well, I wouldn feed it every day, tarantulas in wild are opportunistic eatersThanks it just came out of a molt and I'm amazed how much it's eating. I have other slings but I've never seen this. Was just wondering it kinda alarmed me I had to go get crickets again today. how fast do the blodies grow by the way
is that a fact or just opinion?It will stop eating when it's full. My t blondi eats like crazy. However if you want it to grow up quicker but die quicker feed it more. If you want it to grow slow and live longer feed it less.
No, I have heard that as well. Powerfeeding will cut a T's lifespan.is that a fact or just opinion?
It is a fact.is that a fact or just opinion?
It's a fact. Feeding more increases growth rate and shortens lifespans.is that a fact or just opinion?
Hmm, Mature male example is not the bestIt is a fact.
Take a male for example. Powerfeed it, and it will mature (and die) sooner than one that you feed rarely. Breeders use this to help get the timing right with their pairs.
Stan also confirms it both in his book and in a post here that I can't find right now.
I guess I stand corrected (at least with regards to males!).Hmm, Mature male example is not the best
here is what I discovered
I had bunch of males (in this case Poecilotheria Genus)to experiment with and I found if I powerfeed male he grows quick big and robust after maturity.
One of my bigger one last 19 months after he matured
but the group I didnt feed, just barely, just enough for them exist
they mature almost year later and didnt last most even 5 months
in the end the male that been power fed lived couple months longer then his brother that been fed in different schedule
and my oldest male is 26 months old he still eating (no webs tho)
Euathlus sp
Since the intended purpose of powerfeeding is to making them grow faster, of course their life span shortens, since they well...grow faster. Like for example if you feed a tarantula every week as apposed to feeding it every two weeks. The tarantula fed more often will molt and grow faster, thus shortening its life span...or well that's how my take on it is. :?I have read in this forum, as well as others, that people tend to powerfeed their smallest slings (1/6th-1/4") to get them to a more "sustainable" size, then kick back to a normal feeding schedule.
Is that still considered "life shortening" ? Especially for T's that are known to live for 20+ years?
So many conflicting theories on this subject.
I can see the benefits of powerfeeding very small slings. When they're very young, you're most likely to incur significant losses. Once they're a little bigger, you can slow down the feeding. It might reduce their lifespans in the long run, but at least more of your slings lived through that critical, high-loss period of their lives.I have read in this forum, as well as others, that people tend to powerfeed their smallest slings (1/6th-1/4") to get them to a more "sustainable" size, then kick back to a normal feeding schedule.
Is that still considered "life shortening" ? Especially for T's that are known to live for 20+ years?
So many conflicting theories on this subject.
Thanks, TomI can see the benefits of powerfeeding very small slings. When they're very young, you're most likely to incur significant losses. Once they're a little bigger, you can slow down the feeding. It might reduce their lifespans in the long run, but at least more of your slings lived through that critical, high-loss period of their lives.
Tom