Dubia roach eating its own intestine?

[Anoplogaster]

Warning: If you have a sensitive stomach, don't read this post!

Ok, so this is probably a pretty gross mental image for you all. But last night, I fed a dubia roach to my P. rufilata. When she struck, she tore the roach's abdomen wide open, spilling its insides. Now here is something I observed for the first time: There was a dark green strand that was likely the roach's intestinal tract. And it appeared that while the roach was struggling, it was making very intentional bending movements toward that opening and was literally eating its own intestine!!! It was chewing on it, and I saw parts of it disappearing. Has anyone else observed this behavior? Anyone know why it would do that? I actually found it sort of interesting, even though it was also gross and terribly disturbing.

 

[Redmont]

If that was the only piece that was connecting the roach to the other piece of him maybe he was trying to free himself

 

[Anoplogaster]

If that was the only piece that was connecting the roach to the other piece of him maybe he was trying to free himself

The body was not in two pieces. There was just a hole in the abdomen, and the intestine was exposed.

 

[Andee]

Idk, inverts do weird things when things with their bodies' is out of place or they are in mortal danger. He may have just been in shock and not really realizing what he was doing. It's sad but also necessary, sometimes I hate it though when the insectivores (and trust me I have a lot) don't kill the feeders fast. XD I am not, not gonna feed them because I feel bad for their food, but yeah, doesn't stop me from being like "awwww man"

 

[Anoplogaster]

Idk, inverts do weird things when things with their bodies' is out of place or they are in mortal danger. He may have just been in shock and not really realizing what he was doing. It's sad but also necessary, sometimes I hate it though when the insectivores (and trust me I have a lot) don't kill the feeders fast. XD I am not, not gonna feed them because I feel bad for their food, but yeah, doesn't stop me from being like "awwww man"

Yeah, I'm the same way. I usually just feed, watch the strike, and walk off. So maybe this happens more often than I thought. I just usually don't sit and watch the process.

 

[Andee]

Yeah I usually do the same, some of my newcomers won't strike right in front of me, and my two current T's are just pushing juvenile size so they get fed smaller nymphs than they likely need, because I would rather feed them a couple extra that worry about them not eating it because of the feeders being too large. Like to be on the safe side with these two since they are my first T's. One of my true spiders I feed nymphs probably larger than most would because she is such a good eater and has a strong web now.

Sadly the kills are not always clean though. I assume it was just him being in shock or something and not really even aware maybe of what he was doing, you never know?

 

[schmiggle]

That is very odd. I've definitely seen crickets struggle for a half hour, so kills are certainly not always clean. I suspect if the roach was in shock, it was simply acting unpredictably. I have seen one report of a snake accidentally swallowing its own tail, and snakes are way smarter than roaches IMO.

 

[Andee]

Yes and honestly roaches are seen as some of the more intelligent invertebrates in the insect world... weird stuff happens under the correct situations sadly.

 

[Galapoheros]

I'd say it's only desperate defensive behavior. Dubias can probably bite just a little, it's instincts couldn't tell what it was biting and eating in that condition.

 

[kevinlowl]

You discovered a self sustaining life form!

 

[JDS123]

I cant get past the title lol, groooooooooooooooooossssss lol. Ok so interesting, but dang dude, nightmare city.

 

[spotropaicsav]

This title caught my eye.... agree with previous posts. Probably just the natural way of things that you observed, though unpleasant...:wideyed:

 

[Hisserdude]

Oh, that's... disturbing!

 

[SolFeliz]

I only own Hissing Cockroaches and they are the sweetest cleverest creatures I know and if your are going to feed a roach to another animal, please put it in the freezer first. It puts them to sleep so they don't feel a thing.

 

[Andee]

Generally most insectivores only eat living prey... don't know about T's for sure but would expect the same honestly.

 

[Serpyderpy]

I only own Hissing Cockroaches and they are the sweetest cleverest creatures I know and if your are going to feed a roach to another animal, please put it in the freezer first. It puts them to sleep so they don't feel a thing.

Unfortunately tarantulas and some other insectivores have to respond to live stimuli otherwise they won't really recognise it. The setae on their feet helps them sense nearby prey via vibrations and if there isn't anything moving, they won't see it as prey, and subsequently won't attack. Dubias have a reputation for playing dead at times and their hard chitin protects them if they lay flat, prompting animals to ignore them. I think placing them in the freezer would only subdue them even more.

As for this cockroach in question, usually cockroach ventriculi (the midgut, or stomach) are red or pale yellow in colour, but depending on what you feed your cockroaches it could well be green. I think perhaps the roach, in it's efforts to escape, saw the green strand and thought that perhaps that was what had a hold of it, and if it could chew it, it would be free. Whilst cockroaches have been known to cannibalise others on occassion, usually due to overcrowded colonies, little space and pheromone overload, self cannibalism is... uh, a little out there, haha.

 

[Anoplogaster]

Unfortunately tarantulas and some other insectivores have to respond to live stimuli otherwise they won't really recognise it. The setae on their feet helps them sense nearby prey via vibrations and if there isn't anything moving, they won't see it as prey, and subsequently won't attack. Dubias have a reputation for playing dead at times and their hard chitin protects them if they lay flat, prompting animals to ignore them. I think placing them in the freezer would only subdue them even more.

As for this cockroach in question, usually cockroach ventriculi (the midgut, or stomach) are red or pale yellow in colour, but depending on what you feed your cockroaches it could well be green. I think perhaps the roach, in it's efforts to escape, saw the green strand and thought that perhaps that was what had a hold of it, and if it could chew it, it would be free. Whilst cockroaches have been known to cannibalise others on occassion, usually due to overcrowded colonies, little space and pheromone overload, self cannibalism is... uh, a little out there, haha.

Hmm..... yeah, my roaches are on a pretty green diet. I feed them mostly veggie trimmings that result from me preparing dinner. So a lot of it happens to be green. And yeah, that makes sense. I guess I was hoping to hear about some specific reason that involved a complex nutrient-cycling survival reflex.... lol!

 

[spotropaicsav]

Oh, that's... disturbing! [/QUOTE

Even coming from hisserdude

 

[Ghoul]

Oh man, this reminds me of a horrible video I saw a while back.

Warning: Don't read if you can't handle vertibrates in messed up situations. Mother nature is god damn disturbing sometimes.

There was this video on youtube, I can't remember the original circumstance that put the zebra into this situation in the first place, I think it might have been a crocodile that attacked it and it managed to escape. Either way, the zebra had a horrible wound and it's intestines were hanging out. The zebra was scared and kicking, some intestines burst, only making its situation worse. Then it started biting at its own intestines. Luckily it collapsed shortly after. Then the crocodiles ate it. Was god damn disturbing while it lasted though, I do not recommend watching it.

----

Nature is brutal.