Juvenile T verdezi holding prey

[caddude]

I have an juvenile T verdesi that recently got. I put a small (1/2") mealworm in his enclosure last night. He took it and bit it, preparing to eat and retreated to his hide. I could see this morning, he still is holding it with his pedipalps. He is about 2" across DLS and the mealworm is equal to his abdomen size. Is it common for a smaller juvenile to take a while to eat like that? He still holds on to it if he moves around in his hide.

 

[jennywallace]

Some of my slings will feed for hours on a chopped mealworm piece. One P. reduncus sling that I got a couple of weeks ago for example, started feeding and was still holding onto the prey 24 hours later.

 

[caddude]

Some of my slings will feed for hours on a chopped mealworm piece. One P. reduncus sling that I got a couple of weeks ago for example, started feeding and was still holding onto the prey 24 hours later.

Thank you for the reply. He is the first under 2" spider that I have owned. All my others are 3" or more.

 

[viper69]

Yea

 

[Brewser]

Now that it has a Food Source... Doesn't want to risk losing it.

 

[caddude]

Now that it has a Food Source... Doesn't want to risk losing it.

Good point, in his mind, survival is different than the other larger spiders.

 

[fcat]

I have 4 T verdezi, one of my favorites!

I have never known them to refuse a meal actually and would call them closet gluttons. I do keep my room quite warm though.

Maybe it's a size thing but in my opinion the smaller the tarantula, the longer it takes to eat. My smallest slings spend all night on a mealworm segment.

These guys are quite hardy so don't worry too much. Just make sure you always remove the head of the mealworm.

 

[caddude]

I have 4 T verdezi, one of my favorites!

I have never known them to refuse a meal actually and would call them closet gluttons. I do keep my room quite warm though.

Maybe it's a size thing but in my opinion the smaller the tarantula, the longer it takes to eat. My smallest slings spend all night on a mealworm segment.

These guys are quite hardy so don't worry too much. Just make sure you always remove the head of the mealworm.

This guy is a little skinny, so I know he was hungry. I always crush the mealworms head prior to feeding just to be sure. He is much smaller than my other ones, so i will have to get used to him.

 

[Smotzer]

Yes as other have assured, there is absolutely nothing abnormal about this. They can sometimes take quite a bit of time to finish feeding, or go back to it and feed some more after a period. All normal and nothing to worry about!

 

[caddude]

I got home from work and he had finished the meal. Itook the left crumbs out which did not make him happy but he is fine and there is nothing to get molded. He is currenthidden in the cave and I would expect to see him back out tomorrow.

his hide

 

[Smotzer]

All is well!

 

[Glorfindel]

Situation Normal