Known Issues with Salt and Tarantulas?

[CABIV]

Yet another bizarre question.

I have something called a "Bug-A-Salt". Its basically a shotgun that uses table salt as ammunition. I mainly keep it around to shoot down mosquitoes, horse/deer flies, and camel crickets (its especially useful against camel crickets when they try to invade basements).

On rare occasions, the crickets I feed my tarantulas escape. While I normally attempt to capture them alive and put them back in the cage, sometimes it is better for my sanity if I just shoot them as a very last resort (such as on nights where I need to sleep, and the escapee just won't stop chirping, and he can't be caught easily).

Some of the salt definitely penetrates the cricket, but most of it smacks into the cricket and bounces off. On larger animals (like camel/cave crickets that invade my basement), I've only ever noted under a dozen "wounds", even though many more grains of salt were fired.

Assuming there are a few grains of salt in the cricket, is it still safe to feed this cricket to the tarantula, so to not waste it?

 

[EulersK]

Can't say I know the answer to your question, but here's a better question: Why risk the health of a tarantula over a single cricket? Throw the cricket away and move on. I really don't think a little salt will matter, but again, to me it just wouldn't worth the $0.02 on a cricket for a $300 spider.

As a side note, I LOVE that gun! I have one myself, works like a charm. It'll kill roaches, too, if you put in rock salt!

 

[matypants]

Yeah, just let that escapee either go, or die a glorious salt death. lol

 

[viper69]

is it still safe to feed this cricket to the tarantula, so to not waste it?

Increasing the Na+ and Cl- concentrations of your T, assuming your salty crickets would do that, is not a wise idea. These animals have evolved over time with a specific physiological range for these ions. Changing the ion concentration of your T will at some point likely harm them, just as it harmful to humans.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

Budd from "Kill Bill" lol

 

[cold blood]

I wouldn't risk it...but I do want that gun.

Wow, and only $40 shipped!!

 

[BorisTheSpider]

I love the gun ! It is the silliest thing I have ever seen . As far as salted crix as concerned , my Ts aren't eating them . I won't even pick up a cricket off the floor . I have a no second rule for me or my Ts food . If it touches the floor then nobody is eating it .

 

[cold blood]

I won't even pick up a cricket off the floor.

So you just leave the dead crickets sit there to decompose on the floor? Your enclosure (house) is ripe for a mite infestation...your keeper should be removing such things.

 

[louise f]

So you just leave the dead crickets sit there to decompose on the floor? Your enclosure (house) is ripe for a mite infestation...your keeper should be removing such things.

Mayday mayday!!! somebody call the vet

 

[truecreature]

I definitely wouldn't risk it, just not worth it.

Also, now I know what I'm getting my brother for his birthday so thanks for that lol

 

[BorisTheSpider]

So you just leave the dead crickets sit there to decompose on the floor? Your enclosure (house) is ripe for a mite infestation...your keeper should be removing such things.

I meant when I am feeding and a cricket hops out my hand and hits he floor it get collected and taken outside . I have a shop in my garage and I do a lot of metal working . I worry about tracking metal dust and welding residues all over the floor . I vacuum very often but metals are toxic and I don't like to take the chance . Any food that touched the floor in my house , mine or my pets , is considered unsafe to eat . I know my concerns are excessive but better safe then sorry I say .

 

[EulersK]

After CABIV said he found holes in the exoskeleton of insects, I had to try it myself. As in, on myself. Update: Do not shoot yourself with that gun. It hurts. You could season your eggs from across the room, though.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

Update: Do not shoot yourself with that gun. It hurts.

A bit on the "Captain Obvious" man who doesn't realize such a logic thing?

 

[EulersK]

A bit on the "Captain Obvious" man who doesn't realize such a logic thing?

It was only salt! I was expecting it to sting for a moment, like an injection. No, it actually hurt quite a bit.

 

[ErinM31]

So you just leave the dead crickets sit there to decompose on the floor? Your enclosure (house) is ripe for a mite infestation...your keeper should be removing such things.

My cats take care of such things for me! Escaped cricket? Oh well. My kitties will have some fun when they find it!

 

[CABIV]

After CABIV said he found holes in the exoskeleton of insects, I had to try it myself. As in, on myself. Update: Do not shoot yourself with that gun. It hurts. You could season your eggs from across the room, though.

This gun has been used on occasion, to salt french fries from long distances. If you get too close, you get mashed potatoes!

One good way to see what this thing can do is to shoot a piece of tinfoil, or an old brown leaf. At most ranges, you'll see salt-grain sized holes in the target, and at close ranges, it will make a enormous hole.

My cats take care of such things for me! Escaped cricket? Oh well. My kitties will have some fun when they find it!

Fresh out of cats, unfortunately.

 

[Abyss]

Budd from "Kill Bill" lol

Exactly what came to mind lmao

 

[Poec54]

So you just leave the dead crickets sit there to decompose on the floor?

I pick up crickets crawling on the floor and toss them out the door. None of them go into spider cages.

 

[mistertim]

That gun is hilarious. It even has a safety. lol