Question about age & size

[Meludox]

I have a male Curlyhair sling that I ordered from the internet recently. He is about an inch and a half and does not yet have adult colors. I was told by who hatched him that was born in 2013, so he's roughly two years old. How can that be? Two years old and not even a juvie yet. I'm not quite understanding and it worries me because male T's usually only live around 5 years.
Edit: The breeder also did not give me a molt history when asked.

 

[MassExodus]

If its 1 1/2 inches after 2 years, its a female, possibly just not power fed or kept over 75-80 degrees. Brachys are slow growers, especially females. I have a female A geniculata that has to be at least a year and a half old, same size as your Brachy, maybe a little bigger, but not much. She's kept at 75 degrees, and not power fed. She's just started kind of a growth spurt because I feed her more often now. Yours will do the same if you powerfeed her, and keep her at 80. Hope this sets you at ease

 

[Meludox]

Oh boy. Are you certain? I have been powerfeeding him/her and I'm hoping he/she will molt soon so I can check it out myself.

 

[MassExodus]

If its 2 years old and that size, its female. I'm as certain as I could possibly be without looking at a molt.

 

[MassExodus]

You do mean 1 1/2 inch legspan, correct? There's just no way a 2 year old male would be that small..not even a Brachy.

 

[Meludox]

You do mean 1 1/2 inch legspan, correct?

Yes. I wasn't doubting you, I'm just used to hearing "You cannot tell a T's sex without a molt" yada, yada. This is actually quite a pleasant surprise!

 

[MassExodus]

Yes. I wasn't doubting you, I'm just used to hearing "You cannot tell a T's sex without a molt" yada, yada. This is actually quite a pleasant surprise!

No-no, I was just reaffirming it to myself really. I can't be positive, but I'm 95% sure it's female, from what you've said. Could you post a pic of the spider when you get a chance?

 

[Meludox]

 

[MassExodus]

If that spider is two years old, I'd bet money it's female. My Grammastola and Brachy males where much bigger and more developed at 2 years old. They weren't really power fed, and I keep mine at 75 degrees. Yeah, I say female. She even looks female I'm still guessing, without a molt. It's the only way to be 100% sure, and I've been wrong before Still say female though.

 

[Meludox]

I agree. Even if she does turn out to be male, it won't make a difference to me really. Thank you very much for the help!

 

[MassExodus]

I agree. Even if she does turn out to be male, it won't make a difference to me really. Thank you very much for the help!

No problemo

 

[Chubbs]

Well it is a Brachy.

 

[RedCapTrio]

My b. smithi that is fast growing turned out male so that's 1 more sample to your equation.

 

[Meludox]

Cool cool. Normally I wouldn't care much but I just can't see Jamie (the breeder) messing up sexing like that. Or selling the T until she was positive.

 

[Chubbs]

Cool cool. Normally I wouldn't care much but I just can't see Jamie (the breeder) messing up sexing like that. Or selling the T until she was positive.

Smaller tarantulas are harder to sex, therefore they are often sold as unsexed. Unsexed tarantulas of course go for cheaper. A breeder isn't going to wait until they have sexed every single sling from every single sac from every single species before they sell them. If they did this, they wouldn't be very successful with their business.

 

[kormath]

Smaller tarantulas are harder to sex, therefore they are often sold as unsexed. Unsexed tarantulas of course go for cheaper. A breeder isn't going to wait until they have sexed every single sling from every single sac from every single species before they sell them. If they did this, they wouldn't be very successful with their business.

It's why I like to buy the smaller unsexed ones. Kind of like a new parent not wanting to see if their child is a boy or girl.

 

[Meludox]

Smaller tarantulas are harder to sex, therefore they are often sold as unsexed. Unsexed tarantulas of course go for cheaper. A breeder isn't going to wait until they have sexed every single sling from every single sac from every single species before they sell them. If they did this, they wouldn't be very successful with their business.

I know that, but I bought the spider as a sexed male.

 

[kormath]

Jamies tarantulas? if it's the same listing I'm looking at they're a suspect male. I was going to order that one but she didn't have any Geniculata my son wanted.

 

[micheldied]

It's very possible with slow growing species. I received a male G. rosea that was almost 2 years old and was only 1.5 inches.

 

[MassExodus]

It's very possible with slow growing species. I received a male G. rosea that was almost 2 years old and was only 1.5 inches.

Agreed, its possible. Still say she looks female