Feeding my Nhandu chromatus

[Mc225]

So after collecting a small variety of T's over the last year+ I've decided to focus on my Avic species and my G. pulchra group. I'll be selling/trading/giving away my few others (my T's are in my profile). However, I have a 1.5-1.75" N. chromatus and I've been contemplating feeding it....to one of my other T's that is.

Before anyone goes nuts, I assume breeders use surplus stock as feeders. Like if they have 500 G. rosea and they hatch 500 more, or whatever the circumstances may be. Am I wrong in thinking that this happens?

My reason for posting, and what I'd really like to know, is would the Nhandu in question pose ANY THREAT WHATSOEVER to a 4.5" Avic or 5.5" Grammostola, or even a 3.5" M. robustum? This is what I'd really like opinions on, not impassioned arguements about the morality of it. Thanks

 

[P. Novak]

It might pose a small threat, but why would you do that? Just sell the N.chromatus. Feed your Ts crickets, roaches, or whatever, but don't feed it another T. They made feeder insects for a reason. I'm sure someone would gladly take the N.chromatus off your hands.

When I get alot of slings from breedings, I don't feed any to other Ts. I won't even let them cannablize each other. There are plenty of people willing to buy them or even take it for free if it's just gonna be fed to another T.

 

[craig84]

Yeah, I'll take it. I live in tampa area.

 

[Mushroom Spore]

Besides that being a dumb waste--just sell it, there are plenty of people who like that species--a tarantula is a tarantula, and that means it has fangs and venom and the instinct to kill, whether in hunger or self-defense.

Don't end up like that guy that came this close || to losing his much-loved tarantula because he thought it was safe to feed it true spiders.

And no, I don't think breeders feed their stock as prey items. If they do that, they can't very well sell them, now can they?

 

[Arachno_Shack]

I would not have bothered posting this question. Sell the N chromatus. Don't risk hurting your others T's. And gather as many fire extinguishers you can find. I'm pretty sure you just started a fire.....



Tim

 

[AubZ]

Yip, not the brightest idea asking ppl who love T's if you can feed one to another. If I may ask, why on earth would you want to do it?

 

[Mc225]

I hardly think this is a fire starter, but I'm ready to run and jump in the pool if it gets to hot. I do realize T's are predators with the capability of inflicting harm and that's why I ask the question of is this safe at these sizes. I mean certainly a one incher would be safe to feed to an adult, but I was less sure about 1.5"+. I'm really still looking for serious opinions from experienced keepers who aren't aghast by my inquiry.

As to those who ask why, I say you choose to live in a soft, cushy world of make believe and I don't. Ever pull the legs of crickets before you feed them to your T? Crush their heads? Do you feed your T bugs at all? Ever feed your cat chicken or fish? Your dog beef? Do you eat meat, fish, fruit or vegatables? Well I love and respect all those things so how dare you. And how dare all the other life on this planet sustain itself on other life. Morality is relative after all.

I got this Nhandu as a freebie, it's common and not worth much. I've probably fed it more in crickets than it's worth and quite frankly I always regarded him as a potentially tasty treat. It's no sick fetish on my part, just one bug to another. Some people raise animals to provide milk and eggs and such; they may also slaughter some for their meat and hides. They may also have tremendous love and respect for these creatures. Are these evil people? If your answer is yes then damn the whole planet I say, because it's all amuck. After all, we are all hunters and farmers in the grander scheme of things.

It's important to understand a person before judging their actions. It's also important, as you journey through this world, to try and gain some perspective on the meaning of life as well as notions of love and respect.

 

[butch4skin]

Certainly any T 3" or larger would happily dispose of the N. chromatus for you without any problems. Speaking strictly from an economic point of veiw, though, it's not a very good idea. That sling, though small and not uncommon, is worth a hell of a lot more than any single cricket, roach, mealworm, or any other feeder. Your larger t's will get just as much if not more nutrition from a cheaper feeder, so I say be smart and sell the damn thing. Feeding it would be like throwing money away. If anything, you should be feeding the N. chromatus any surplus feeders(especially crickets which die off in droves) so it can grow and then you can sell it for more money. But hey, if you get your kicks by feeding spiders to spiders and then telling people about it, by all means... after all, you paid for it.

 

[butch4skin]

And certainly there's nothing morally wrong with it, any more so than there is something morally wrong with feeding crickets to tarantula's. Most people on this board, myself included, wouldn't do it because, naturally, we are all fond of arachnids. Nevertheless, smaller spiders almost certainly make up some percentage of the natural diet of larger spiders. That said, if crickets were worth as much as N. chromatus slings, a whole lot more people would be feeding roaches, know what I'm saying?

 

[PhormictopusMan]

No doubt in the wild, this happens all the time. But as mentioned above in several responses, the value of the tarantula is far greater than any feeder animal. Even if you think that a certain species is extremely common, it isn't. Maybe in this community, but take a walk around your neigborhood and talk to people. You will find people absolutely amazed by that spider, and you are likely to find a great home for it.

There's currently a thread (always is) where someone is deciding on their first T. This might be a perfect specimen for them.

And as for cows I eat, well they are just giant crickets to me...:} so the analogy is lost. (just joking...kinda).

And, its an intersting question--I'm not annoyed by your post nor is this in anyway a flame towards it.

