Feeding process, simple yet complicated

[BoyFromLA]

This post is dedicated to feeding process.

A bit more detailed version of my previous post in Tarantula Chat, which is the below link:

When feeding…

When feeding, thorough feeding process is very necessary. Then what is thorough feeding process? It is as simple as just four easy steps. Open the enclosure Drop a desired feeder insect Watch it gets eaten / retrieve if it gets uneaten Close the enclosure Step number three is very very...

arachnoboards.com

A feeding in general, is very simple process. This can be as simple as five steps.

1. Locate the tarantula
2. Open the enclosure
3. Drop a desired feeder insect
4. Watch it gets eaten / retrieve if it gets uneaten
5. Close the enclosure

Yet, in each step, a mixture of common senses, critical thinking skills, basic knowledges need to be well considered into. Which makes the whole process a bit more complicated, but I’d say it’s a must, and it’s worth it.

1. Locate the tarantula
   • What it basically is, to assess, to know, and to understand what exactly is your current status of your tarantula
     • Where is it hiding?
     • Do you see it?
     • Did it bury itself?
     • Did it close off it’s hide entrance?
     • Does it look plump enough?
     • Does it look hungry?
     • Does it look like to molt any time soon?
     • Did it already molt a couple of days ago?
     • Does it look well over all?
     • Do you see any other alive feeder insects still in the enclosure?
2. Open the enclosure
   • What it basically is, to open the enclosure to get an access, a view to locate a spot to drop a feeder insect either pre killed or alive
     • Will it be dropped right next to a tarantula?
     • Will it be dropped nearby the entrance?
     • Will it be dropped into feeder dish? (I use it for some of my species, and it works as well, so far)
3. Drop a desired feeder insect
   • What it basically is, to drop a feeder insect either pre killed or alive, as simple as that
     • Don’t just drop whole bunch of them
     • Do drop one at a time
     • I often do tong feed, but it’s not really recommended unless necessary
     • I mainly do it for arboreal species that are well hiding
4. Watch it gets eaten / retrieve if it gets uneaten
   • What it basically is, to make sure that nothing will roam around freely, but the resident itself, in the enclosure
     • Make sure to watch the feeder insect gets eaten
     • Make sure to prevent the feeder insect burrow into substrate
     • Make sure to retrieve any uneaten, unwanted feeder insect
     • Make sure to remember to retrieve uneaten pre killed feeder insect a couple of days later
5. Close the enclosure
   • What it basically is, to make sure that you closed the enclosure, as simple as that
     • Check, and double check to make sure the enclosure is closed completely
     • Triple check to make sure the enclosure is closed completely

When feeding arboreal tarantulas, mostly slings, I often skip step number 2, and 3, and simply do this, and it works like a charm:

 

[Arachnophobphile]

Love #5, I've done this since I've started keeping. I also do a 4th check to make sure lid/door is securely shut on some of my enclosures like the Kritter Keepers.

 

[Tentacle Toast]

Love #5, I've done this since I've started keeping. I also do a 4th check to make sure lid/door is securely shut on some of my enclosures like the Kritter Keepers.

LoL, that #5 is a sleeper; you know those two-piece round plastic enclosures with the silicone "plug" type access ports? Can't tell you how many times I've got done making the rounds, then noticed I still had one in my hand...UH OH.LoL, only the experienced fully appreciate that being a #

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

#4 isn’t fun when the mealworms try and burrow away. I don’t like pre killing them it makes a mess, but I may have too for my only arboreal. a suspected male.. terrestrials are easier to feed. Live prey is often attacked more often too.

 

[SpookySpooder]

Love the method you use with the mealworm. Simple and effective

 

[Arachnophobphile]

LoL, that #5 is a sleeper; you know those two-piece round plastic enclosures with the silicone "plug" type access ports? Can't tell you how many times I've got done making the rounds, then noticed I still had one in my hand...UH OH.LoL, only the experienced fully appreciate that being a #

Me being old I do seem to have alot of senior moments. I also used to suffer from severe arachnophobia majority of my life.

Two most important things for me when I bought my first T was secure enclosure, make sure has secure lid/door and NO HANDLING lol

 

[viper69]

Critical thinking- LOVE IT

Something not found too frequently anymore

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

Critical thinking- LOVE IT

Something not found too frequently anymore

It’s not even in most people’s vocabulary. It’s over there head , impulsive thinking is what most use. And that’s ok I’m sure everyone’s guilty of it one time or another. Make a statement , research later on …

 

[viper69]

It’s not even in most people’s vocabulary. It’s over there head , impulsive thinking is what most use. And that’s ok I’m sure everyone’s guilty of it one time or another. Make a statement , research later on …

Very true for all. Very true impulse thinking. That’s how it goes in the net, no one’s fault at times, you’re having a “conversation”, and you wait days for something you could find yourself more of than not in seconds. All guilty of that sooner or later. But some do it all the time.

 

[Smotzer]

Honestly I feel like also #1 combined with #5 again with #1, is not often done often enough and more escapes, bites, etc would be prevented if people were really mindful of where their tarantula was before opening and closing the enclosures.

 

[SpookySpooder]

Pterinochilus murinus 'Kigoma'

The ultimate no risk feeding method

youtube.com

I just tried the BoyFromLA feeding method for the first time and I gotta say... this is awesome. It really helps to not have to pop the top, so the slings are not disturbed when feeding.

Too bad other feeders don't fit...

 

[BoyFromLA]

I just tried the BoyFromLA feeding method for the first time and I gotta say... this is awesome.

I cannot take the credit for it.

To be honest, not my original methods at all. I just learned it from Arachnoboards, and just wanted to promote.

 

[SpookySpooder]

I cannot take the credit for it.

To be honest, not my original methods at all. I just learned it from Arachnoboards, and just wanted to promote.

I know, but I learned it from watching you so, you'll always be the one who taught it to me.