Overfeeding G. rosea?

[KrystalG]

I have a G. rosea that I feel I may be overfeeding. I feed it 3-4 crickets each month.

Im not really sure if the picture is good enough.

Is it possible to overfeed, what problems does it pose, and does my tarantula look over fed?

 

[ccTroi]

That’s fine. 3-4 is perfect for your T.

 

[KrystalG]

That’s fine. 3-4 is perfect for your T.

but he looks so fat

 

[ccTroi]

but he looks so fat

Lucky your porteri eats. they are notoriously known for fasting.

 

[cold blood]

Is it possible to overfeed, what problems does it pose, and does my tarantula look over fed?

That's about twice as much as I feed.

Now the consequences are as mentioned below....more frequent and longer fasting bouts.


An adult will have a 2-6 year molting cycle...that's a lot of time to fatten her up.

Your t doesn't look particularly obese.

they are notoriously known for fasting.

and the biggest reason is that they are fed more frequently than necessary.

 

[KrystalG]

Lucky your porteri eats. they are notoriously known for fasting.

He just went through a 4 month fast until right after christmas. I got him and he didn't eat for 4 months, presumably from stress.

 

[cold blood]

He just went through a 4 month fast until right after christmas. I got him and he didn't eat for 4 months, presumably from stress.

lol, probably not from stress...I will say if you keep substrate at all damp or mist at all, that will shut them down...but 4 months is barely a real fast for them...a lot just don't eat during winter.

 

[darkness975]

I have a G. rosea that I feel I may be overfeeding. I feed it 3-4 crickets each month.

Im not really sure if the picture is good enough.

Is it possible to overfeed, what problems does it pose, and does my tarantula look over fed?

I feed mine 2 adult crickets a month , or two superworms, or two whatever per month. You can cut it back to that and still be fine.

A bigger concern that I noticed is it appears your Enclosure may be too high.

 

[grimmjowls]

I agree with what @darkness975 said. How high is the enclosure, and how many inches of substrate? It might not be bad - she looks like she has a decent DLS.

 

[KrystalG]

I agree with what @darkness975 said. How high is the enclosure, and how many inches of substrate? It might not be bad - she looks like she has a decent DLS.

DLS? And youre right, there is not enough substrate in the tank. He never climbs, so I left it this way, but was planning on filling it further this next time around, which is ASAP.

I understand that it is pretty dangerous and risky to give your T enough room to have a damaging fall, but he doesnt burrow, so I didn't think to deepen it. Recently I had a fall with a different spider and decided to make it deeper in most of the enclosures.

I do have a question though. It needs to be deeper, but I have never seen this guy burrow, so I dont really want to put down more than 4 inches of substrate. Any recommendations on a cheap alternative I can drop beneath the cocofiber to increase the height? Potting soil? Aspen?

 

[miss moxie]

DLS? And youre right, there is not enough substrate in the tank. He never climbs, so I left it this way, but was planning on filling it further this next time around, which is ASAP.

Diagonal Leg Span = DLS.

Next time around? Could you clarify?

 

[KrystalG]

Diagonal Leg Span = DLS.

Next time around? Could you clarify?

When I overhaul the tank. I usually replace all the substrate every 4 months or so

 

[miss moxie]

When I overhaul the tank. I usually replace all the substrate every 4 months or so

Don't. For one thing, it's not needed and for another thing picture this:

Your tarantula has just settled into their enclosure. They've set up their burrow juuuuust the way they like it, they feel comfortable and safe knowing where to bolt if they're disturbed. Everything smells like them because they've laid down their webbing covered in their pheromones. It's nice, it's peaceful, they're as 'happy' as a tarantula can be. Then there it is-- a looming shadow that usually means food prods them into a catch cup and when they are returned everything is gone! Their den? Gone! Their webbing? Gone! They are no longer comfortable in this 'new' environment and have to start all over from scratch.

It's a bit anthropomorphic, but that's the gist. They make their home and then you destroy it. They make another home and then you destroy it. Etc.

The only time a full substrate change is needed is if it is overrun with mites or mold. Considering this species should be kept bone dry, that typically isn't a problem.

 

[KrystalG]

Don't. For one thing, it's not needed and for another thing picture this:

Your tarantula has just settled into their enclosure. They've set up their burrow juuuuust the way they like it, they feel comfortable and safe knowing where to bolt if they're disturbed. Everything smells like them because they've laid down their webbing covered in their pheromones. It's nice, it's peaceful, they're as 'happy' as a tarantula can be. Then there it is-- a looming shadow that usually means food prods them into a catch cup and when they are returned everything is gone! Their den? Gone! Their webbing? Gone! They are no longer comfortable in this 'new' environment and have to start all over from scratch.

