How do you feed slings "pre-killed" prey items?

[gabrieldezzi]

I've owned tarantulas for a while now but I've never kept a sling smaller than half an inch or to the point where I can't feed them small crickets or mealworms. In the event that does happen, and you pre-kill something like a mealworm, or I've even heard of cricket legs be used. How does the sling know its there? Do you grab it lightly with tongs and simulate prey movement? Or do you just let them find it themselves. Just a genuine question.

 

[klawfran3]

I've owned tarantulas for a while now but I've never kept a sling smaller than half an inch or to the point where I can't feed them small crickets or mealworms. In the event that does happen, and you pre-kill something like a mealworm, or I've even heard of cricket legs be used. How does the sling know its there? Do you grab it lightly with tongs and simulate prey movement? Or do you just let them find it themselves. Just a genuine question.

Spiders have chemorecepters down their legs, where theyre concentrated down by the tarsus. They can sense and "taste" their prey in the environment, and the light twitching of a freshly killed animal can also help entice them to eat.

 

[lindale450]

They will find it on their own

 

[A guy]

Step 1 - prekill prey
Step 2 - leave it in the slings container
Step 3 -clean up leftovers or if it didn't eat throw away uneaten food.

 

[viper69]

Sometimes they will eat it. Sometimes not

 

[Kada]

as mentioned above is how we do it as well. Very simple. it is also why cockroaches are so popular, they act like chickens with no heads. their nerves keep twitching which adds a little stimulation, especially for spiders way down a dirt hole.

Many baby spiders are also quite happy eating "dead meat" they find that isnt completely rotten. hence people cutting up meal works, adding peices of crickets etc.

most people just remove uneaten food the next day. very simple and way easier than finding live prey or risking it remaining in there long term. I use live only when I havent seen a spider for many months and am constantly picking out uneaten roaches. then usually red runners as they dont climb nor burrow underground much. gives the spider another chance. also only young ones or males to avoid the risk of cockroach eggs in the enclosure.

 

[Rhombus]

I just cut a tiny tiny piece of meal worm or roach guts and put it in their deli cup they'll eventually find it or not. Make sure to absolutely take it out the following morning or else it will mold. Not too hard

 

[Wolf135]

I used to cut a segment of a superworm and drop it in when my salmon pink bird eater was smaller than a pencil eraser.

Mine would eat the piece even if it was almost the same size as him