L.Parahybana development

[kn morris]

Hello to all,
I am relatively new to the hobby and am looking for advice regarding the above species. I have read alot but dont seem to be able to find any accurate information on the growth rate. The reason i ask is my Parahybana has just molted and now has tibial hooks showing quite prominently, i bought him in April at about 1" LS and he now is approx 8" and showings signs of maturity. This to me seems like a possible 2 year lifespan if he carries on growing at this rate due to him possibly having only one molt to maturity. I hope i am wrong on this but advice needed as not sure if several molts still possible with the tibial hooks being in place already??
Thanks for any advice offered

[Matthew Bagley]

If he's got his tibial hooks then he's matured . Can you see he's got embolus ?

[gary spencer]

sounds to me hes matured and hes ready to see some ladies

[kn morris]

Have just checked and without being able to get hold of him i can see a pink round shape at the end of his pedipalps and he definitely has the hooks in place. I take it then that he wont have another molt now and i need to get a female, will he now start making the sperm webs? Anything in particular to watch for so you know he is ready for love!!!

[Matthew Bagley]

He should start making sperm webs within the first few weeks , at least all my MM's do . It may get to shed next year a few males do survive up to 2 years .

After that , it's time to look for a lady friend for your T .

[wayne balcombe]

the growth rate of L. Parahybana is quite fast as with most of the lager species of theraphosidae, if he has tibial spurs and as you discribe "pink round shapes" at the end of the palps then he is mature and ready for mating. the life span of mature males is open to debate but in my experience with the lager species its usually around 12-24 months.

the last segment of the pedipalps will apepar to be small dark coloured balls from which the male sex organs protrude, this can be seen on occasion and are called emboli. they appear as pinky white laterally pointing embolus and are the means by which the male delivers the sperm to the female and are only presant in mature males.

i'd say its time to find him a date, maybe a 50/50 loan with someone who has a mature female and start again with a fresh batch of S.lings. a mature female will live upto 18 years in captivity if all feeding and housing requirements are met with accurately.

hope this has been of some assistance.

wayne.

[kn morris]

Thanks Wayne

As above thanks for the info Wayne, its the first of my T collection to mature into a male and even though i have read up as much as possible you still find yourself unsure the first time round, at the moment its only been about 5 days since his molt and as you have desribed he is definitely a MM. I am trying to source a female but if not will try a 50/50 deal if anyone is interested, might be for the best as how do you pot up a possible 1000 offspring!!!
thanks again

[Mrs Linda Street]

In our experience with MM Para's, our last one was 3 yrs old and regularly making sperm webs, and successfully mating. I think people worry that as soon as their males have matured they're going to die within a few months, but that's not necessarily so, it's the same with Blondi Males, they can be around for a loooooong time, a friend of our's had one that was 4 yrs + and still eating.

[kn morris]

Thanks Linda

Well lets hope mine lasts a while anyway as trying to find a female is like rocking horse poops! I have grown attached to my Parahybana as have watched him from sling to adulthood(proud father) and he has always been quite relaxed and have also been able to handle him. Hopefully he will be around a while longer yet and will try to mate him one way or another(not personally but with another L.Parahyban)

[gary spencer]

have you managed to get him a lady friend or have you sent him off for a 50/50 split

[kn morris]

Not as yet

have just bought a female but i have a feeling its 1 molt away from maturity so will advertise in a couple of weeks for 50/50 or 70/30 as not sure what to do with 300 spiderlings!! Awaiting new female so maybe be lucky but size seems to indicate still a bit too soon for rumpy pumpy