Introduction and a Question

[The Weird Girl]

Hello, Everyone.

Two weeks ago, I finally got grammostola pulchra/Brazilian black tarantula. She's not yet anywhere near full sized. When I got her, her leg span was just two inches and she was afraid of the meal worms that I offered her. It took her a few days, but she acclimated to her enclosure and finally ate a meal worm. In less than two weeks, her leg span has increased by about half an inch and her abdomen is definitely more plump. I've only fed her three meal worms during this time. I'm concerned because I thought that Brazilian blacks were slow growers and this seems a bit fast. Is this normal? Am I overfeeding her?

Thanks!

 

[Tarantulafeets]

Welcome to the forum!
Yes, G pulchra are slow growers, but they grow only during molts, not like how mammals grow. Maybe when you first measured her, she was a bit scrunched up, and now she spread out? Unless she molted in the time you had her which is unlikely as she recently ate. She's probably going to molt soon* though with the plump abdomen.

*could take a few months for Grammostola lol

 

[Enn49]

Hello and welcome

 

[DustyD]

Pictures could be helpful, but as Tarantulafeets pointed out, growth comes from molting. A picture could also help us tell whether your T is in pre molt or just a full abdomen.

I have two G. pulchras that started about two inches almost a year ago and have now doubled in size. Food, temperature can affect growth rates. They also seem to be slow growers as small slings then grow faster as juveniles then slow. I say this, although last summer was really hot and may have spurred growth on.

 

[The Weird Girl]

Welcome to the forum!
Yes, G pulchra are slow growers, but they grow only during molts, not like how mammals grow. Maybe when you first measured her, she was a bit scrunched up, and now she spread out? Unless she molted in the time you had her which is unlikely as she recently ate. She's probably going to molt soon* though with the plump abdomen.

*could take a few months for Grammostola lol

She was spread out both times and she hasn't molted yet. I've never kept a tarantula this small, so I'm like the stereotypical nervous mother with this girl. Thanks again!

 

[Yvonne G]

Welcome!

 

[m0lsx]

Welcome to the forum.