How long to survive an ultimate molt?

Scalded Ape

Arachnopeon
Joined
Aug 10, 2006
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9
My brother got a male G. rosea (one of the red ones) about 4 or 5 years ago...can't remember for sure. A few months after he got it, it molted and had the shorter palps with the little hook things on the end - obviously a male.

I was kinda bummed to tell him that they usually only lived another 12-18 months or so after that, but the little guy is still going! He just sat around for 2 or 3 years till his abdomen was almost gone but lately has started eating again and is fattening up. It hasn't molted again, either. I just thought that was kinda weird. Does this happen very often?

The only other male spider I've had experience with was my A. versicolor that hit its ultimate molt within 3 years and slowed down and died about 6 months later. Poor little guy lived his entire life while that rose was a mature male.

Roses have to be the most unpredictable tarantula out there.
 
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