Are prawns Ok as a food source?

[Clinton Hogben]

Wow, I am learning loads. I didn't realise you could try and feed stuff to tarantulas unless it was live, I thought they went for the movement of live prey. I have a feeling if I stuck a bit of steak or something in with either of my Ts they wouldn't even realise it was there. I will give it a try sometime and see if I can vary their diet a bit more, crickets all the time must get a bit dull!

Hi Claudia
Your tarantula may not leap on a chunk of steak straight away but they will normally find it overnight and go for it. I thought the same at first that a "T" would only go for live food but obviously not the case mine loves organic aberdeen angus steak but will make do with stewing steak.
I find this adds a bit of variety to the diet instead of just crickets etc
piccy attached L Para tucking into steak

Clint

[Clinton Hogben]

just a thought

Just a thought
when feeding your "T" fresh steak etc the process can get a bit messy with all that external digestive juice so not for the squemish

and you need to keep an eye on the tank and clean up well, if stuff drips into your substrata it could encourage mould in more humid settings

Clint

[Peter Lacey]

... the process can get a bit messy ... if stuff drips into your substrata it could encourage mould in more humid settings

That's exactly where my worries lie, its not what it decides to eat its what gets left behind. The invisibles, the fats and oils. And if we think insect remains encourage mites then what could we expect from prawns and steak! I guess the same might apply to providing dead rodents for our Ts but at least they're within their skin.

Does anyone have times when their substrate becomes rancid?

[Claudia Baines]

Thank you for the advice, I may give it a try sometime for curiosity. I just wish I hadn't logged on whilst eating my lunch!! Great picture btw.

[Clinton Hogben]

Hi Claudia
Not one of Maxines better photos (she wasn't smiling & closed her eyes)
but you know what "T"s are like as soon as you move the lid on the viv they tend to move into an impossible position for you to get your hand in and photograph them
I'm sure they know it annoys us
but we luv em anyway

Clint

[Nicola Dolby]

Just out of interest, all this talk of steak, its not "T bone" is it?

[Clinton Hogben]

Just out of interest, all this talk of steak, its not "T bone" is it?

Hi Nicola
Definately T bone mine also likes a glass of ice "T" with hers to wash it down

te he

Clint

[Claudia Baines]

Groan!!!!!