Hi everyone
Last night I noticed my "female" B. Vagans (Mexican red rump) propped up in the corner of her enclosure. I saw that in fact she was molting - the process took aproximately 4 hours and a very exhausted, much brighter and larger B.Vagans emerged. This morning when I went to check on "her" I noticed pedipalps and very pronounced tibial spurs... she is in fact a "he". Now for the question, I have read that the lifespan of a male tarantula on reaching maturity is not very long at all... what kind of time does my red rump have left? The pedipalps also look a bit fleshy at the ends... I'd go as far as to say "raw" - is there danger of infection, should I remove him from his tank?

Thanks,
BP

A few pics...
During the molt


The day after

Am not sure but that is a stunning pic, striking red.

The male B.vagans can probably live up to a year maybe two if you are lucky after the ultimate molt. As for the 'rawness', without a better pic i'd say its a normal occurrence. Give the T some time to harden up and keep a hawks eye on the suspected area.

I have a G pulchripes MM that is 1year and 7 months after Mature molt and a B albopilosum 1year and 9 months after mature molt and they are both still going strong.
The B vagans should probably also have another 1.5 to 2 years before his time is up.
It all depends on how well he is looked after.

Ok, thanks very much for the replies guys - will do my best.

Louwtjie wrote:

I have a G pulchripes MM that is 1year and 7 months after Mature molt and a B albopilosum 1year and 9 months after mature molt and they are both still going strong.
The B vagans should probably also have another 1.5 to 2 years before his time is up.
It all depends on how well he is looked after.

If you want him to live a little longer, you shouldnt 'look after' him very well!
the less food and less heat will make him live longer! obviously not too
little that he starves though! moisture is important though!