Tarantulas and waxworms. (What else besides crickets and roaches can I feed a T?)

[cold blood]

Are waxworms fattening to a tarantula? I know in birds and reptiles, it is and usually considered as adult occasional treat for them. I was considering breeding waxworms when I got my T but it would really suck if I didn't know better and inadvertently shortened my spider's lifespan by making it molt early in the process.

Is it a good or really idea to feed waxworms only to a T? I am not too keen on crickets, apparently they really smell something fierce and I am not so sure about them. Startles me every time crickets jump. Plus, some tarantulas don't care for roaches and the thought of a roach or a cricket injuring a freshly molted T gives me cause for concern and makes me feel really wary about feeding crickets and roaches.

Any other good, safe alternatives? Your advice is greatly appreciated.

Wax worms are great feeders.

Many of my larger adults won't entertain the idea of eating them

I haven't had this issue. I have large adult pokies that love them...same for mealworms.

Literally the only t I have offered a waxie to and not gotten an instant response was my old G. potato.

I don't bother with locusts at all, they're bloody disgusting

Spectacular feeders though...ts love em and they are decently sized.

I still find it funny that you call them locusts over there. Here they are grasshoppers....During population explosions, as a result of crowding, grasshoppers can go through a physiological change and morph into locusts.

Waxworms are great because 1) they're readily available here, 2) they take up little space, 3) don't smell, 4) are easy to keep for relatively long periods, 5) don't run away, escape, jump away, etc.

You missed the best part...they turn into moths...nothing gets a feeding response like the beating wings of a moth. OP, if you bred waxies, this byproduct of moths would really mean you have 2 feeders to offer....waxies and the moths.

 

[Jmanbeing93]

Wax worms are great feeders.

I haven't had this issue. I have large adult pokies that love them...same for mealworms.

Literally the only t I have offered a waxie to and not gotten an instant response was my old G. potato.


Spectacular feeders though...ts love em and they are decently sized.

I still find it funny that you call them locusts over there. Here they are grasshoppers....During population explosions, as a result of crowding, grasshoppers can go through a physiological change and morph into locusts.



You missed the best part...they turn into moths...nothing gets a feeding response like the beating wings of a moth. OP, if you bred waxies, this byproduct of moths would really mean you have 2 feeders to offer....waxies and the moths.

I guess it is decided, when I get my spider, I am going to try the moths and waxworms both.

 

[dangerforceidle]

You missed the best part...they turn into moths...nothing gets a feeding response like the beating wings of a moth. OP, if you bred waxies, this byproduct of moths would really mean you have 2 feeders to offer....waxies and the moths.

This is so true. The moths get the Ts all riled up like nothing else I've seen.

 

[Andrea82]

Wax worms are great feeders.

I still find it funny that you call them locusts over there. Here they are grasshoppers....During population explosions, as a result of crowding, grasshoppers can go through a physiological change and morph into locusts.
QUOTE]
Their scientific name is Locusta migratoria... So the UK is actually right on this one
In Dutch we call it 'sprinkhaan' which roughly translates as 'jumping rooster' or 'hopping rooster'...
Oh the joy of common names

 

[The Grym Reaper]

Their scientific name is Locusta migratoria... So the UK is actually right on this one

Boom!

 

[cold blood]

i didnt say anyone was wrong....I was just noting the cultural differrence in the name.

 

[EricSJCA]

I used earwigs a lot as a kid for mantids and jumping spiders. I think baby earwigs would be good sling food but they don't get large enough for much else. And I think pincers would be treated the same as cricket legs, remove them if the feeder is large enough to harm the T.

When I was a kid I watched an earwig sever several attacking ants in half with those pincers.
Yes, I was one of those kids who arranged bug fights.

 

[Swoop]

When I was a kid I watched an earwig sever several attacking ants in half with those pincers.
Yes, I was one of those kids who arranged bug fights.

I wouldn't give an adult earwig to a 1/2" sling but my 3/4" genic slings would make short work of a baby earwig. And my 1+" Nhandu and Lasiodora slings would have no trouble with adults. Kind of a niche food tho since they're small and better armed than most feeders.

All in all I think earwigs would be best as pre-killed sling food. I don't like keeping crickets and mealworms/roaches squish too much when I'm pre-killing them. Earwigs would be easy to cut into two or three pieces without wasting a larger feeder.

 

[Donalayo]

I have baby jumping spider slings up to T Albopilosum that are about 3 inches long. I also have Leopard Geckos. I am trying to establish breeding colonies of bugs for everyone. I already have red runner roaches and fruit flies. I just placed an order for mor super worms, wax worms, bean beetles and Dubai roaches. Oh. And the Hydai fruit fly as well. I think I have a variety of all sizes available to my critters. I won’t have crickets and am not planning on breeding the super worms. Anything else I should add except the kitchen sink?? Lol

 

[kingshockey]

meal worms and super worms no smell /no noise they live for months justuse scissors to remove the head to pre kill or to cut into smaller bits to feed tiny slings.