How often should I feed my slings?

[CorvidPopsicle]

Hello, I'm new here. So apologies if I don't do this right. So I have my first 3 slings and the husband reckons I may be at risk of over feeding. But I'm getting mixed opinions from YouTube and searches. Do you feed til they don't want to eat anymore? Can I feed them everyday and more importantly, should I? My biggest sling is looking very plump and I don't want to harm him by feeding him more if he's already chunky. I am just so excited and love to watch them pounce and eat

 

[viper69]

As often as they will eat- their job is to grow!

If you need your other questions let me know.

 

[TheraMygale]

You could share photo of your slings.

also depends on type of tarantula, and where they are in their sling cycle.



this is one of my g pulchripes sling a few weeks ago. I think this is plenty fat. It could still eat a bite. But, this is where i draw the line. It molted last week, and its over 2 inches so its not a sling anymore i think.



abdomen remained large after the molt, the carapace is much bigger. But abdomen is litteraly the size of carapace. I wont be feeding it crazy.

some dealers feed small slings once every two weeks. Its avoids growing fast, and also, they probably dont need it that much.

its very personal, feeding. Its about goals, and strategy

 

[Mustafa67]

Hello, I'm new here. So apologies if I don't do this right. So I have my first 3 slings and the husband reckons I may be at risk of over feeding. But I'm getting mixed opinions from YouTube and searches. Do you feed til they don't want to eat anymore? Can I feed them everyday and more importantly, should I? My biggest sling is looking very plump and I don't want to harm him by feeding him more if he's already chunky. I am just so excited and love to watch them pounce and eat

Don’t feed them everyday

Show photos, also what Ts do you have? fat Ts don’t need food just keep the water dish full

 

[Ratmosphere]

I feed as much as they'll take until they go into pre-molt.

 

[TheraMygale]

I feed as much as they'll take until they go into pre-molt.

do you do the same with juveniles and adults? Im curious about overly fat tarantulas. The lurking possibility of a link between bombous abdos and molting issues is my main concern.

 

[Ratmosphere]

I like to fatten up juvies and adults after a molt. I don't have them on a schedule like I do my slings. I like to keep their abdomen large, but not overly huge like I see some pics on here haha. As long as the abdomen is larger than the carapace, I am comfortable skipping a few days to a week of feeding. This only goes for juvies and adults though, I power feed my slings until they get really big. There are situations where some slings will show interest in food while being as swollen as a tick. In these cases I skip feedings for a while so they don't explode.

I travel a lot, so I like them to have a certain look that I am comfortable with before leaving.

 

[NMTs]

I think the answer really depends on what species you have. Some you could literally feed daily until they stop eating, molt 2 or 3 days later, then start eating again (like Asian arboreal species). There are others that you can feed heavily which will eventually stop eating and bury themselves for weeks or months while they wait to molt (ie: Brachypelma and Aphonopelma). When they're buried you'll be worried about them all the time and you won't get to see any of those behaviors you really enjoy watching...

So, while @viper69 is correct that a sling's #1 job is to eat and grow, the way they do it differs and therefore your strategy can't always be the same. Unfortunately, the species generally recommended for new keepers are often the ones that require a little more finesse when it comes to a feeding regimen. For evidence, just look through all the threads that say something like "I fed my 1/2" B. hamorii sling 3 large crickets last week and now it's sealed itself in it's burrow! What do I do now? How do I feed it more?!"

 

[cold blood]

It's pointless to feed every day....in fact slings can generally be filled up in just a few feedings.....but keep this in mind, as a sling they are putting everything into growth....being fat is part of the growth strategy....it's impossible to over feed a sling....but they can only eat so much.

 

[kingshockey]

Depends on how tiny they are if like match head size or smaller i leave a chunk of food ever night remove next day until they molt a few times gain some size and its easier to notice if they are eating as well as slow the frequency of offering food

 

[AphonopelmaTX]

also depends on type of tarantula, and where they are in their sling cycle.

Im curious about overly fat tarantulas. The lurking possibility of a link between bombous abdos and molting issues is my main concern.

I 100% agree with these two comments. I have always fed spiderlings of a Theraphosa sp. (or any of the giant species from the tropics or smaller species with very quick growth) way more often than an Aphonopelma sp. or Grammostola sp. which come from temperate climates with distinct seasons. Something like an Aphonopelma sp. from the USA or Mexico will have similar growth rates as the adults once they hit about an inch long or so and shouldn't be fed too often.

I also have a concern with molting issues, or some kind of other health problem, when a spiderling's abdomen gets so large it looks like a tiny grape that is about to pop. Even though I haven't experienced any issues that I can directly attribute to overfeeding, or obesity, it just does not look right.

 

[OldFlash]

Hello, I'm new here. So apologies if I don't do this right. So I have my first 3 slings and the husband reckons I may be at risk of over feeding. But I'm getting mixed opinions from YouTube and searches. Do you feed til they don't want to eat anymore? Can I feed them everyday and more importantly, should I? My biggest sling is looking very plump and I don't want to harm him by feeding him more if he's already chunky. I am just so excited and love to watch them pounce and eat

There's another thing too: what do you want with them? Just want them to grow fast so they become bigger spiders? Want to speed up a male's growth to get him to mature sooner? Or nah, no rush at all for them to get big?
As @viper69 said, their only job is to grow.
I'm one of those who feeds slings more often than needed, but that's 'cause I'm old and don't have the patience anymore. Just be aware that this can (and probably will) affect their lifespan a bit.

 

[IntermittentSygnal]

I feed small slings around twice a week. I don’t do tiny slings (under 1/2”), so I can’t speak to those. Once they get into the juvie range, they fall in line with the others. Once a weekish, I go down the line and take orders. Who gets fed is based on their stage in life, their stage in their molt cycle, their growth rate and their current abdomen size.

