Crushing heads

[Kitara]

Mealworms - yes
Superworm - yes

Hornworms? I haven't seen anyone mention that they crush the heads of hornworms, but hornworms aren't mentioned all that often. Do they burrow?

 

[spideyspinneret78]

No, they don't burrow. They're basically harmless to your tarantulas.

 

[Smotzer]

I don’t with hornworms, and they’re quite good sized meals so they’re never around anything with a suspected molt coming up anyway.

 

[mack1855]

As above...no,there is no need.And I’ve used them for years to feed slings and even on recently molted animals.Within reason.

they are my favorite go to feeder after a T molts due to high moisture content.And no hard extoskelton.
And they don’t burrow.

 

[PidderPeets]

No, you don't need to crush the heads of hornworms. They aren't a threat to your tarantula.

No, they don't burrow. They're basically harmless to your tarantulas.

Actually, hornworms that are close to pupation will burrow. Still totally harmless though.

 

[mack1855]

Actually, hornworms that are close to pupation will burrow. Still totally harmless though

I didn't know that.But then again,never had a hornworm survive in a T,s enclosure long enough for it to pupate.As a worm,they wont burrow,they naturally like
to climb,so are ideal for arboreals.

 

[DomGom TheFather]

T's are not on their menu but keep them away from your tomato plants and other nightshades.

 

[Matt Man]

hornworms eat tomato plants

 

[Kitara]

Thanks so much all. There's this store 45 minutes from my house and we happen to be near that area today so I thought I'd get a couple for some of my Ts. They're ridiculously expensive ($2/pc) so it's just a fun treat. I've got 4 happy Ts now. The A. genic stole his and ran down in the burrow before I could grab a picture. And the GBB made a mess.

 

[SquidStina]

No, you don't need to crush the heads of hornworms. They aren't a threat to your tarantula.



Actually, hornworms that are close to pupation will burrow. Still totally harmless though.

I tried to give my P.pulcher a hornworm once. The hornworm wiggled it's way towards her burrow, and she ran out. I knew she wasn't near a molt and figured I would leave it for a bit to see if she'd realize it was food. Several hours later she was back in her burrow, and I couldn't see anything green. She had her burrow along the back wall right near the floor of the enclosure so I figured a giant marshmallowy green worm should be obvious, so I thought she ate it.
A few weeks later I was near the enclosure and heard something weird. There was a giant moth flapping around her house, and the T outside of her burrow trying to hide in a corner. Oops. Later during a rehouse I found the pupa casing directly under her burrow. That must have being a terrible way to wake up, with a moth almost as big as you crawling out from under your bed.
Funny enough, she still doesn't like worms of any kind.

 

[PidderPeets]

I tried to give my P.pulcher a hornworm once. The hornworm wiggled it's way towards her burrow, and she ran out. I knew she wasn't near a molt and figured I would leave it for a bit to see if she'd realize it was food. Several hours later she was back in her burrow, and I couldn't see anything green. She had her burrow along the back wall right near the floor of the enclosure so I figured a giant marshmallowy green worm should be obvious, so I thought she ate it.
A few weeks later I was near the enclosure and heard something weird. There was a giant moth flapping around her house, and the T outside of her burrow trying to hide in a corner. Oops. Later during a rehouse I found the pupa casing directly under her burrow. That must have being a terrible way to wake up, with a moth almost as big as you crawling out from under your bed.
Funny enough, she still doesn't like worms of any kind.

I have yet to have that happen in an enclosure thankfully, but there's been more than once where I won't feed off the hornworm, let it pupate (I try giving my Avic the moths), and then totally forget about it. Because they go into diapause depending on environmental factors, I often assume they've died but hang onto the pupa just in case. Only when I wake up to concerning levels of scratching or flapping sounds do I remember and then rush over to the pupae enclosures in a panic.