How do tarantula's drink?

HannibalCmp

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Do they have a tongue? Or do they absorb water through their skin or legs? I have not seen my tarantula drink or eat since yesterday at 7:00 when I had him. Also do crickets molt? I have a whipped cream container complete with 2 sponges that has about 12 crickets in it and one is twice the size of the others and is white and has half of a crickets skin on his back legs. He was not there before. I am also finding crickets in the cage after I have taken all of the crickets out. I look everywhere but cannot find them.
 

Vayu Son

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Tarantulas drink with their mouths, which is located under the fangs. Crickets molt. This makes recently molted crickets vulnerable to cannibilasm if your others arent fed well, and also as prime target for a just-large enough T.

-V
 

HannibalCmp

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My mom said it might be a mite. If I see a mite on my T can I pick it off with no ill side effects?
 

Henry Kane

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Yep, they have mouths. They are actually able to draw the water in via the use of what is called a pumping-stomach. (The Tarantula Keeper's Guide will outline all that for you in great detail.) The opening is just behind the chelicera. On many sp. the mouth is sort of highlighted with red (or another contrasting color) bristles.

As far as the little red bug, the first thing for you to do would be to check meticulously to see if there are more of these bugs. Check in or near the water as well...

Atrax
 

HannibalCmp

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I didn't see any but just to be safe I changed the soil. My mom wasn't too happy since it costed 10 bucks.
 

Angels5599

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When a T is drinking how long do they keep their mouth submerged? Mine has been drinking non stop for a lil more than 5 min.
 

EulersK

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When a T is drinking how long do they keep their mouth submerged? Mine has been drinking non stop for a lil more than 5 min.
Until they're done.

Could be over an hour if they so choose. Tarantulas do most things very slowly.
 

Angels5599

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Oh yea true I've had her for a month an I barely held her today she's a curly hair she's pretty fast.
 

JumpingSpiderLady

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When a T is drinking how long do they keep their mouth submerged? Mine has been drinking non stop for a lil more than 5 min.
They don't breathe with their mouths. They have booklungs, which are located on the abdomen. Your T could live with its face in water and be fine. (Hypothetically speaking of course)
 

darkness975

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@Angels5599 Your avatar looks like Johannes from the band Avatar lol ...

On topic: They can take anywhere from a few minutes to over an hour to drink. Average for mine is about 20 minutes.
 

darkness975

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I have not seen my tarantula drink or eat since yesterday at 7:00 when I had him. Also do crickets molt?
Tarantulas can go months without eating or drinking. You will rarely see them drink. Feed it once a week or whenever. If it refuses to eat take out the feeder and try again next week.

Yes crickets molt. The one you saw that was white was one that had recently molted and the exoskeleton had not hardened yet.
 
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