B. smithi vs G. rosea Growth Rates

[GQ.]

I bought both of these spiders within a few weeks of each other as 0.5inch (~1.3cm) slings about 2.5 years ago. They have both been offered roughly the same amount of food. The G. rosea eats well as does the B. smithi. Neither one of them eats as much as many of my other T's. I have grown several other species from slings to adults in a fraction of the time it has taken these two to grow to their current size. All are on the same feeding schedules and eating the same prey types. Are these fairly typical growth rates for the two species?

First up is the Brachypelma smithi. He is nearly over 4 inches (~10.2cm) from his first leg to his fourth leg as you see him posed in the photo.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v289/GilbertQ/BrachypelmasmithiB.jpg


Next up is a Grammostola rosea. This critter is probably not even hitting 2.0 inches (~5.1cm) from the first leg to the fourth leg.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v289/GilbertQ/Grosea.jpg

[P. Novak]

dang that is a big growth rate difference!!!!

im getting a B. vagans and B.albopilosum would they grow as fast as the B.smithi since they are in the sam sp. or do they ech have dif. growth rates?

thanks

[GQ.]

I don't know about the B. vagans, but my B. albopilosum reached maturity fairly quickly. They all grew from slings to maturity in about 1.5 years plus or minus a few months.

[David_F]

....my B. albopilosum reached maturity fairly quickly. They all grew from slings to maturity in about 1.5 years plus or minus a few months.
Same here. My B. albopilosum male grew from .25" to ~5" (ultimate molt) in about 15 months. Even my female, at ~5" is still molting fairly often (about once every 4-6 months). I have a female B. vagans that has gone from .25" to about 4.5"-5" in about 15 months, too. I think the tropical Brachys grow quite a bit faster than the desert species.

[becca81]

My B. vagans has grown faster, on less food, than my L. parahybana. I got it in January or so at .5" and it is now over 3".

I can see B. smithi being slower than G. rosea. I've got a sling G. rosea that I got at the same time as the B. vagans and it isn't even an inch yet - it seems to barely grow with each molt.

[P. Novak]

haha awesome thanks guys! i cant wait to get them!

[GQ.]

Well, the B. smithi just molted out all nice and purty. It is definitely a male, but still no spurs! Argggh. My female is going to die of old age before he matures.

Thanks for the replies folks! :)

[Darwinsdad]

You may have answered you own question somewhat with the Smithi being male. Males tend to grow quicker than females. I have no real clue as to why but surmise(all of my own opinion here) that it is so they will have matured and passed on long before the females of the same clutch are sexualy mature thus preventing inbreeding amongst themselves.