Feeding question

[NTom]

Hello.
I would like to obatian some advice as to the practices use for feeding T's. I have read my different opinions with regard to the length of time one should leave a live cricket (or possibly other live food source) in with the T.
When should the crickets be removed from the terrarium or should they be left in until they are consumed? Please provide your thoughts and techniques. I would really like to hear what the majority of people practice.
The above question pertains to both sub adults and slings.
Thanks
N&E

 

[moricollins]

depends on the size of the T and of the prey item.


for me usualy a couple of hours if i have time to check back in.

 

[TheDarkFinder]

Depends on the tarantula. With most, a few hours. With burrowers, over night. With pokies, an hour or so, with the big ones overnight. A few, obt, curlys, redknees, just a few minutes, they will either eat then or not hungery. With the near to molt, no more then one hour. With pinktoes species, 8 hours. It really depends. The h. lividum it would take a hour to get down the tunnel.

ONE thing needs to be said. I feed roaches, not crikets. Most roachs do not turn on the tarantula, some do, Hissers and orange heads come to mind. Crikets will turn on your tarantula. If crikets finds a molting tarantula they will try to eat it. Be warned.
thedarkfinder

 

[NTom]

Feeding question clarified

Thanks for the responses thus far.
The T's in question are 3.5" G. rosea and a .75" B. klaasi.
Thanks for your input.
N&E

 

[becca81]

I almost always feed pre-killed to any of my Ts that are under 1" and check back a day or so later to make sure that there is no mold.

If I'm fairly certain that the spider isn't about to molt (adults, mainly), then I'll live crickets in with them for a day or so before taking them out. It also depends on what you know about that particular spider. I have some that I know will always attack prey as soon as it is in the tank - if they don't, I know they are most likely in pre-molt. I have others that will almost always take their time catching a cricket or roach and taking a day or so isn't uncommon.

 

[K MUELLER]

I give my
T's one day to find the prey,then out it goes,till the next feeding day.later-Karl