Food options for single juvenile

[r34ch]

Hi all,

I've had my Brachypelma boehmei for near half a year now. In the last 2 months she's not been eating anything. The last 3 batches of crickets have gone completely to waste. Although they are cheap to buy, I feel bad that out of the 30 or so in a tub, only ~4 a month will be eaten (when she does eat). My friend freezes his but he doesn't seem to know much about tarantulas so I don't trust his judgement.

Firstly I realise some Ts don't eat for long periods of time, but for a Juvi is 2 months+ really ok? Her abdomen seems a fairly average size as I didn't want her to become obese. When I crank up the heat she usually comes out of her hidey hole but generally she just hides (I live in Scotland and central heating is a luxury as a student). Her water is always topped up but when I release a cricket it will literally run around under her and she won't respond.

Is freezing crickets a viable way of feeding her? I use bug gain/water to keep them alive but it seems futile since most just end up dying anyway. Or should I just continue buying tubs of crickets in the hope she might eat soon?

Cheers,
r34ch

 

[captmarga]

You don't give an idea of legspan - I'm guessing since you say juvie in the 2-3" legspan range. Two months is nothing unusual. She could go longer. I'd hold off on buying a batch, they will go to complete waste once again. When she's ready to eat again, grab one from your friend, that's all she needs once a week (or less).

(Many will say, and I'll start it... get more Ts to justify buying more feeders!!! LOL!!!)

Marga

 

[hamhock 74]

Hmm, most pet stores have crickets in a separate bin or what not for their own use and often they’ll sell those too, ask around the pet stores in your area and let them know you only need a small amount of crickets and if they sell crickets individually.

 

[mark e sic]

+1 get more T.s

 

[crawltech]

hmmm....single juveniles eh...id say kraft dinner, or mr noodles.

seriously tho, id jus stick to the crickets....if the T refuses, try again in a week, unless its clearly in premolt.

I have noticed this sp. to be "wierd" sometimes when it comes to eating...

 

[NeXus1]

When was his/her last molt? have you tried meal worms or super worms? (pinch the heads first to avoid damage to juvie) Like grammys they have been known to go a while between meals.

 

[r34ch]

Thanks for the responses guys (and lol about more Ts, who knows)

She hasn't molted in my care yet but she looks to have the same colouration. Her leg span is just over 3 inches. I think I will make a point of going to the pet store and just getting a few crickets each week rather than a tub. I haven't tried mealworms or anything but crickets but I assume I would have the same problem of them dieing on me.

Is freezing crickets in anyway wise? Would I have to then warm them up again when feeding her? It just feels wrong ::

 

[Zoltan]

I haven't tried mealworms or anything but crickets but I assume I would have the same problem of them dieing on me.

Most likely not. They will live much longer than crickets with much less maintenance (very little to no). And here they are also cheaper than crickets.

 

[SamuraiSid]

Freeze'em, place them in a plastic bag and submerge in room temp water for a couple of minutes to warm them up. Im thinking you'd have to tong feed a juvie dead crickets to mimick life... Other than that, your best bet would be to buy more T's so your not wasting a tub of crickets. And dont go buy a couple crickets from the bin, your just side stepping the problem. You need more T's based on the 30 crickets you get in a tub

 

[r34ch]

And dont go buy a couple crickets from the bin, your just side stepping the problem. You need more T's based on the 30 crickets you get in a tub

Your logic is infallible, how can I argue with that :biggrin:

 

[hotflakes2]

Get more T's? Definitely!