How to help a disabled spider eat?

[JasperTheSpooder]

So a couple days ago, I found a Ground Wolf Spider, whom I named Pax, on the floor of my basement with only half his legs, walking very slowly and falling over. I took him and and am trying to feed him flightless fruit flies, but he isn't fast enough to catch them. What should I do?

 

[pongdict]

Prekilled or disabled prey.

 

[JasperTheSpooder]

Sounds good!

He wont eat prekilled prey, so how do I disable the prey?

 

[pongdict]

What prey items do you have? I usually lightly crush the head of prey. It could also be that the spider isnt hungry. Did you also offer water?

 

[JasperTheSpooder]

What prey items do you have? I usually lightly crush the head of prey. It could also be that the spider isnt hungry. Did you also offer water?

We're in a big snowstorm, so I only have small flightless fruit flies at the moment, but I'll get new prey items soon. I would offer a water bowl, but I'm worried he'll fall in it (he's unbalanced because of his disability), so I'm just misting the enclosure for now. Or, I could soak a paper towel in water and put it in there?

 

[Albireo Wulfbooper]

We're in a big snowstorm, so I only have small flightless fruit flies at the moment, but I'll get new prey items soon. I would offer a water bowl, but I'm worried he'll fall in it (he's unbalanced because of his disability), so I'm just misting the enclosure for now. Or, I could soak a paper towel in water and put it in there?

Misting is fine - they can drink from dew, so they can drink from droplets formed by mist.

If it seems to be trying to catch the fruit flies but is just too slow, you can chill the fruit flies for a bit in the fridge to slow them down before offering them to the spider.

 

[JasperTheSpooder]

Misting is fine - they can drink from dew, so they can drink from droplets formed by mist.

If it seems to be trying to catch the fruit flies but is just too slow, you can chill the fruit flies for a bit in the fridge to slow them down before offering them to the spider.

I'll try that, thanks!

 

[JasperTheSpooder]

What would be a correctly sized prey item?

 

[Albireo Wulfbooper]

They can take a pretty wide range of prey size, but since it’s slow, try something a little less than its abdomen size, and hobble it. Taking the back legs off crickets slows them down enormously.

 

[JasperTheSpooder]

They can take a pretty wide range of prey size, but since it’s slow, try something a little less than its abdomen size, and hobble it. Taking the back legs off crickets slows them down enormously.

Yes, I have a toad, so I learned that pretty quickly

A little less than it's abdomen size would be the size of a small wingless fruit fly (ground wold spiders are TINY).

 

[Albireo Wulfbooper]

They’ll certainly take prey larger than them if they can catch and subdue it, so something relatively slow and weak like a mealworm might be another option.

 

[JasperTheSpooder]

They’ll certainly take prey larger than them if they can catch and subdue it, so something relatively slow and weak like a mealworm might be another option.

Not sure I can do mealworms, they have pretty thick shells and ground wolfs are only about 1/2 inch long as adults, so I think maybe baby crickets and fruit flies?

 

[pongdict]

Maybe a waxworm? Or some sort of maggot, they should be soft enough? I havent tried them though.

 

[JasperTheSpooder]

Maybe a waxworm? Or some sort of maggot, they should be soft enough? I havent tried them though.

I would think that some sort of maggot would work, maybe a small waxworms they would be super easy for him to bite. Another question, how do I safely clean his enclosure and feed him? He can be fast (but off balance) when he wants to be.

 

[pongdict]

I would think that some sort of maggot would work, maybe a small waxworms they would be super easy for him to bite. Another question, how do I safely clean his enclosure and feed him? He can be fast (but off balance) when he wants to be.

Do it on the floor with catch cup ready. Make sure area is free of clutter/hiding spots. Use tongs to take out stuff in enclosure.

 

[JasperTheSpooder]

Will do!

 

[CRX]

Good on you for having a good heart OP. I hope the spider pulls through.

 

[DaveM]

If it seems to be trying to catch the fruit flies but is just too slow, you can chill the fruit flies for a bit in the fridge to slow them down before offering them to the spider.

I like this idea, have done this before for elderly spiders that won't take prey if it isn't moving. As the insect starts to come out of its torpor and begins to move, perfect time for the spider to bite

 

[JasperTheSpooder]

Good on you for having a good heart OP. I hope the spider pulls through.

Thank you!
He's almost reached the one-week mark, fingers crossed he makes it!