Is there such thing as overfeeding? opinions?

[NEMESIS_112]

I hear lots of things and i just wanted to get things straight. I hear words like "powerfeeding" "over feeding" etc... Is there an actual limit to feeding or just feed until the T doesnt take anymore? I have 6 slings that i feed everyday, and im wondering if this is harmful? I feed my Versicolor a lot more than the rest and he looks beautiful for a sling. He is very plump and has a J-Lo butt. I hear that a lot of people only feed once a week.. whats up with that? how is a T suppose to be fed? Once a week or every day? I also hear that T's die because of overfeeding. I dont want my lil guy to die im already growing close to him everyday. i would just like some opinions and some one to set things straight for me. thanx i would appreciate it so much! thanx.
Nemesis_112

 

[Crotalus]

Originally posted by NEMESIS_112
I hear lots of things and i just wanted to get things straight. I hear words like "powerfeeding" "over feeding" etc... Is there an actual limit to feeding or just feed until the T doesnt take anymore? I have 6 slings that i feed everyday, and im wondering if this is harmful? I feed my Versicolor a lot more than the rest and he looks beautiful for a sling. He is very plump and has a J-Lo butt. I hear that a lot of people only feed once a week.. whats up with that? how is a T suppose to be fed? Once a week or every day? I also hear that T's die because of overfeeding. I dont want my lil guy to die im already growing close to him everyday. i would just like some opinions and some one to set things straight for me. thanx i would appreciate it so much! thanx.
Nemesis_112

I feed spiderlings approx 2-3 times/week. Adults 1-2 times/week - but it depends on what species. Blondi for example dont know when to stop when it comes to eating, you can feed them everyday and they just get fatter and fatter. However, a abnormally large abdomen is not natural and a fall can easily rupture it. So try feed spiders moderatly, not too much and not too little.

/Lelle

 

[abstract]

Feed 'em till they're plump, but proportional. Provide water all the time.

You're not going to hurt them by feeding too much, or too little - mostly because there isn't a defined "too much" or "too little"; as long as they have water and have good sized abdomens, they'll be happy.

That's why spiders rule - they're easier to take care of then plants! (and much cooler)

 

[Sean]

there is nothing wrong with powerfeeding, it makes the t's lifespan shorter, and if they have a really really plump abdomen and you have a aboreal spieces like your versicolor and it falls it could split its abdomen open and kill it...did you get that versicolor from brandon?

 

[indigoeyes]

I want to stress this is only a RUMOR but I heard once that Brachi Albopalosums will burst if overfed. something about their abdomens can't take an excess of food. AGAIN I STATE IT WAS ONLY A RUMOR! We have fed our 1" until he was visibly FAT and he's fine. I give Inuleki a hard time about trying to make the little guy pop.

 

[NEMESIS_112]

Originally posted by Sean
there is nothing wrong with powerfeeding, it makes the t's lifespan shorter, and if they have a really really plump abdomen and you have a aboreal spieces like your versicolor and it falls it could split its abdomen open and kill it...did you get that versicolor from brandon?

Yeah I did get that versicolor from brandon. I bought two off of him. One of them is like waaaay bigger and fatter than the other and molted quicker also. I heard that males are bigger than females when they are spiderlings. So i guess i have one male and one female. I think versi's are my favorite species up to now. peace sean.
Adrian
Nemesis_112

 

[NEMESIS_112]

Indigoeyes:

Your avator is a trip. It makes me laugh everytime i see it. Lil cat. Is it yours?

 

[Code Monkey]

This stuff has been repeated a few gazillion times, but a few more never hurts

A tarantula will never eat so much that it bursts or dies of intestinal impaction. However, there is evidence that "obesity" is not harmless, either.

First, a tarantula's abdomen is much like a balloon, the larger it is, the more pressure. Consequently, a fat tarantula is more likely to rupture its abdomen in a fall or other physical blow.

Second, tarantulas whose abdomens get so large that they cannot hold them off of the ground are prone to developing calluses analogous to bedsores on the ventral side of their abdomen. Often, the end result of a callus like this is that it eventually ruptures and kills the tarantula.

Third, although not very significant compared to the first two, the more fuel you pour into a tarantula, the faster it will grow and metabolise to a degree. There is reason to believe this might shorten the tarantula's overall lifespan slightly as it "burns out" sooner.

My opinion is that a tarantula should only be fed enough to maintain a "normal looking" figure. For an adult that means keeping the abdomen less than twice the size of the cephalothorax.

__________________

 

[indigoeyes]

Originally posted by NEMESIS_112
Indigoeyes:

Your avator is a trip. It makes me laugh everytime i see it. Lil cat. Is it yours?

Nah, It came to me in an e-mail entitled "Have you ever been this tired?" I thought it would make a unique Avatar. My four cats don't do anything THAT cute...

 

[DiStUrBeD-OnE]

Id feed my slings every day, but i havnt seen a store that sells pinheads thats closer than 30 mins..so i feed em 1-2 times a week, but i feed my 1/2 inch slings dead 4 week old crics..

Ian

 

[NEMESIS_112]

Originally posted by DiStUrBeD-OnE
Id feed my slings every day, but i havnt seen a store that sells pinheads thats closer than 30 mins..so i feed em 1-2 times a week, but i feed my 1/2 inch slings dead 4 week old crics..

Ian

I know what you mean DiStUrBeD-OnE, I have to drive all the way to Pets Inc on Mill Ave at least once a week. the only ones that i know that sell Micro-Crix is that one Petco on Mill AVe and the Arizona Reptile center on southern.

How do you feed dead 4 week old crix. do you just throw a dead one in there? The slings i have i tried feeding dead crix but it didnt seem as if they would eat the dead crix. they refused to eat them. do you smash them up a lil bit? or how?

 

[Vampire]

dead crickets

I pull their heads off, the body still moves & my slings eats them just fine!

 

[DiStUrBeD-OnE]

i just crush the head and drop em in.. they almost always twitch and the T feels the vibrations.


But you think you got it bad? Man, out here in queen creek, that pets inc is 45 mins away
but its good.. i can buy 6 dozen, feed 3 dozen, then freeze the other 3 dozen n feed em like 4 days later.


Ian

 

[Mendi]

My Ts all eat dead crickets. Sometimes they attack them with as much relish as a live roach. But I make sure they find them by placing supper very close to them where on their nightly wanderings they are bound to walk over them. Why do they get dead crickets, mostly so I don't have to deal with there smelly mess and noise. I freeze them as soon as I get them, and place say 50 of them in freezer bags, then defrost them for several hours. I also don't feed live pinkies/mice. They've got 3 different roaches for their hunting pleasure. Trust me, they don't mind, well as long as you don't feed them while they're still frozen
And it makes my life so much easier too not having to deal with the hoppers

 

[Phillip]

My feeding schedule is and always has been once per week as they simply don't need more than that.

As far as overfeeding being dangerous other than the higher risk of bursting when a fall occurs there is not really a problem to it. I can see the possibility of speeding metabolism and shortening life but I don't feel that the end result would shorten it that much in the grand scheme of things.

Phil