Can mealworms or superworms be used as a staple?

[azmi]

Im getting my first tarantula and I was wondering if mealworms or superworms could be used as a staple?

And if they can, how many would you feed?

 

[Poonjab]

Yeah. Feed until T is plump. Then feed accordingly. Crush heads to prevent burrowing of mealworms

 

[Smotzer]

Yes they can be! and how many depends on size of tarantula and size of abdomen throughout the course of molt cycles, theres no strict amount across the board

 

[PidderPeets]

As the others have said, yes they can be fed those exclusively. And the amount of feeding depends on many factors such as size of tarantula, the size of it's abdomen, and honestly even personal preference to a certain degree.

I tend to feed my tarantulas a bit more sparsely than some others, but that also nearly guarantees they'll eat when I feed them, rather than having to observe and make sure they eat the feeder instead of not being interested and having the feeder escape from the spider. But you can also crush the head of the mealworm/superworm to ensure it can't cause problems later on

 

[kingshockey]

better to cut the heads off of them before feeding they can survive a crushedhead along with molting out into an mature beetle at the worst time like when your t is flipped on its back about to molt and defenseless

 

[Tarantuland]

yes

 

[Pmurinushmacla]

As the others have said, yes they can be fed those exclusively. And the amount of feeding depends on many factors such as size of tarantula, the size of it's abdomen, and honestly even personal preference to a certain degree.

I tend to feed my tarantulas a bit more sparsely than some others, but that also nearly guarantees they'll eat when I feed them, rather than having to observe and make sure they eat the feeder instead of not being interested and having the feeder escape from the spider. But you can also crush the head of the mealworm/superworm to ensure it can't cause problems later on

I noticed a huge difference in my g. Porteri's feeding response when I cut down on feeding. Id say she is on par with a geniculata now, whereas before she kinda just fell on the prey.

better to cut the heads off of them before feeding they can survive a crushedhead along with molting out into an mature beetle at the worst time like when your t is flipped on its back about to molt and defenseless

I gotta go and rehouse my p. Metallica now bec of this. Crushed head wasn't enough, it wasnt moving and the t didnt notice it. Figured it was dead and the T would scavenge it. Went back and it was burrowed in too far to grab. Ofc it was the pokie enclosure.

 

[Arachnophobphile]

Im getting my first tarantula and I was wondering if mealworms or superworms could be used as a staple?

Yes but I'll warn you right now on superworms. If you keep superworms in one of the preferred substrate types bran or oatmeal it is essential to change out either one at least once a week.

If you just let them sit in the same substrate until they are all fed off then you'll be back here with another question. 'I have a mite infestation what do I do?

Since you are only getting 1 tarantula and I'm guessing a sling you do not need superworms.

Superworms are ideal for T's 3 inches dls and up. I've had a few 2.5 inch T's eat them though. Plus in the U S. where I used to get them they came in 25 and up count. If you have only one T even if it's a sub-adult or bigger there's better feeder options. I would just buy crickets if all I had was one tarantula.

For slings mealworms and crickets are a great choice.

 

[viper69]

Yes

 

[Shinn]

Yep. Cheap, easily available and easy to sustain a clean, noiseless and nearly odourless culture at home if you live far from sources. I keep a small culture going for the an easy supply of varying sized mealworms. Just don't leave any live uneaten worms in the enclosure if not taken.

 

[Dry Desert]

Im getting my first tarantula and I was wondering if mealworms or superworms could be used as a staple?

And if they can, how many would you feed?

If you feed mealworms/ superwom it's no good crushing just the head, you need to crush a good third of the body down from the head.
Crushing just the head they will still burrow and pupate.

 

[The Grym Reaper]

Yes, they're fine as a staple.

How often and how many you feed depends on the size and species of tarantula, if you try feeding an adult G. rosea on the same schedule you'd use for a juvenile A. geniculata then you're just going to end up with an obese tarantula that refuses to eat for months/years.

Crushing the head to stop them from burrowing is helpful but you need to completely flatten the head for it to work, just giving it a little pinch until you hear a crunch won't cut it.

If you keep superworms in one of the preferred substrate types bran or oatmeal it is essential to change out either one at least once a week.

I used to breed mealies and morios, never needed to change their bran out anywhere near this often to avoid mites.

 

[Westicles]

Absolutely!! I use mealworms and crickets. Mealworms are much easier to maintain

 

[cold blood]

I just pinch their heads till they crunch...never had to go further than that

 

[thedragonslapper]

I noticed a huge difference in my g. Porteri's feeding response when I cut down on feeding. Id say she is on par with a geniculata now, whereas before she kinda just fell on the prey.


I gotta go and rehouse my p. Metallica now bec of this. Crushed head wasn't enough, it wasnt moving and the t didnt notice it. Figured it was dead and the T would scavenge it. Went back and it was burrowed in too far to grab. Ofc it was the pokie enclosure.

This is what worries me about supers. Had a slight scare with my larger LP done time ago when a mostly headless super got away. I was fretting I may have to take apart the enclosure just so I wouldn’t possibly lose my T to an opportunistic beetle later but I never found it. T most likely found it herself and ate it lol. Chopping the heads off entirely though quickly kills them. Not a problem if your Ts will accept non living food.