Life Span of a Texas Unicorn?

[Krissim Klaw]

Yep, I just lost Nubs, my male unicorn last night. His death felt rather abrupt since he seemed fine the night before when I said goodnight. Only foreshadowing I can see is he seemed to be drinking a lot more this last week or so.

He was my first Phyllovates Chlorophaea so I'm not sure how long this species normally lives. From what I calculated it has been about four months since he had shed into adulthood.

Whatever the causes of his loss, he will be missed.

On the other hand, his sister Sage still seems to be going strong though her abdomen flops a bit because she is so fat. She has also yet to lay an ooth which also seems odd to me. Is reminding me of my Redrum, one of my female Chinese who lived a longer than average life for that species but strangely never laid a single ooth.

 

[hibiscusmile]

He lived a good long time in that case. Mine get ate, so I never know! Appears the girls are eggbound, wish I knew why they get this way.

 

[Orin]

He lived a good long time in that case. Mine get ate, so I never know! Appears the girls are eggbound, wish I knew why they get this way.

In my experience with this species the females become egg bound if they haven't mated or the male they mated with was a dud (females that mate with a certain male never laid eggs till mating with a different one and females that don't mate often do not produce oothecae or at least produce them very late).

 

[Krissim Klaw]

In my experience with this species the females become egg bound if they haven't mated or the male they mated with was a dud (females that mate with a certain male never laid eggs till mating with a different one and females that don't mate often do not produce oothecae or at least produce them very late).

Oh, interesting, that would explain what is going on with Sage. I never paired her up for mating since her species isn't native to my state and I didn't want to be overrun with nymphs to care for.

 

[hibiscusmile]

Hummm, something to think about.