OBT lifespan?

[Sage Exotics]

I was looking at the lifespan of OBTs since I have one and wanted to have a guess at his sex, but I got some really conflicting results. I’ve got 5-8 years for males, but also 2 years. I’ve got 15-20 for females, but also 7-8. I think mines a male, but he’s already 2, although I am just guessing his sex. In you’re experience (can be second-hand) what are their lifespans like?

 

[Arachnoclown]

My best friend has a 11 year old female...thats all the experience I have with actual age of these. My current ones are all sub adults.

 

[Sage Exotics]

So I’m guessing 15-20 years for females, but I guess I’ll just have to see when mine dies LOL. Thanks!

 

[LuboMoravcik]

Up to 15 years for females and up to 5 years for males, is what I've read. There will likely be exceptions to that rule. I have an adult female but I've no idea what age she is as I got her from a friend.

 

[Sage Exotics]

Okey dokey, so mines still got a bit of time left (assuming he’s a male), good good!

 

[KezyGLA]

You can expect 10-15 years for female P. murinus. Males live much shorter lives of up to 3 years average. These are pretty variable depending on what conditions they are kept.

You say that yours is 2 years old? Did you get it as a spiderling? If it was male I would expect it to be mature.

 

[Sage Exotics]

Okay, yep mine was an itty bitty black sling, looked like a spider you’d catch in your house, and he is mature. Also slimmer than some photos I’ve seen, I believe that’s a sign he’s a male. He came from an exotic pet store that mainly focuses on fish, by that I mean most of the store is aquatic creatures with all sorts of aquatic accesories and supplies, with a small section with some reptiles and amphibians. They have awesome deals on terrariums/aquariums and accessories and the staff are very knowledgeable about all things aquatic (which is what I mainly go there for) so it’s probably my favourite fish store, and I really trust it. Two years ago they got some itty bitty slings labeled “Brazilian red birdeater” and “pink salmon birdeater”, I really wanted a birdeater so read up and got a “Brazilian red”, and to my surprise he grew up to be a bright orange beautiful demon. I’m sure he wants me dead. Pretty big mistake that I think was made by the supplier. He’s on about 2” dry coconut fibre, a shallow clam shell as a dish with a piece of natural sea sponge, he has some terrarium ornaments (cactus, succulents, small rocks), a piece of driftwood that he never uses, and he gets fed a cricket about once a week. Does that fit the bill for 3 years?

 

[Whitelightning777]

Temps and feeding schedules also have a very strong effect on total lifespan.

 

[Sage Exotics]

Well my temps are fairly high, 75-80 Fahrenheit during the day, a bit cooler in the winter, about 70-75.

 

[Kymura]

Okay, yep mine was an itty bitty black sling, looked like a spider you’d catch in your house, and he is mature. Also slimmer than some photos I’ve seen, I believe that’s a sign he’s a male. He came from an exotic pet store that mainly focuses on fish, by that I mean most of the store is aquatic creatures with all sorts of aquatic accesories and supplies, with a small section with some reptiles and amphibians. They have awesome deals on terrariums/aquariums and accessories and the staff are very knowledgeable about all things aquatic (which is what I mainly go there for) so it’s probably my favourite fish store, and I really trust it. Two years ago they got some itty bitty slings labeled “Brazilian red birdeater” and “pink salmon birdeater”, I really wanted a birdeater so read up and got a “Brazilian red”, and to my surprise he grew up to be a bright orange beautiful demon. I’m sure he wants me dead. Pretty big mistake that I think was made by the supplier. He’s on about 2” dry coconut fibre, a shallow clam shell as a dish with a piece of natural sea sponge, he has some terrarium ornaments (cactus, succulents, small rocks), a piece of driftwood that he never uses, and he gets fed a cricket about once a week. Does that fit the bill for 3 years?

Sponge in the dish?....whatever for....

 

[Sage Exotics]

I got a big chunk for my hermit crabs and I had a lot left over and didn’t know what to do with it so I spread it out amongst my other tanks, it really doesn’t serve a purpose.