Starving Spider Help

[smolboyspiders]

Location: CA, USA
Because of this pandemic I've been completely inable to acquire food for my pink toe tarantula. I've called every pet store or sporting goods store and every store, even ones two towns over, are ALL out of crickets and meal worms, and just anything you'd imagine to feed a spider. Plus a lot of places are closed. My baby girl is, well not mature and not confirmed a boy or girl yet but, getting very skinny. She's gotten significantly skinnier over the past month, and I'm not sure what to do. I don't know what kind of bugs i could forage for? I'm not even sure there'd be anything in the backyard, or if I'd be able to catch them if there was. I'm close to just releasing her, which is something i do NOT agree with under normal circumstances because this is certainly nowhere near her native environment but I'm sure she'd be able to find at least something on her own, and I'm not about to let her starve to death because of this virus. She has plenty of water and she walks around her cage just fine but I'm very worried. I just need some ideas or resources or something, how has everyone else been handling the national cricket shortage?

 

[AphonopelmaTX]

First things first. Releasing a pink toe (I'm assuming Avicularia avicularia here) won't survive in the California wild so you will be giving it a death sentence instead of helping it. There are, of course, ethical issues with releasing non native invertebrates into the local ecosystem which I won't get into here.

The cricket farmers are still active and shipping country-wide so that will be your only option for obtaining feeder insects if there really is no stores local to you that carries anything. Ordering from the cricket farmers will be costly and there is a minimum order which varies. It will be overkill for just one tarantula, but if that is your only option then take it. Better to have too many crickets than none at all.

I use Armstrong's Crickets to buy 250 crickets shipped overnight and if you take care of them properly, 250 will last a long time so you will have to buy a size smaller than you normally would to allow for growth. Fluker's Farms has a lower minimum quantity and more shipping options than Armstrong's but I kept getting dead or sick and dying crickets so I switched to Armstrong's.

 

[Frogdaddy]

I don't know if Dubia roaches are legal in CA but you could get in contact with a private roach breeder and see if you can get 10 or 20 Dubia or Lateralis shipped to you.

 

[kingshockey]

how come you dont try rainbow mealworms? they are local to so cal

 

[smolboyspiders]

First things first. Releasing a pink toe (I'm assuming Avicularia avicularia here) won't survive in the California wild so you will be giving it a death sentence instead of helping it. There are, of course, ethical issues with releasing non native invertebrates into the local ecosystem which I won't get into here.

The cricket farmers are still active and shipping country-wide so that will be your only option for obtaining feeder insects if there really is no stores local to you that carries anything. Ordering from the cricket farmers will be costly and there is a minimum order which varies. It will be overkill for just one tarantula, but if that is your only option then take it. Better to have too many crickets than none at all.

I use Armstrong's Crickets to buy 250 crickets shipped overnight and if you take care of them properly, 250 will last a long time so you will have to buy a size smaller than you normally would to allow for growth. Fluker's Farms has a lower minimum quantity and more shipping options than Armstrong's but I kept getting dead or sick and dying crickets so I switched to Armstrong's.

Yeah I definitely know the environmental issues with releasing pets, especially exotic ones, which is why i said I'm against it. Its certainly not something i want to do but like i said if i can't do literally anything else I'd rather her not starve to death and at least there's a slim chance she could live, rather than a guranteed death. But thanks for the info, I'll check out those farmers! I hope i can buy less, cause I dont have room for 250 crickets and i can't imagine releasing hundreds of extra crickets would be good for the garden lmao

how come you dont try rainbow mealworms? they are local to so cal

I live in the northern part of the valley, and no stores around here or neighboring towns have anything, not even meal worms. I saw hornworms but my spider is too small for those I'd think.

 

[moricollins]

I live in the northern part of the valley, and no stores around here or neighboring towns have anything, not even meal worms. I saw hornworms but my spider is too small for those I'd think.

I'd try it anyways. What's the worst that could happen? I venture that it'll eat it.

 

[Olan]

An Avicularia would never survive in the wild in CA.
Plenty of online places to get feeders.
eBay has lots of options.
If you buy one cup of mealworms, you can keep them in the fridge for many weeks.
Dubia are indeed legal in CA. Many online places to buy some of them.

