Not sure if the mealworm escaped tarantulas web and burrowed?!

[Aliprice]

Late Thursday night I put a live mealworm onto my Electric Blur's web and it started thrashing about and got "stuck" it also shed in the web... I went to take it out early this morning as hadnt been eaten and facing down towards the substrate in the web. I couldn't remove it as my electric blue sling/juvie was right on the opening of the enclosure and he/she is a fast bugger... Now I can't find the mealworm? Is it possible it's been eaten or has it burrowed?!

 

[chanda]

That's why you should crush the heads of mealworms before offering them. They'll still thrash around and elicit a feeding response (assuming, of course, that the spider is hungry) - but with their heads crushed, are not capable of purposeful movement (like burrowing) - and more importantly, can't nibble on your spider and will not pupate or mature into adult beetles.

 

[Aliprice]

I usually do and I thought I had until I realised would the mealworm burrow right to the bottom of it had? Surely I'd be able to see it under the enclosure?

That's why you should crush the heads of mealworms before offering them. They'll still thrash around and elicit a feeding response (assuming, of course, that the spider is hungry) - but with their heads crushed, are not capable of purposeful movement (like burrowing) - and more importantly, can't nibble on your spider and will not pupate or mature into adult beetles.

Arachnopeon
I usually do and I thought I had until I realised would the mealworm burrow right to the bottom of it had? Surely I'd be able to see it under the enclosure?

 

[chanda]

I usually do and I thought I had until I realised would the mealworm burrow right to the bottom of it had? Surely I'd be able to see it under the enclosure?

Not necessarily. When they burrow, they won't always go all the way to the bottom - especially if light is detectable through the bottom of the enclosure. They may just burrow sufficiently to stay out of sight.

 

[Aliprice]

Not necessarily. When they burrow, they won't always go all the way to the bottom - especially if light is detectable through the bottom of the enclosure. They may just burrow sufficiently to stay out of sight.

No light is detectable through the bottom, what should I do? I would hate to dig up his substrate to not find it! Would it have been able to escape the web?

 

[homachka]

That's why you should crush the heads of mealworms before offering them. They'll still thrash around and elicit a feeding response (assuming, of course, that the spider is hungry) - but with their heads crushed, are not capable of purposeful movement (like burrowing) - and more importantly, can't nibble on your spider and will not pupate or mature into adult beetles.

do you have to crush the heads or could you just freeze them?

 

[chanda]

No light is detectable through the bottom, what should I do? I would hate to dig up his substrate to not find it! Would it have been able to escape the web?

I'm not sure you understood what I meant about the light. I'm not talking about you being able to see light through the bottom of the enclosure. What I meant was if a mealworm (or other bug or spider) is able to detect the light from outside, they will sometimes stop burrowing before reaching the bottom or side of the enclosure, because they want a nice dark burrow to hide in. If they were to burrow all the way up to the glass or plastic, that would let in the light - which they want to avoid.

It absolutely could escape the web. Tarantula webbing is not sticky, like the webs of some spiders, and is not intended to capture prey. Tarantulas produce webbing to create safe hiding places for themselves (web tubes or tunnels, particularly for arboreal species). They also use it to line burrows, to keep them warm and dry and to provide structural support. They can also lay down "blankets" of webbing to provide better footing for themselves on loose sand or dirt - or to help them better detect prey approaching their burrows. A mealworm or other bug might get temporarily tangled in the webbing - but if the tarantula does not kill it, the mealworm could easily work itself free.

As far as digging up the substrate goes, it's your call. Digging it up could stress the tarantula - plus there is always the risk of an escape. On the other hand, if the mealworm was still alive, it could injure your tarantula, particularly if the tarantula is pre-molt or molting.

do you have to crush the heads or could you just freeze them?

The advantage of crushing the heads is that the mealworm will still be wiggling around, which is more likely to trigger a feeding response in the spider. If the mealworm has been frozen, it will just be limp and dead.

 

[Aliprice]

The advantage of crushing the heads is that the mealworm will still be wiggling around, which is more likely to trigger a feeding response in the spider. If the mealworm has been frozen, it will just be limp and dead.

In the morning I will get my partner to help me coax him out of his burrow into an empty tub then I will look through the substrate. I would hate for my tarantula to be in danger! Thank you for your replies I will let you know if I find it!

 

[homachka]

The advantage of crushing the heads is that the mealworm will still be wiggling around, which is more likely to trigger a feeding response in the spider. If the mealworm has been frozen, it will just be limp and dead.

i see. is it possible to just poke it with tweezers to get tarantulas attention?

 

[chanda]

i see. is it possible to just poke it with tweezers to get tarantulas attention?

Possible, yes. A good idea? Not necessarily. When you tong feed (or use tweezers to "wiggle" the prey item) you run the risk of the tarantula running up the tweezers - and then up your arm - or of the tarantula accidentally striking the tweezers instead of the mealworm and breaking a fang.

 

[homachka]

Possible, yes. A good idea? Not necessarily. When you tong feed (or use tweezers to "wiggle" the prey item) you run the risk of the tarantula running up the tweezers - and then up your arm - or of the tarantula accidentally striking the tweezers instead of the mealworm and breaking a fang.

thank you for your response