--Chris

 

[chandlermonster]

Let me get this straight: a seller (maybe in this community?) was nice enough to throw in a freebie with your order, and since you didn't pay for it you are going to disrespect the gesture of goodwill and the time and effort he put into breeding the parents by killing it when using any other easliy available feeder would do just as well? Correct me if I'm wrong in any of what I've pieced together. Otherwise, by even entertaining this idea and by blatantly posting it for all to see, you are insulting that breeder. I would also consider that action selfish and childish. When someone does something nice for you like that, you should satisfy your obligation as a keeper, or at least pass the T on to someone who will.

 

[butch4skin]

Wait a second, I'd like to jump to this guy's defense for a second. I wouldn't do what he's suggested because I like spiders too much, but I suggest he refrain for purely monetary reasons. The way I see it, nobody really has any right to attack him on any grounds that don't have to do with his own economic self-interest. First of all, Whatever breeder he got this freebie from gave freebies to many other people as well, and to say it was a personal favor is a bit of a stretch. In all likelyhood, the breeder doesn't even remember this guy specifically. Furthermore, there is a good possibility that said breeder posted on an add that there would be freebie's with every order, in which case it may very well be that the only reason he made the purchase in the first place was to get the freebie, making the very idea that the breeder did the dude a personal favor absurd. If you tell a breeder that you want to buy 50 X. immanis slings so that you can have the pleasure of setting them on fire, 9 times out of 10, they will be glad to make that sale, because breeding spiders, like breeding just about anything else, is first and foremost about money! That breeder does not give a damn if he feeds an N. chromatus sling to another one of his pets, as long as the check don't bounce. If you want to talk about rights and wrongs and disrespect to the hobby and life in general, your not going to be able to make any points that are beyond debate. A spider, no matter how big or cool looking, doesn't have any more "right" to live than a roach. Many people feed roaches to their T's, but raising roaches is a thriving hobby in it's own right, and many who do so would never dream of feeding their roaches to anything. If you want to give this guy reasons not to do what he obviously wants to do, make them unbiased and undebateable. Essentially, make them about $$$$$$$$$!

 

[PhormictopusMan]

My reason for posting, and what I'd really like to know, is would the Nhandu in question pose ANY THREAT WHATSOEVER to a 4.5" Avic or 5.5" Grammostola, or even a 3.5" M. robustum? This is what I'd really like opinions on, not impassioned arguements about the morality of it. Thanks

Not sure about yours but if the n. chromatus is anything like my n. colortivolosum then I wouldn't let it anywhere near my avics. Mine is pretty aggresive and can handle itself.

--Chris

 

[butch4skin]

Personally, the only thing I see a 1.5" N. chromatus sling doing to a 4.5" avic is temporarily sating it's appetite, even though they are rambunctious little guys.

 

[PhormictopusMan]

Hehe yeah probrably, as long as that is the legspan and not the body he's measuring.

--C

 

[Mc225]

I appreciate the the comments from butch4skin and PhormictopusMan. Especially coming to my defense butch when you yourself would clearly choose a different path. =D

However you're wrong in thinking that you could appeal to me through money. Quite frankly it doesn't mean a lot to me. For instance, I don't like unsolicited calls at home for any reason. You could call me and tell me I won a million dollars and I'd say thanks but I don't take these calls. It's not because I'm rich, it would triple my net worth, it just not what's important to me and I object to being bothered at home, LOL.

Likewise, if someone offered me $100 to save my Nhandu (or 500 or 1000 or 10000) I'd say no. I have no interest in taking advantage of someone for financial gain. My point in posting was not to be shocking or obscene, and it especially wasn't about money.

I also didn't intend to create a dramatic thread about the fate of this spider. I appreciate Phormictopus' idea of passing it along to someone new in the hobby. But if I do decide to give it away I'll hit craig84 with a PM since he spoke right up. He's close so he could pick it up or I'll meet him part way. And I don't want any money for it.

Point well taken Phormictopus, my Nhandu is quite fierce, which gave me pause as well. My 3.5" Megaphobema robustum is pretty rough too, and less prized than my G. pulchra's, but I don't know. The last thing I wanted to do was create a "who would win" kind of thing, just if it was small enough to be safe.

 

[Kmatzy1228]

snap

I will take that right off of your hands if you dont want it. T's are meant to be kept, not to be fed to other animals.. I live in ocala fl sooo yea 8)

 

[Mc225]

Yes, it's leg span. Body is 1" maybe 1.25". My robustum is a solid 2.5"+ body. I don't doubt it would be safe for my 5.5" G. pulchra (3.25" body), but she's my prized girl.

 

[butch4skin]

Well your going to have to base your decision on two facts...


1. That thing is, for my money, incapable of inflicting any kind of harm on a spider of 4" legspan or more.

2. You will lose money in assets, should you choose to feed it to another spider. If that's ok with you, then do it. Those are really the only two points to be taken into consideration that aren't really opinion. Maybe some would say that point 1. is opinion, but they would just be wrong. As for your motives and how much you value an N. chromatus sling, that's not really anyone else's business. This isn't the PETA website. Do what you want.

 

[Mushroom Spore]

It's important to understand a person before judging their actions. It's also important, as you journey through this world, to try and gain some perspective on the meaning of life as well as notions of love and respect.

You're pretty self-righteous for a guy who's planning to kill a pet animal that depends on him for survival because he's bored with it.