Feeding Superworms to T's

[Royalty]

Some of my t's are getting bigger so I decided to try getting some superworms (Zophobas morio ) instead of mealworms.

I nearly assumed they were basically big mealworms so popped them in the fridge. Since they looked feistier, I decided it would be best to read up on them. Good thing I did because they do not take to refrigeration. I know a bunch about crickets, but not so much about super worms. What should I look out for when feeding to a T? I already know they can bite, but they have some sort of stinger as well? What is the risk to my t's?

 

[Poonjab]

Crush their head before feeding.

 

[mellow]

you should be able to feed superworms to your tarantula, just crush the head of the superworm first, by the way I have never heard of the "stinger" of a superworm hurting a big tarantula, but if you want you can just cut it off too.

 

[Rhino1]

Just bite the heads off dude

 

[mellow]

Just bite the heads off dude

Lol

 

[basin79]

I feed morio worms to my tarantulas without issue.

If I'm going to literally stay and watch the morio on the web or sub I use them live. If a tarantula is underground in their burrow for example or there's a chance they could drop into a hide I'll squash their heads.

Live


Prekilled

 

[The Grym Reaper]

If you're not sure that they will be taken immediately then partially crush their heads.

That said, I don't have problems with them immediately disappearing into the sub as I pack it down solid, they basically just crawl around on the surface.

 

[CJJon]

If you're not sure that they will be taken immediately then partially crush their heads.

That said, I don't have problems with them immediately disappearing into the sub as I pack it down solid, they basically just crawl around on the surface.

That's not been my experience. My supers will quickly disappear if I don't crush heads. Maybe I keep mine a bit warmer?

 

[Reezelbeezelbug]

For me they seem to either instantly run underground or if I crush their heads they're totally dead and won't wiggle. I haven't figured out how to crush them just enough that they wiggle but don't dig. If they're not wiggling, I just spray them with a syringe and that will usually get the tarantulas attention in the area and they grab it.

I think the only risk is to have them inside when a T is molting or freshly molted, the T could get bit when they're soft. The problem with letting them roam free is if they go underground and happen to emerge as a beetle when your T is molting much later on.

 

[Royalty]

I do always crush the heads. I am surprised how active some of them are..even after I TOTALLY remove their heads. The mealworms were not so feisty when I removed their heads.

I do keep an eye on them. One that I DID crush the head of STILL tried to burrow underground. I am not sure if it would live to pupate with that much damage but it getting buried and molding would be gross

 

[CJJon]

I use a fine tipped tweezers and crush them just behind the hard part of the head. If you just pop the hard dark part of the head only, they don't wriggle as much. I also use a piece of heavy fishing mono-filament to poke at the super which usually will get it to move enough to attract attention.

I wish there was a more lively feeder that was as easy to keep, didn't stink, and poses no thread of household infestation. It takes a bit more interaction to feed with worms, but I find it enjoyable (mostly).

 

[Snearl]

I like to cut it in half. The first half goes in my mouth so I can taste the quality of the super worm, then if I decide that its good, then I drop it in!

Actually I tend to cut or crush the heads as states with the previous dudes here. Normally leave it near them and if they don't accept it I just take it and throw it so it doesnt make a mess.

 

[The Grym Reaper]

That's not been my experience. My supers will quickly disappear if I don't crush heads. Maybe I keep mine a bit warmer?

I've only ever seen them immediately disappear into loose substrate, otherwise they just crawl around on the surface either until the tarantula snags them or they find somewhere with loose enough sub that allows burrowing.

 

[viper69]

Just bite the heads off dude

Agreed- man up! Or get a Barbie doll

 

[CJJon]

Agreed- man up! Or get a Barbie doll

nothing wrong with Barbie. She’s the same scale as GI Joe.

 

[MerpADerp]

Could the legs possibly be pulled off to stop burrowing…?

 

[viper69]

Could the legs possibly be pulled off to stop burrowing…?

Crush the head! Do it right or not at all.

 

[MerpADerp]

Dude, chill. I was just wondering. I’ve done that, but the little darn thing doesn’t catch my A. Chalcodes attention! I was just wondering if the legs could be removed so it could still be extremely active and perhaps flop around more. YEESH.

 

[Tbone192]

Dude, chill. I was just wondering. I’ve done that, but the little darn thing doesn’t catch my A. Chalcodes attention! I was just wondering if the legs could be removed so it could still be extremely active and perhaps flop around more. YEESH.

If they don't move enough, poke them gently with a thin twig or dry piece of fiber, one the spider can't climb. Most tarantulas will take fully killed prey anyways, just takes them longer to find.

 

[MerpADerp]

If they don't move enough, poke them gently with a thin twig or dry piece of fiber. Most tarantulas will take fully killed prey anyways, just takes them longer to find.

Alright. Thank you for your advise. I appreciate it :>