So im slightly new to taking care of tarantulas ive had a few in the past months. 2 slings have passed sadly one took a fall and the other i wasnt sure about just passed away. but my question is about feeding, how often should i feed them, there are 3 juveniles at different sizes and 1 sling. is there a way to tell when they are hungry and need feeding? can i tell when they have a healthy looking abdomen because im not sure how to tell if they look healthy or not. and what should i feed them. ive been running them off silent crickets since i got them all and sometimes they dont eat them so they die and i have to take them out. should i crush the crickets head and kill it to feed to the tarantula or should i put alive crickets in there for the tarantula to find. i do have a poorly T atm but i have another forum for that, i just had some questions about how i should feed my Tarantulas. Thanks.
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Question about feeding tarantulas
- Thread starter josh.djt
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You could feed slings until they refuse food.
As long as the abdomen is larger than the carapace, you only need to attempt to feed once or twice per week, IF that.
As long as the abdomen is larger than the carapace, you only need to attempt to feed once or twice per week, IF that.
yes, as not feeding the sling in about 2 weeks and molting about a month ago i am putting a small alive cricket to see if it wants to eat. the abdoment is about the same size if not a smidge bigger than the carapace
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Yea, try not to worry about it.
Use the A. geniculata that you posted in the other thread as a reference. That is what a healthy T should look like.
Use the A. geniculata that you posted in the other thread as a reference. That is what a healthy T should look like.
Okay thanks, yea i have put a small cricket in its small tub so should enjoy that one, also fed my Chaco golden knee a medium cricket(not good on scientific names yet) as also not fed in awhile. that one could possibly be in premolt as it was scared of the cricket and its got a shiny black and vary large abdomen, last molted about 3 or more months ago. but if its hungry it will eat it. i have a Brazilian blonde whos my biggest T but still juvenile and its always hiding and webbing the entrance to its bark hut i have and hole its got in it so idk if it ever wants food or not and if i put a cricket in there im worried that it wouldnt find the feeder as its barricading itself in its home
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Remember to remove any live prey if the tarantula has not eaten it within 6 hours.
oh so even if its alive i still remove it? i thought i could leave alive ones so when the T is hungry it would then have it. ill remember that. But about that brazilian blonde. should i still put alive crickets in its enclosure even if it barricades its self in its home or should i crush the crickets head and leave it at the entrace to see if it takes it. or should i not feed it while its hiding.
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No, you never want to leave live crickets in the enclosure if they won't take it right away.
Yes, crush the heads to see if they will take.
Yes, crush the heads to see if they will take.
okay i will sort that out very soon, my white stripe birdeater sling has indeed chopped up the small cricket i gave it only 20 mins ago. the chaco golden knee has not had its cricket so maybe premolt?
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All depends. Maybe just not hungry, could be pre-molt as well. Post some pics when you get the chance.
heres a pic of this pretty one. i do think she looks like shes in premolt or ready to molt maybe soon even.
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See now that is a fat T... definitely doesn't need food anytime soon.
Okay lol, i will try and take this live cricket out and try put it back into the cricket tub. just something funny to say, the cricket i crushed to put outside my brazilian blondes home was still moving after i crushes its head and even took the head off
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It's best to remove live food if the tarantula doesn't eat.
If the T starts molting its very vulnerable and could be killed by the cricket.
Yes, thank you. i now understand that but also i assume if im putting pre killed food in the enclosure i also remove it within a limited amount of time?
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Yep... if you want to prevent mold and mites.
yea i dont have springtails so i will be removing those too, thanks.
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Are you opposed to adding springtails?
No, i just dont ever buy them plus i dont really know if the T would eat them or if the springtails would affect the T atall.