 

[dman13760]

go online and buy a 10 count of roaches from Jamie's Tarantulas; they are located in CA. Use what you need and freeze the rest. Your T could be eating by Thursday

 

[zeeman]

Go to a fishing or bait and tackle store. They should have mealworms or super worms available.

 

[Arachne13]

I have had really great luck buying Dubia, b lats, mealworms and superworms from breeders on eBay. Make sure they have good reviews for the specific feeder you are buying and have at least 98% positive feedback. The shipping is usually free or cheap and they are sent priority so they will arrive quickly and usually it’s not expensive. I’ve even been able to find starter colonies through breeders online. I would highly suggest looking into a starter colony. Dubias and b lats are fairly easy to raise and breeds and there are tons of helpful videos on YouTube.

 

[spideyspinneret78]

You can order feeder insects online, or perhaps use different feeder insects. Tarantulas will eat a variety of things, and if the prey item is too large, you can always chop it up and see if the tarantula will eat it (hornworms, nightcrawlers, etc.). Worst case scenario, your spider will probably be fine for a few weeks until you can pick up some feeders.

 

[Craig73]

Dubias are legal in CA and I got some the other month. I actually prefer them over crickets. You can search Craigslist or the like as well for locals that may be breeding and selling them. I’ve had no issues acquiring feeders since the pandemic, in a reasonable amount of time too.
Time to hustle, put feelers out on social media, in your town, etc.
If we get a call from Sally Struther’s for $.13 a day donation to support your critter there will be some ‘splainin to do. (said in a light hearted Joking manner). You have some options.

By the way, I’m in the Bay Area, CA. If you are in CA and local to the Bay Area you can DM me. I don’t breed, but I do have some Dubias I‘d give you to help get your guy/girl fed.

 

[DomGom TheFather]

Get some roaches.
Runners are da bomb.

Around me they sell mealworms at almost every gas station for fishing.

 

[ArachniMarc]

Earth worms will even work in a pinch.

 

[PidderPeets]

You said you have access to hornworms, but that they might be too large. Just prekill a hornworm, and offer that. As picky as Avics can be, a hungry enough one should still take what it can get. If it is too big, all that could really happen is that it will overindulge and then be good for significantly longer than if you were feeding smaller meals more frequently. Since you are struggling to find consistent sources of food, bigger meals less often sounds like the best plan.

And even though it's beating a dead horse, do NOT release a non-native animal into your environment.

 

[mack1855]

go online and buy a 10 count of roaches from Jamie's Tarantulas; they are located in CA. Use what you need and freeze the rest. Your T could be eating by Thursday

Heres your answer.Spend a few more dollars,and do 2nd day delivery.

 

[Penn]

Do not release your spider. Not only is it illegal, it is super irresponsible. The spider will die if you release her, and that is how diseases and invasive pests spread. She may not be able to reproduce, but what if she spreads some sort of infection/mite/fungus to local species? Is one spider worth the possible harm to your native environment?

Even if you can't buy any feeders, you could catch some small grasshoppers or crickets or a moth or something. There is the risk of parasitic infection from wild caught insects so be sure to exhaust your other options first.

Seriously. Don't ever release captive reared animals and especially non-native species. Just look at Florida.

 

[Matt Man]

Where in CA? I live in San Diego and we have tons of feeders all over the place. You can order them from LLL Reptile or Jamie's Tarantulas. Jamie's has laterals (red runners) which are great for arboreal because they don't burrow. Someone already mentioned her shop. GET IT DONE>

I don't know if Dubia roaches are legal in CA but you could get in contact with a private roach breeder and see if you can get 10 or 20 Dubia or Lateralis shipped to you.

yes, Dubia's are legal and plentiful here. You should have no issues finding feeders in SoCal. Where are you?

 

[darkness975]

Fluker's Farms has a lower minimum quantity and more shipping options than Armstrong's but I kept getting dead or sick and dying crickets so I switched to Armstrong's

You too huh? I thought I was the only one that had negative experiences with flukers.

What I cant figure out is why they ship crickets inside of the sealed cylindrical containers that are more suited to mealworms. The crickets should be shipped in boxes with ventilated screen siding the way they ship the mealworms. It's reversed and it makes no sense but they keep doing it.