It's a bit anthropomorphic, but that's the gist. They make their home and then you destroy it. They make another home and then you destroy it. Etc.

The only time a full substrate change is needed is if it is overrun with mites or mold. Considering this species should be kept bone dry, that typically isn't a problem.

Alright. I was simply told to do this. So, what shall I do to add more height then? He is in a standard 10 gallon tank with about 4 inches of substrate. Climbing usually isnt a problem with him but I want to keep him safe, of course.

Also, I can't quite remove cricket parts or waste (spot clean) when it is all in their burrows. How should I go about cleaning that? or is it fine?

 

[miss moxie]

Alright. I was simply told to do this. So, what shall I do to add more height then? He is in a standard 10 gallon tank with about 4 inches of substrate. Climbing usually isnt a problem with him but I want to keep him safe, of course.

It's alright, when I was new I put pebbles in my Ts water dishes because I thought they'd fall in and drown. We all start somewhere. Anyhoo, in this situation you're gonna have to disturb him. But once you add that extra substrate and set the enclosure up the way you want it, you won't have to change substrate again.

By chance, did a pet store tell you to change the substrate? If so, that makes sense. A pet store would want you to keep coming back to buy substrate you don't need.

 

[KrystalG]

It's alright, when I was new I put pebbles in my Ts water dishes because I thought they'd fall in and drown. We all start somewhere. Anyhoo, in this situation you're gonna have to disturb him. But once you add that extra substrate and set the enclosure up the way you want it, you won't have to change substrate again.

By chance, did a pet store tell you to change the substrate? If so, that makes sense. A pet store would want you to keep coming back to buy substrate you don't need.

Yes, a pet store told me to. I don't know why I didn't question this earlier, because that pet store was also keeping their spiders on aspen under a heat lamp in moldy conditions with only a sponge and constant crickets. Also, if I want to add some fake plants to some of the enclosures, is that alright, or do you think it probably isn't worth disturbing the spider?

 

[miss moxie]

Yes, a pet store told me to. I don't know why I didn't question this earlier, because that pet store was also keeping their spiders on aspen under a heat lamp in moldy conditions with only a sponge and constant crickets. Also, if I want to add some fake plants to some of the enclosures, is that alright, or do you think it probably isn't worth disturbing the spider?

Hahaha you asked the wrong person about fake plants in enclosures!

Just some enclosures of mine. I'll add fake plants to pretty much anything. The answer is yes, you can add fake plants. Just stay away from ones that might have sharp plastic edges (fake cacti for example) and don't overdo it so there is still room for them to walk around.

 

[KrystalG]

It's alright, when I was new I put pebbles in my Ts water dishes because I thought they'd fall in and drown. We all start somewhere. Anyhoo, in this situation you're gonna have to disturb him. But once you add that extra substrate and set the enclosure up the way you want it, you won't have to change substrate again.

By chance, did a pet store tell you to change the substrate? If so, that makes sense. A pet store would want you to keep coming back to buy substrate you don't need.

Yes, a pet store told me to. I don't know why I didn't question this earlier, because that pet store was also keeping their spiders on aspen under a heat lamp in moldy conditions with only a sponge and constant crickets. Also, if I want to add some fake plants to some of the enclosures, is that

Hahaha you asked the wrong person about fake plants in enclosures!

Just some enclosures of mine. I'll add fake plants to pretty much anything. The answer is yes, you can add fake plants. Just stay away from ones that might have sharp plastic edges (fake cacti for example) and don't overdo it so there is still room for them to walk around.

Those are so pretty! thank you!

 

[cold blood]

DLS? And youre right, there is not enough substrate in the tank. He never climbs, so I left it this way, but was planning on filling it further this next time around, which is ASAP.

I understand that it is pretty dangerous and risky to give your T enough room to have a damaging fall, but he doesnt burrow, so I didn't think to deepen it. Recently I had a fall with a different spider and decided to make it deeper in most of the enclosures.

I do have a question though. It needs to be deeper, but I have never seen this guy burrow, so I dont really want to put down more than 4 inches of substrate. Any recommendations on a cheap alternative I can drop beneath the cocofiber to increase the height? Potting soil? Aspen?

Depth of sub doesnt have anything to do with it in this situation....sub needs to be added to make that particular enclosure safe....you wouldnt need it deeper if the enclosure wasnt so tall/deep.

 

[cold blood]

First rule of tarantula keeping....

Never listen to pet stores or ask their advice.. ask here.