Species appetites

[Lifeingotham]

Hi,

In a few days I will be acquiring a curly haired tarantula and a desert blonde. I was wondering from experienced keepers what kind of appitites do these guys have? My T’s will be between three and four inches in leg span. I plan on feeding one to two crickets per week.

 

[Tenebrarius]

I plan on feeding one to two crickets per week.

sounds like a normal plan, if you switch to roaches though you get a better size variety. one big boi will fill up that silky bois tummy.

 

[cold blood]

Both are good eaters. The albo grows faster, but not fast....chalcodes grow at a glacial pace.

As a result, once they fill up, they can both fast....chalcodes is capable of impressive fasts. So best bet is to feed on a slower schedule. It wont eliminate fasting, but it can reduce it significantly.

I would feed the albo every 10-14 days...the chalcodes once or twice a month....no need for multiple feeders.

Another thing to consider is molt cycle and general plumpness. As in as the t plumps, you can feed it smaller prey items less often.

But due to long molt cycles, theres no hurry plumping them up..you will have about a year for the albo and 1-3years for the chalcodes.

 

[viper69]

Hi,

In a few days I will be acquiring a curly haired tarantula and a desert blonde. I was wondering from experienced keepers what kind of appitites do these guys have? My T’s will be between three and four inches in leg span. I plan on feeding one to two crickets per week.

Your Albo could easily eat more frequently.

 

[Tenebrarius]

ah geez I don't know why but I assumed they were getting slings, maybe because of how small crickets are? anyways big bois should be eating more to sustain a fat booty. a big roach will work very nice.

 

[Vanessa]

I've noticed that my Aphonopelma chalcodes will fast over the winter months. She refused food from November to March last year. At 4", the chalcodes is almost full grown, so don't be concerned if yours refuses meals at this time of year.

 

[SonsofArachne]

A. chalcodes eat like champs, until they don't. Mine's approaching a year without eating a single thing, just sits in her hide looking healthy with her still reasonably round abdomen, mocking me: "No, I won't be eating this month either, but you keep offering me roaches so I can ignore them".

 

[EtienneN]

My 4 inch A. chalcodes has never refused food in the 18 months I’ve had it. She’s an interesting one though.

 

[draconisj4]

My 3.5" A. chalcodes buried herself at the end of July last year and finally unsealed her burrow and came out to have a drink yesterday. She still has an impressively round booty. I've had her 15 months and no molt so far. According to my records she has only eaten 18 roaches in that time span.