Pre-molt Feeding

[Lumina]

Question; should I keep offering food every other day to my Ts I suspect are in pre-moult? Or just leave them be until they moult? (This is regarding my slings mostly- B. albopilosum, P. irminias, and A. purpureas)

I've been doing the former, but how do you guys handle the pre-moult feedings?

 

[TownesVanZandt]

Slings I continue to offer food until they stop eating. Just remember to remove any uneaten prey items.

 

[Lumina]

Slings I continue to offer food until they stop eating. Just remember to remove any uneaten prey items.

After they stop eating, do you stop offering them food until they moult?

 

[Ellenantula]

If you're not sure how soon a moult may occur -- try injuring (crushing head) of offered feeders for easier retrieval if they are rejected. It can be a pain to catch a fast healthy feeder if T rejects it.
{And obviously offer nothing if sling has already started rejected feeders completely]

 

[TownesVanZandt]

After they stop eating, do you stop offering them food until they moult?

Yes, but some will eat and moult within half a day or so. IME most slings have fairly short premoult periods.

 

[Lumina]

I don't like leaving live feeders in my enclosures, as they tend to hide and my Ts may not find them and I forget about them. So I usually wrangle a feeder close to my Ts and give them a few minutes to see if they're interested. And if not, I remove the feeder and offer it again in a couple days.

 

[cold blood]

After they stop eating, do you stop offering them food until they moult?

yes.

Feeding them then is like filling up your car when its already got a full tank....wheres the t gonna put that food?

Pre molt ts need time, not more food.

 

[Ellenantula]

Yes, but some will eat and moult within half a day or so. IME most slings have fairly short premoult periods.

This is so true! I've had slings take a meal and moult later that night! lol

 

[l4nsky]

Yes, but some will eat and moult within half a day or so. IME most slings have fairly short premoult periods.

My experience has been different. I have metallica that will eat 2-3 days before molt, but my muticus will be in premolt and refuse food for weeks. If the abdomen is large and/or they have sealed themselves away while refusing food, I won't offer any until their is noticeable shrinkage in abdomen size or they are out waiting for food.

Thanks,
--Matt

 

[Lumina]

yes.

Feeding them then is like filling up your car when its already got a full tank....wheres the t gonna put that food?

Pre molt ts need time, not more food.

Right, my point is that I'm not 100% sure they're in pre-moult or just not hungry. I'm pretty certain it's pre-moult though, as they're due for it.

 

[Ellenantula]

Right, my point is that I'm not 100% sure they're in pre-moult or just not hungry. I'm pretty certain it's pre-moult though, as they're due for it.

A picture of rump would help -- seriously, a picture of whole current enclosure might gain you more insight.

 

[The Grym Reaper]

After they stop eating, do you stop offering them food until they moult?

I know this wasn't directed at me but if I suspect they're in pre-moult then I'll leave a pre-killed/maimed feeder in with the tarantula for 24hrs, if it is uneaten after that then I remove it and mark them as "in pre-moult" and I won't attempt feed them again until after they moult.

 

[Lumina]

A picture of rump would help -- seriously, a picture of whole current enclosure might gain you more insight.

Oh their rumps are quite plump. No doubt about that. I can post photos after I get home from work.

 

[Thekla]

Yes, but some will eat and moult within half a day or so. IME most slings have fairly short premoult periods.

This is so true! I've had slings take a meal and moult later that night! lol

Unless you have a H. chilensis sling (like me) that spends 5 months in premoult without eating...

 

[Ellenantula]

Unless you have a H. chilensis sling (like me) that spends 5 months in premoult without eating...

I hear you! lol

 

[Lumina]

Unless you have a H. chilensis sling (like me) that spends 5 months in premoult without eating...

Whoa! Well don't have any H. chilensis slings (yet) lol

 

[The Grym Reaper]

Unless you have a H. chilensis sling (like me) that spends 5 months in premoult without eating...

**Cough** "B. albiceps" **Cough**

 

[korlash091]

Question; should I keep offering food every other day to my Ts I suspect are in pre-moult? Or just leave them be until they moult? (This is regarding my slings mostly- B. albopilosum, P. irminias, and A. purpureas)

I've been doing the former, but how do you guys handle the pre-moult feedings?

you can try offering food, if they refuse i usually wait a week before trying again, no need to try every other day.

havent see you in a long time here, glad you still around.

 

[Lumina]

you can try offering food, if they refuse i usually wait a week before trying again, no need to try every other day.

havent see you in a long time here, glad you still around.

Yea, I've been mostly on the Facebook Arachnoboards group lately. But I wanted to ask this on here, being a more serious inquiry.

 

[korlash091]

Yea, I've been mostly on the Facebook Arachnoboards group lately. But I wanted to ask this on here, being a more serious inquiry.

oh nice! welcome back.