Hello, all. I've got 30-some different tarantulas at this point, but only two of mine were raised from tiny slings, a B. vagans and a P. cancerides. Both are adult females.
Each was born early 2009... and my vagans just died. Molted just fine, but never or rarely ate after the molt, and got weaker and less responsive until finally giving up the ghost. And now I am watching the repeat scenario happen with my P. cancerides, who has always been happy (and nasty) and healthy, but she won't eat since last molt and is clearly dying.
So: has anyone had experience with females of these species where they've actually known their ages? Is five years actually their potential average lifespan?? I was expecting quite a few more years from both of them and am a little saddened.
Each was born early 2009... and my vagans just died. Molted just fine, but never or rarely ate after the molt, and got weaker and less responsive until finally giving up the ghost. And now I am watching the repeat scenario happen with my P. cancerides, who has always been happy (and nasty) and healthy, but she won't eat since last molt and is clearly dying.
So: has anyone had experience with females of these species where they've actually known their ages? Is five years actually their potential average lifespan?? I was expecting quite a few more years from both of them and am a little saddened.