Young Rose Hair Tarantula that hasn't molted

[dzogh]

I have a Rose hair Tarantula that was a few months old when we bought it. It molted once within the first month or two but has not molted again since (that was about a year ago). It's not a big eater but is fairly active. Is there something I need to do?

 

[TZach]

from what ive learned with my pulchripes, and rosea and just simply research. the grammastola genus are slow growers, therefore, they arent going to molt as fast. its not your T, the whole genus is like that

 

[dzogh]

Thanks for the quick response. I was not really worried about it before and then I came across some research showing that in their first year they usually molt every few months and then maybe only once a year after so then I thought I better check into seeing if something was wrong.

 

[TZach]

Thanks for the quick response. I was not really worried about it before and then I came across some research showing that in their first year they usually molt every few months and then maybe only once a year after so then I thought I better check into seeing if something was wrong.

glad to help. this genus are excruciating when it comes to growth. but the pulchripes seems to be the faster growers of the genus. my mature female g. rosea molts about 1 every two years.

 

[Shell]

How big is the spider? Unless you purchased it from someone who knows exactly when it was hatched, it's very likely older than a few months old. I had a G. rosea sling that after a year was only .75". This species is extremely slow growing. As they get larger, they will go much longer between molts. I currently have a 4.5" female rosea that hasn't molted in the 2.5 yrs that I've had her.

 

[dzogh]

Thanks Shell

Very good point. Seeing many hatchlings now at shows I'm sure mine was not the few months old that they told me it was when we bought her.

I've attempted to attache a photo, we will see if it works. Not including legs her/his body is probably 1 1/2.

 

[Jared781]

From what i can see; It looks as his.her abdomen has darkened a bit(I zoomed in 5x to make sure)lol ? IMO ya just gotta be patient? Deffinitely a niice little enclosure though.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

looks like a sub-adult G rosea. closer to 3-5+ years old or so

 

[Shell]

Definitely not a few months old. How old it is, no way of knowing as many factors contribute to a spiders growth (how much fed, how often fed, temps kept at etc) but at least a few years, probably more. At that size, going without a molt for that amount of time is totally normal for a G. rosea.

One more thing, just for future reference. Most of us, when giving a measurement, use DLS (diagonal leg span) from the tip of one first leg, to the tip of the opposite back leg.

 

[grayzone]

looks like a sub-adult G rosea. closer to 3-5+ years old or so

ultum, im not tryin to argue but YOU saying that thing is 3 to 5 yrs is the same as the LPS sayin a few months old... for all ANYBODY knows that rosie could be like 12 or 15... No way to tell unless you know the breeder it came from. as shell said.. WAY TOO MANY VARIABLES

---------- Post added 05-05-2012 at 04:06 PM ----------

op .. if you wanna know how old that t is look up catfishrod69.. read HIS signature lol.. (still think thats hilarious john)

 

[dzogh]

Thanks everyone. I felt like I did a lot of research on line and in books before making the decision on the Rosie but it's the little things sometimes that get lost. Like I should have realized it was already sub adult when I got it, but had no idea on the slow growth rate. Was still a wonderful choice. A great pet and amazing education for my 4 daughters... Looking to add a Chromatopelma Cyaneopubescens to the collection for Mothers Day I hope.

 

[Chris_Skeleton]

Thanks everyone. I felt like I did a lot of research on line and in books before making the decision on the Rosie but it's the little things sometimes that get lost. Like I should have realized it was already sub adult when I got it, but had no idea on the slow growth rate. Was still a wonderful choice. A great pet and amazing education for my 4 daughters... Looking to add a Chromatopelma Cyaneopubescens to the collection for Mothers Day I hope.

Just to clarify... Regardless of growth rate, no T is going to be that large within a few months.

 

[dzogh]

The picture above is recent. I thought she was a few months old when I got her, which was just over a year ago. I was assuming she was about 1 1/2 now, but she has not grown that much and with what I have learned through all your reply's I'm now guessing she is at least 3 now and was well over a year when I got her.

 

[grayzone]

best of luck with the GBB ... there are a bit for sale around here rite now so getting some for mothers day shouldnt be a problem... grow WAY faster than rosies too.. lol. you COULD buy one and have it mature in the time it takes a rosie to go through 1 complete molt cycle:wink: just watch out for the hairs

 

[Chris_Skeleton]

The picture above is recent. I thought she was a few months old when I got her, which was just over a year ago. I was assuming she was about 1 1/2 now, but she has not grown that much and with what I have learned through all your reply's I'm now guessing she is at least 3 now and was well over a year when I got her.

A more accurate guess would be at LEAST 6. Your T could be anywhere between 5 and 15 years old being wild caught and at that size. A 3 year old G. rosea would still be fairly small I imagine.

 

[hamhock 74]

What's the yellow stuff next to the waterdish btw?

 

[Formerphobe]

Five to fifteen years is a reasonable guesstimate. As I recall, there is someone who posts here with a 4+ year old G. rosea that is still less than one inch diagonal leg span. You can 'force' some species to grow faster, but I don't think G. roseas are very accommodating in that regard.

What's the yellow stuff next to the waterdish btw?

I was going to ask that, too. And what is the green stuff in the water bowl?

Follow the links on this page to find out nearly everything you ever wanted to know about G. roseas.
http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/sho...read-how-to-really-take-care-of-your-G.-rosea.

Nice looking spider, btw.

 

[hamhock 74]

Looks like marbles or those glass pebble things.

 

[grayzone]

maybe its the water pellets or cricket feeder things too? either way, id ditch whatever that stuff is.. sub, hide, plants (fake or real) is all

---------- Post added 05-06-2012 at 06:54 PM ----------

your rosie truly needs... hell, sub and water dish if you wanna be technical

 

[Zoomer428]

Mine haset molted yet and ive had him for alil while