Is gut loading absolutely necessary?

[Rigor Mortis]

I found many threads about gut loading in general but none that answered this specific question. So far I've only done it one time when I've fed my T but now I'm worried it's a necessity that I am overlooking. I'm likely getting a second T soon so I need to make sure that I'm not ignoring a crucial step in husbandry. Thanks in advance!

 

[Demonclaws]

Not required.

 

[boina]

It's not about gut loading really. If you keep mealworms in the fridge, for example, they will still use up nutrients and you don't know what they've been fed before. If you buy crickets they are often in poor shape to begin with. A tarantula can survive with very little but since we don't know that much about their needs I like to make sure they get the best possible nutrition, so I feed any feeder for a few days at least with high quality food to make sure my tarantula gets everything it needs.

It hasn't been researched in insects and arachnids, but in vertebrates the first thing that suffers when they don't get proper nutrition is the immune system. It isn't absolutely necessary for survival so if anything is missing it's the first thing to get down regulated. I can imagine it would be the same in invertebrates. That doesn't mean the spider invariably get's sick and dies, but still... I like to provide the optimum.

 

[The Grym Reaper]

I suppose if you buy pet shop feeders that likely haven't had any food/water in a while then it'd probably be a good idea prior to feeding them off but all of my feeders have a constant supply of food/water so it's not something I need to concern myself with.

 

[Rigor Mortis]

It's not about gut loading really. If you keep mealworms in the fridge, for example, they will still use up nutrients and you don't know what they've been fed before. If you buy crickets they are often in poor shape to begin with. A tarantula can survive with very little but since we don't know that much about their needs I like to make sure they get the best possible nutrition, so I feed any feeder for a few days at least with high quality food to make sure my tarantula gets everything it needs.

It hasn't be researched in insects and arachnids, but in vertebrates the first thing that suffers when they don't get proper nutrition is the immune system. It isn't absolutely necessary for survival so if anything is missing it's the first thing to get down regulated. I can imagine it would be the same in invertebrates. That doesn't mean the spider invariably get's sick and dies, but still... I like to provide the optimum.

I suppose if you buy pet shop feeders that likely haven't had any food/water in a while then it'd probably be a good idea prior to feeding them off but all of my feeders have a constant supply of food/water so it's not something I need to concern myself with.

Thanks for the input, guys. Guess I'm off to reading some lists of feeder food sources! I'm gonna look pretty stupid having 2 crickets in a container with food for a couple days but such is the life of a T keeper.

 

[Teal]

Thanks for the input, guys. Guess I'm off to reading some lists of feeder food sources! I'm gonna look pretty stupid having 2 crickets in a container with food for a couple days but such is the life of a T keeper.

Just provide a little nibble of carrot or potato, and a kibble of dog food or a pinch of fish food flake

 

[Rigor Mortis]

Just provide a little nibble of carrot or potato, and a kibble of dog food or a pinch of fish food flake

Thanks, Teal! Maybe my very prissy spider will take better to fatter crickets anyway. If she could talk she'd tell me she's starving 24/7, that one a week is killing her!

 

[Teal]

Thanks, Teal! Maybe my very prissy spider will take better to fatter crickets anyway. If she could talk she'd tell me she's starving 24/7, that one a week is killing her!

You're welcome

Haha my P. cancerides is like that! She begs like a puppy.

 

[viper69]

Yes

 

[cold blood]

Yes

I disagree....if one bought feeders, and never offered them food prior to feeding your ts, the ts would be just fine.

But dropping in a piece of kibble or carrot isnt all that hard....so why not...

But its not gutloading, its feeding. The term gutloading is a reptile rerm that means more than just feeding, but rather adding necessarry suppliments to keep the reptiles properly healthy....this need is not relatable to the t hobby.

 

[viper69]

I disagree....if one bought feeders, and never offered them food prior to feeding your ts, the ts would be just fine.

But dropping in a piece of kibble or carrot isnt all that hard....so why not...

But its not gutloading, its feeding. The term gutloading is a reptile rerm that means more than just feeding, but rather adding necessarry suppliments to keep the reptiles properly healthy....this need is not relatable to the t hobby.

Gutloading as we reptile owners know it, isn’t necessary - so that’s true.

I think dropping in items for the crix is important because they arent the most nutritious.

 

[cold blood]

"I think dropping in items for the crix is important because they arent the most nutritious."

Crickets offer more than ample nutrition from an invert standpoint. This not nutritious thing with crickets doesnt apply to ts.

 

[Nightstalker47]

I think dropping in items for the crix is important because they arent the most nutritious.

Of course, they need to eat either way though, if you want them to survive more then a day or two.

Gutloading as we reptile owners know it, isn’t necessary - so that’s true.

Not a fan of the term, just sounds like your forcing food down their throats, or mandibles in this case. I think boina's post summed it up pretty well, feeders that have access to better nutrition, should by extent be more nutritious to the spider.

It's not about gut loading really. If you keep mealworms in the fridge, for example, they will still use up nutrients and you don't know what they've been fed before. If you buy crickets they are often in poor shape to begin with. A tarantula can survive with very little but since we don't know that much about their needs I like to make sure they get the best possible nutrition, so I feed any feeder for a few days at least with high quality food to make sure my tarantula gets everything it needs.

It hasn't been researched in insects and arachnids, but in vertebrates the first thing that suffers when they don't get proper nutrition is the immune system. It isn't absolutely necessary for survival so if anything is missing it's the first thing to get down regulated. I can imagine it would be the same in invertebrates. That doesn't mean the spider invariably get's sick and dies, but still... I like to provide the optimum.

 

[viper69]

There’s nothing wrong with the term gutloading. I haven’t forced food down crix hah.

When did the world become sensitive to the word used to describe feeding crix?

"I think dropping in items for the crix is important because they arent the most nutritious."

Crickets offer more than ample nutrition from an invert standpoint. This not nutritious thing with crickets doesnt apply to ts.

I’ve only seen one scientific study on the amount of calories needed for a T to gain mass. Unfortunately the DVM used mealworms if I recall, not crix.

I’m not sure how good farm raised crix are as food if they aren’t supplemented.

Until I see a study, I’ll gutload the feeders.

 

[Goopyguy56]

I just feed my crickets fish food and use water gel. Been doing that for years.