How often do they feed

[Paleo22]

My 8-year-old has two tarantulas and is worried they are not eating enough. He offers food twice a week but is concerned that they will go a week or more between feedings. Is this normal or should he be doing something differently?

 

[Enn49]

Much depends the size of the tarantulas he has. Tiny slings can be fed twice a week but as they grow they can go longer periods without food, for instance my big adults get fed every 3 weeks or so.

 

[m0lsx]

I feed my slings (spiderlings) every other day. So they have access to fresh food when they need it. But everything else gets fed once a week & I then have to remove uneaten crickets from at least 25% of my enclosures.

Some tarantulas will go months without eating & never offer food until at least a week after molting, as fangs will be soft.

Over feeding a T is not ideal, as being too fat, could affect their ability to molt easily.

In the wild T's are ambush predators. That is, they sit & wait for the food to pass them by. So in the wild they probably go longish periods between meals.

 

[Paleo22]

Thanks, that helps a lot. He was very worried and wants to be a good caretaker.

 

[Teresaisrad]

The fact that he worries shows he already is <3

Thanks, that helps a lot. He was very worried and wants to be a good caretaker.