Hi everyone! I'm really struggling. I feed my Tarantula 3 days ago, and I left the cricket near him for him to eat (sometimes he doesn't grab it right away), and later I came back and couldn't find the cricket, so I assumed he ate it. 2 days later, I had to move something in the enclosure, and I found the cricket was hiding under it, still completely alive. I tried to guide the cricket to my T, but it just wasn't happening, and it seems that my T doesn't want to eat, which is normal, because he's just entered pre molt a week ago (his typically last a month before he molts) and I was just trying to make sure he was fed before he actually molted. Well the problem is, I can't get the cricket out. I have never seen a cricket like this, I can't catch him. It's like he has some kind of special parkour abilities, cuz I can't pin him down. I'm probably overreacting, but I'm scared that I won't be able to get him out, and he'll be in there while my T molts, or that he will stress my T out before he molts. Should I just wait till he dies? I tried to get the cricket out today and yesterday. He's not dieing! He's not even getting slower! I don't know what to do, please help!
Tarantula in pre molt, cricket in enclosure
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kingshockey
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thats why you feed pre killed only dont need to deal with issues like this and theres no reason to be trying to feed your t while knowing it was in premolt? just go ahead and dig out the cricket all will be okay just dont it if your t is already flipped ready to molt
Ok, thanks! I went back to check and he FINALLY ate the cricket. He's like, beginning beginning of pre molt, and I felt he was getting a little thin, because all the crickets died at the place I get them, so now all the new crickets are tiny for some reason, and so I was worried that if I didn't feed him... Honestly, I don't even know what I'm worried about, I guess I'm just paranoid 
. He still has at LEAST 3 weeks before molting, I just worry sometimes .
Thank you again!
. He still has at LEAST 3 weeks before molting, I just worry sometimes . Thank you again!
Also, I've tried pre killed, but he won't eat em, unfortunately
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Get that cricket out or you’re going to have a dead T!!
kingshockey
Arachnoangel
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your welcome word of advice dont worry to much or you will look like your the one in premoltOk, thanks! I went back to check and he FINALLY ate the cricket. He's like, beginning beginning of pre molt, and I felt he was getting a little thin, because all the crickets died at the place I get them, so now all the new crickets are tiny for some reason, and so I was worried that if I didn't feed him... Honestly, I don't even know what I'm worried about, I guess I'm just paranoid
Thank you again!
Also, I've tried pre killed, but he won't eat em, unfortunately
bald shiny head from worry haha j/kYa, that's what I was scared of! Thankfully he ate it last night! I was freaking out, but I didn't want to remove my Tarantula inorder to get the cricket out when he's in pre molt, ya know? And I was not able to catch the cricket! It had a strong will to live.
your welcome word of advice dont worry to much or you will look like your the one in premolt
Ya, I've had him for about a year, guess I still have that bit of beginners panick
kingshockey
Arachnoangel
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we all had that before haha
Yep, I thought I was past it, but I guess not
I keep forgetting that Tarantulas are so much more sturdy then other pets. If you don't feed em once they will be fine. New concept
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Man is mightier than the cricket!!!!Ya, that's what I was scared of! Thankfully he ate it last night! I was freaking out, but I didn't want to remove my Tarantula inorder to get the cricket out when he's in pre molt, ya know? And I was not able to catch the cricket! It had a strong will to live.
T is better than man at catching a cricket when it's hungry!!!
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I find it much easier to just kill the cricket by crushing it with a pair of tongs rather than trying to catch it alive. Once the decision is made to kill the cricket, it's much easier to apply a quick decisive crush to any part or all of its anatomy rather than applying controlled force in an attempt to remove it without causing harm.
Ya, that's very true