almost frustrating, because I love them and I love raising them. Thoughts? Theories? Good reads?

 

[Demonclaws]

Exoskeleton.

 

[Liquifin]

Categorizing arachnids in general as slow growing is something I disagree with. Not all arachnids grow slow nor are all of them the same. My N. incei matured in 7-8 months, which I had a A. avic matured into a small MM in a little over a year when I got him at 1.5''-1.75''. And if we're talking true spiders, I recently had a B. scutatus sling into a Mature male in 6 months (although he's tiny). It's not good to categorize "arachnids" as all slow growing. But I can agree that some T.'s are very, very, slow at growing.

N. incei Before and After

N. Incei Before And After

• Liquifin
• May 7, 2019
• holothele incei holothele vellardi incei male neoholothele neoholothele incei trinidad olive tarantula

From 1.25'' to adult MM for my N. incei, man do they grow fast and also the only picture of my...

B. scutatus MM

Freshly Molted B. scutatus MM

• Liquifin
• Jun 29, 2019
• 1
• barylestis barylestis scutatus male mature male scutatus sparassidae

I thought he wasn't a mature male based on his size of his most recent molt which was around...

 

[Garetyl]

Because they know we love them and they do their best to live as long as they can, just for us.

 

[EtienneN]

Isn’t it just a matter of their metabolism?

 

[cold blood]

The absolute fastest growing tarantulas may reach 3 or 4 inches a year from birth

Well that's just not true. Many species can grow faster than this.

 

[chanda]

Because they know we love them and they do their best to live as long as they can, just for us.

So... does that mean that my fast-growing Ts hate me, and are deliberately stuffing themselves and growing as fast as they can, just so they can leave me sooner?

In the words of Meatloaf: "So now I'm praying for the end of time, that's all that I can do! I'm praying for the end of time, so I can end my time with you."

 

[BoyFromLA]

Meanwhile someone barges in with a 30 lb puppy that's 6 months old.

Then, imagine. 30lbs sling that’s 6 months old. How would you feel about it?

 

[Garetyl]

So... does that mean that my fast-growing Ts hate me, and are deliberately stuffing themselves and growing as fast as they can, just so they can leave me sooner?

In the words of Meatloaf: "So now I'm praying for the end of time, that's all that I can do! I'm praying for the end of time, so I can end my time with you."

Not everyone's best is the same, it doesn't mean they don't love you any less.

Then, imagine. 30lbs sling that’s 6 months old. How would you feel about it?

I'd boop its not-snoot and call it a good pupper.

 

[Scarge]

You think arachnids grow slow, have you checked out how long it takes a Homo sapiens to mature?

 

[Olan]

My geniculata probably multiplied it’s weight by at least 1000x in 2.5 years. Imagine if a 1 lb puppy got to 1000 lbs in that time frame

 

[viper69]

The absolute fastest growing tarantulas may reach 3 or 4 inches a year from birth, but that is generally the exception and not the norm. Most take years to reach that size, even with continuous feeding and warmth. I've had scorpions haven't reached an inch a year after their birth, not even 50% of their adult size. Heck many insects grow quite slow as well (beetles etc).

Meanwhile someone barges in with a 30 lb puppy that's 6 months old. Endo/ectotherm aside, why do insects and arachnids grow so damn slow? It's almost frustrating, because I love them and I love raising them. Thoughts? Theories? Good reads?

Most insects don’t live that long, that’s why they have large numbers of progeny.

Most Ts don’t live that long either

 

[khil]

My geniculata probably multiplied it’s weight by at least 1000x in 2.5 years. Imagine if a 1 lb puppy got to 1000 lbs in that time frame

I mean a possum multiplies it's weight by about 500x in about a year. Same with many marsupials, the only difference with a dog is that it spends most of it's early years in the mothers womb. Spiderlings do not.

Also, fish! Many species will grow to 1000x their size at birth within 6 months or less.

 

[Aarantula]

Then, imagine. 30lbs sling that’s 6 months old. How would you feel about it?

Where can I get one?

 

[Asgiliath]

Humans grow much more slowly

 

[Rhino1]

A lot of arachnids are born, grow to adulthood, reproduce and then die of old age all within 12-18 months.