How Often Should I Feed Your Tarantula? A Definitive Guide
How often should I feed my tarantula? The simple answer is: it depends! As a general rule, juvenile tarantulas need to be fed more frequently than adults – typically once or twice a week – while adult tarantulas may only require feeding every one to two weeks, or even less often.
Understanding Tarantula Feeding Needs
Tarantula care is a fascinating and rewarding endeavor, and proper feeding is crucial to their health and longevity. Unlike mammals, tarantulas have a very slow metabolism and can go for extended periods without food. Overfeeding is a far more common problem than underfeeding. Understanding the nuances of tarantula feeding is key to becoming a successful tarantula keeper. Factors like the tarantula’s age, species, size, and even current stage in their molting cycle will affect their appetite and feeding frequency.
Factors Influencing Feeding Frequency
Many factors influence how frequently you need to offer food to your tarantula. Paying attention to these factors will ensure you’re meeting your spider’s specific needs.
- Age: As mentioned earlier, spiderlings and juvenile tarantulas require more frequent meals to fuel their rapid growth. Adult tarantulas grow much slower, reducing their need for frequent feeding.
- Size: A larger tarantula generally requires a larger meal, but not necessarily more frequent meals. A well-fed, large tarantula can go longer between feedings.
- Species: Some species are naturally more active hunters and have higher metabolisms. These species might require slightly more frequent feedings than more sedentary species. Research the specific needs of your tarantula’s species.
- Molting Cycle: Prior to molting, tarantulas often refuse food. This is perfectly normal. Do not attempt to force-feed a tarantula. Once the tarantula has molted, wait several days (or even a week or two for larger specimens) for its fangs to harden before offering food.
- Activity Level: A more active tarantula will generally require more calories.
- Prey Size: Adjust the size of the prey according to the tarantula’s size. A good rule of thumb is to offer prey that is roughly the same size as the tarantula’s abdomen.
Selecting Appropriate Prey
Choosing the right prey is just as important as the feeding frequency.
- Crickets: A staple food for many tarantulas, readily available in pet stores.
- Roaches: Dubia roaches, in particular, are a nutritious and easily digestible option. They don’t chirp or smell as much as crickets and are less likely to escape.
- Mealworms/Superworms: Can be offered occasionally, but are high in fat and shouldn’t be the sole source of food.
- Waxworms: Very high in fat; use sparingly as a treat.
- Pinky Mice (for very large species only): While some keepers feed pinky mice, this is generally discouraged due to the high fat content and potential nutritional imbalances. Only offer pinkies very rarely to extremely large species.
Always ensure the prey is appropriately sized and alive when offered to the tarantula. Remove any uneaten prey after 24 hours to prevent it from stressing or harming the tarantula.
Recognizing Overfeeding and Underfeeding
Knowing the signs of overfeeding and underfeeding is essential to ensuring your tarantula’s well-being.
Signs of Overfeeding:
- A noticeably large abdomen – the abdomen should be approximately the same size as the carapace (the top part of the body).
- Reluctance to hunt or a refusal to eat.
- An abdomen that appears shiny or stretched, which can be a sign of impaction or other digestive problems.
Signs of Underfeeding:
- A noticeably small abdomen – the abdomen appears significantly smaller than the carapace.
- Lethargy or inactivity.
- Difficulty molting.
Creating a Feeding Schedule
While the frequency varies, consistency is key. Keeping a record of your tarantula’s feeding habits helps. Consider creating a feeding schedule based on the factors discussed earlier, adjusting it as needed based on your tarantula’s behavior and appearance. Monitor your tarantula’s abdomen size and adjust the feeding schedule accordingly. A slightly smaller abdomen is preferable to an overly large one.
Common Mistakes in Tarantula Feeding
Even experienced keepers can make mistakes. Here are some common pitfalls to avoid:
- Overfeeding: As mentioned, overfeeding is more common than underfeeding. It can lead to health problems and shorten the tarantula’s lifespan.
- Offering Prey That Is Too Large: This can stress the tarantula and even lead to injury.
- Leaving Uneaten Prey in the Enclosure: This can stress the tarantula and potentially harm it, especially during a molt. Crickets can chew on a vulnerable, molting tarantula.
- Feeding Dead Prey (unless absolutely necessary): Tarantulas primarily hunt live prey. While they can sometimes be coaxed into eating dead prey (for example, pre-killed if the owner is squeamish), it’s generally not ideal.
- Ignoring Signs of Premolt: Offering food to a tarantula that is about to molt is pointless and stressful for the spider.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
My tarantula hasn’t eaten in weeks. Is something wrong?
It’s perfectly normal for tarantulas, especially adults, to go for extended periods without eating. This is often due to premolt, cooler temperatures, or simply a lack of appetite. As long as the abdomen isn’t excessively small, there’s likely no cause for concern. Continue to offer food occasionally, but don’t be alarmed if it’s refused.
How do I know if my tarantula is in premolt?
Signs of premolt include a darkened abdomen, a refusal to eat, and increased inactivity. The tarantula may also become more reclusive. Do not disturb the tarantula during this time.
What do I do if my tarantula refuses to eat?
Remove the uneaten prey after 24 hours. Try offering food again in a few days. If the tarantula continues to refuse food, consider factors like premolt, temperature, and prey size.
What is the best way to offer prey to my tarantula?
The best method depends on the tarantula’s temperament. Some keepers simply drop the prey into the enclosure, while others use tongs to offer it directly to the tarantula. Be careful not to startle or injure the tarantula.
Can I feed my tarantula wild-caught insects?
It’s generally not recommended to feed wild-caught insects, as they can carry parasites or pesticides that could harm your tarantula. Stick to commercially raised insects from reputable sources.
How long can a tarantula go without food?
Adult tarantulas can often go for several months without food, particularly during premolt or colder periods. Spiderlings can’t go as long, but can still survive for weeks without eating. Monitor the abdomen size for signs of emaciation.
Should I provide a water dish for my tarantula?
Yes, always provide a shallow water dish with fresh, clean water. This is especially important for spiderlings, who are more susceptible to dehydration.
What if my tarantula bites the prey but doesn’t eat it?
This could be due to several factors, including premolt, stress, or the prey being too large. Remove the prey and try again later.
Is it okay to feed my tarantula multiple crickets at once?
It’s generally better to offer one prey item at a time. Offering too many crickets at once can stress the tarantula and lead to uneaten crickets hiding in the enclosure.
How do I know if my tarantula is dehydrated?
Signs of dehydration include lethargy, a shriveled abdomen, and difficulty molting. Ensure there is always fresh water available and consider increasing the humidity in the enclosure.
My tarantula just molted. When can I feed it again?
Wait until the tarantula’s fangs have hardened before offering food. This can take several days for smaller tarantulas and up to a week or two for larger specimens. The chelicerae (fangs) will appear dark and hard when they are ready for feeding.
What if the cricket burrows into the substrate?
This can be frustrating! You can try removing some of the substrate or gently disturbing the substrate to encourage the cricket to come out. Another option is to offer the tarantula pre-killed prey on a dish. Ensure you can locate and remove the cricket if the tarantula doesn’t eat it.