 

[sparticus]

I feed small slings around twice a week. I don’t do tiny slings (under 1/2”), so I can’t speak to those. Once they get into the juvie range, they fall in line with the others. Once a weekish, I go down the line and take orders. Who gets fed is based on their stage in life, their stage in their molt cycle, their growth rate and their current abdomen size.

This is how I feed also. Tiny slings get all they want to eat- 3x a week or more. As they get bigger, a couple times a week, and I feed heavier at the start of the molt cycle. Then slow it back as they get chonky or show less interest in feeding. If they get overly large I stop offering meals entirely. My B. Auratum sling is there now, and has been the last few months. My feeding schedule is extremely variable.

 

[Motherofspiders112707]

I usually do once a week. Sometimes they’re still hungry though so it really just depends on the Tarantula. My P. Irminia sling molted a few weeks ago and after one roach, he was still hungry so I threw in another and as expected, he ate it. Depending on the size they’ll need to eat more, but I’ve never fed them everyday. Always up to a week between feedings, but it’s hard to overfeed a tarantula. I remember being worried about that with my first sling because I’d switched him from pinheads (I cannot keep crickets alive) to mealworms and he was THICK. The day after I talked about it with my mom, he molted. If they are full, they won’t eat anymore.

 

[Sauga Bound]

If they are under 2" dls, feed them as often as they will eat. Keep an eye on their abdomen, but aim to feed 2-3 times every week.

I have an avic sling who's about one molt shy of being a juvie. I feed her small crickets 2-3 times per week. Once I see her setting up ambushes and she's in hunting mode, I feed her within 24 hours. I keep an eye on her abdomen, but she's looking great.

You want to try and get the sling to its juvenile phase of growth as fast as possible because spiderlings are so much more delicate and exacting in their care. Juvies are hardier and don't require many of the same specifications of the sling.

 

[CorvidPopsicle]

You could share photo of your slings.

also depends on type of tarantula, and where they are in their sling cycle.

View attachment 495174

this is one of my g pulchripes sling a few weeks ago. I think this is plenty fat. It could still eat a bite. But, this is where i draw the line. It molted last week, and its over 2 inches so its not a sling anymore i think.

View attachment 495175

abdomen remained large after the molt, the carapace is much bigger. But abdomen is litteraly the size of carapace. I wont be feeding it crazy.

some dealers feed small slings once every two weeks. Its avoids growing fast, and also, they probably dont need it that much.

its very personal, feeding. Its about goals, and strategy

Hi, thank you. This is my chunky "boy" Nandor. He's a curly hair (I'm still learning scientific names) and biggest of the 3 slings I got. One of my others just hides away all the time (tiger rump) and the other was feeding amazingly (white knee) but with the last food she gave me a threat pose, then slapped the cricket and ran away wondering if shes in premoult, but thats a waiting game I suppose.

I think the answer really depends on what species you have. Some you could literally feed daily until they stop eating, molt 2 or 3 days later, then start eating again (like Asian arboreal species). There are others that you can feed heavily which will eventually stop eating and bury themselves for weeks or months while they wait to molt (ie: Brachypelma and Aphonopelma). When they're buried you'll be worried about them all the time and you won't get to see any of those behaviors you really enjoy watching...

So, while @viper69 is correct that a sling's #1 job is to eat and grow, the way they do it differs and therefore your strategy can't always be the same. Unfortunately, the species generally recommended for new keepers are often the ones that require a little more finesse when it comes to a feeding regimen. For evidence, just look through all the threads that say something like "I fed my 1/2" B. hamorii sling 3 large crickets last week and now it's sealed itself in it's burrow! What do I do now? How do I feed it more?!"

I have Davus fasciatus, Tliltocatl albopilosus, Acanthoscurria geniculata. One of each.

There's another thing too: what do you want with them? Just want them to grow fast so they become bigger spiders? Want to speed up a male's growth to get him to mature sooner? Or nah, no rush at all for them to get big?
As @viper69 said, their only job is to grow.
I'm one of those who feeds slings more often than needed, but that's 'cause I'm old and don't have the patience anymore. Just be aware that this can (and probably will) affect their lifespan a bit.

I would like them to be a little bigger if I'm honest. Then I'd feel like they're less fragile.

 

[sparticus]

I would like them to be a little bigger if I'm honest. Then I'd feel like they're less fragile.

I would feed them as much as they are interested in taking, then. If they threat pose food it's either too big or they're full. Same with ignoring food. Wait a week or two, offer again and if they're still not interested, then I offer very small amounts and pretty infrequently until after they have molted and hardened up again.

 

[NMTs]

Hi, thank you. This is my chunky "boy" Nandor. He's a curly hair (I'm still learning scientific names) and biggest of the 3 slings I got. One of my others just hides away all the time (tiger rump) and the other was feeding amazingly (white knee) but with the last food she gave me a threat pose, then slapped the cricket and ran away wondering if shes in premoult, but thats a waiting game I suppose. View attachment 495318 View attachment 495319


I have Davus fasciatus, Tliltocatl albopilosus, Acanthoscurria geniculata. One of each.


I would like them to be a little bigger if I'm honest. Then I'd feel like they're less fragile.

All of these are what I would consider moderately fast growing, therefore all 3 of those species would fall into the "feed until refusal" category for me. I wouldn't feed daily, though - more like 2 or 3 times per week with appropriately sized prey (about the size of the sling's abdomen).

An A. geniculata that refuses food is definitely in premolt - no need to continue feeding that one, just make sure it has water to drink and wait for a molt.