Hi all, does anyone feed their larger T's anything other than small insects? I decided to give my T Apophysis a small fluffy mouse as a one off boost of nutrients and a variant in her diet. I wasn't sure it would take something that wasn't live so I made some (awesome) mouse movements on the substrate with a chopstick. This entised her out a little, I dropped the mouse in and she ran away! I used the chopstick to nudge the mouse a few times and she was on it in a flash! It's been 24 hours and she's still devouring it now. Does it make a difference? Do people do it every once in a while? If so what are the benefits?
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Hey Kirk,
The odd rodent for larger species (apophysis, blondi and parahybana) is o.k but just the odd one mind cos as far as I have heard it shortens their lifespan.
Plus if the mouse had of been left there with your Apophysis, it would've got eaten regardless of wether it was moving or not. Tarantulas have special hairs on their toes (tarsus), these hairs are chemosensitive, meaning they can taste chemicals of edible substances with their toes.
Michael..2xB.vagans, B.smithi, 2x L.parahybana, L.polycuspulatus, G.aureostriata, C.fasciatum, B.albopilosum, B.boehmei, P.pulcher, H.maculata, C.crawshayi, L.violaceopes, C.cyanopubescens, 3xP.irminia, 2xP.murinus RCF, 2xP.cambridgei, C.fimbriatus, C.schioedtei, A.pupurea, A.azuraklassi, A.versicolor, H.lividum, P.reduncus.
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Kirk
Michael covers pretty much what I was going to say, but I'll add one more tip for you... make sure you remove all remains of the mouse when the spider has finished with it..
Or it will stink the place out, and really help those little mites to flourish to epic proportions.
Cheers
Mark
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One more little add-on.
If you are intending on feeding a broad spectrum of food items, then a healthy little colony of woodlice (whether they be the "cleaner" or our own indigenous species) in the tank will be invaluable in clearing the remains you have missed.Don't forget to learn what you can, when you can, where you can.
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Thanks for the replies.
just the odd one mind cos as far as I have heard it shortens their lifespan.
make sure you remove all remains of the mouse when the spider has finished with it..
Or it will stink the place out, and really help those little mites to flourish to epic proportions.
If you are intending on feeding a broad spectrum of food items, then a healthy little colony of woodlice (whether they be the "cleaner" or our own indigenous species) in the tank will be invaluable in clearing the remains you have missed.
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Originally posted by Kirk McNulty View PostI haven't really thought of using woodlice before but if it is as simple as collecting some from the garden and leaving them to do their business around the tank I will do. Don't they bother the T's?
If you have an area that is chemicle and pesticide free then collect some of them and pop them in a tub with some bits of veg and a few tropical fish flakes for food, leave them for a week/10 days (they are crustaceans so can store toxins in their bodies for a short time) then pop a few into all your tanks. (i find in a 12 x 12 about 15 - 20 do an excellent job (1 woodie to 9 sq inch is about right)
The tarantulas don't seem to mind them either, Ive had a large sling attack and eat one a couple of times but no harm was done.Don't forget to learn what you can, when you can, where you can.
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anyone know of the truth about feeding mice to T's and longevity?
i'm not doing that, in fact haven't fed mice to T's at all, but i'm curious.Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars... Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.
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Originally posted by James Box View Postanyone know of the truth about feeding mice to T's and longevity?
i'm not doing that, in fact haven't fed mice to T's at all, but i'm curious.
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Why would the feeding of mice have a life shortening effect? If we accept that the venom of a T wouldn't subdue a large animal and it would be superfluous for insects then it would seem to me the purpose of the venom would be to subdue small lizards, amphibians and rodents. As rodents are the most likely to enter a tarantula's burrow (if they haven't already been deterred by urticating hairs) it would suggest to me this could be an ideal source of food. I'd be interested on hearing the reasons behind this or is it a little out of context eg solely feeding mice would be detrimental?
I've certainly read that providing a more nutrious and varied diet to a female you intend to feed prior to mating can have a beneficial effect and rodents were part of that diet.
There was a thread in this forum earlier in the year that identified the various nutrients of a variety of insects and another thread about the benefit of earthworms.
I fed my 8" female L. klugi for the first time in a few weeks with a pinkie, however she showed little interest despite my prodding, moving etc. She knew it was there, put her legs on it but so far shown no interest in eating it, so tonight it gets removed, with large tongs, a suit of armour and a chainsaw!Last time I fed her a mouse (about 6 mnts ago there was no such delay).
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A varied diet no doubt is beneficial, in my experience, giving your feeder insects a varied diet is always a good way to keep your tarantulas healthy.
The odd change to locusts for a month or two is usually what I do, and they eat so much the food never goes of in their tank LOL!!
Michael..2xB.vagans, B.smithi, 2x L.parahybana, L.polycuspulatus, G.aureostriata, C.fasciatum, B.albopilosum, B.boehmei, P.pulcher, H.maculata, C.crawshayi, L.violaceopes, C.cyanopubescens, 3xP.irminia, 2xP.murinus RCF, 2xP.cambridgei, C.fimbriatus, C.schioedtei, A.pupurea, A.azuraklassi, A.versicolor, H.lividum, P.reduncus.
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Just wondering what size locusts you feed your T's?
Ive Been feeding my 2-3yr old B. Smithi adult locusts since I got her about 3 months ago. Put a fuzzy in there but she wasn't interested so took it out. Lately she hasn't seemed interested in food and hasn't been too active either. The store I bought her from said she hadn't long moulted so cant see any reason why? she was a bit of a gannet when I first got her!Just a B.Smithi at the moment. More soon I hope!
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Hey James,
If she was eating alot of locusts, then yeah she could be going to moult. When they said she wasn't long moulted, sometimes pet shops tell you anything to make a sale, so their word might not be the gospel know what I mean. Sometimes when a tarantula has a healthy home and diet they just grow faster.
P.S Adult locusts nearly forgot there while I was ranting LOL!!!
Michael..2xB.vagans, B.smithi, 2x L.parahybana, L.polycuspulatus, G.aureostriata, C.fasciatum, B.albopilosum, B.boehmei, P.pulcher, H.maculata, C.crawshayi, L.violaceopes, C.cyanopubescens, 3xP.irminia, 2xP.murinus RCF, 2xP.cambridgei, C.fimbriatus, C.schioedtei, A.pupurea, A.azuraklassi, A.versicolor, H.lividum, P.reduncus.
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Nice one, Thanks. She has a bit of a bald patch on her abdomen at the moment. She's a bit of a hair kicker tho so not sure wether that will have anything to do with it? She has seemed a bit more active again lately, so put a couple of smallish crickets in there to see if she's interested. Just getting a little worried as it seems like her abdomen was shrinking a little. It doesn't seem quite as plump as usual. have to wait and see what happens I suppose.Just a B.Smithi at the moment. More soon I hope!
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