The real birdeater

[MindUtopia]

Dorian,

Thanks for posting that link. That's pretty cool! I need to get a copy of that to hang on my wall!

Karen

 

[Scorpendra]

but again, they dont call them birdeaters for nothing...

they are because someone saw one taking out a hummingbird.

 

[Dorian]

I think it is an Avicularia spec.

He're some more Infos about her :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Sybilla_Merian

 

[Scorpendra]

it's kinda hard to tell, for me at least. and anyway, all theraphosids were grouped as one back then; people saw what appeared to be a larger version on what they saw eating a hummingbird, and immediately said it ate a diet of birds.

and the fact that they called all new world mygalomorphs tarantulas didn't exactly help the confusion.

 

[Techuser]

Whats the diference betwen a bird and a rat?
I see no problem with that

 

[becca81]

Whats the diference betwen a bird and a rat?

In terms of feeding, not a whole lot... neither is a necessary part of a tarantula's diet.

 

[Crunchie]

IMO theres nothing wrong with feeding the Tarantula with a bird. It's nothing different from feeding it a mouse or lizard.:? Instead of criticizing it, we should just say: "nice T'" or "he must have been pretty pissed because his abdomen looks bald".
If people have fun feeding stuff to their pets or want to experiment and are proud of it, leave them by that. If you think you can do better, just do it and don't ruin the fun for others. Someday you'll want to post something and you don't want to be yelled at and criticized either.

Stefan-V

Perhaps it's just me but I always thought it was quite worrying that people take so much "fun" from watching a tarantula killing something like a bird or a mouse.
I suppose it's all a matter of opinion though and I'm afraid my opinion isn't likely to change when the next person comes on here with photos saying "look how cool is this, my spider eating a *insert vertebrate here* bwahahahaha my spider is so badass" because lets face it that's what photos like this are generally about.

Whatever floats your boat and all that, some will object (within reason - obviously they can't *really* object as it's none of their business what others feed their tarantula) and some will condone.

 

[reptillian]

im sorry but i think that is sick and horrid i cant believe u done that. a bird has got a brain unlike a cricket for gods sake

 

[syndicate]

thats off the hook lol.i dont think i would do that personly but man pretty grusome,that last pic is terrrible haha!

 

[Randolph XX()]

i did that once, but it was a bird which fall off it's nest
survival the fittest, if i put it back to its nest, will it survive in the future?or will its decendents survive in the future?
but think of how many birds fall of thier nests every year and being road killed by cars or eaten by other wild animals?
simply end their lives in my terrarium is less suffering

 

[Nivek]

Reptillian, this is an assumption by your name that you keep reptiles, and it is not uncommon at all for certain reptiles to eat birds...I have fed my monitors quail on several occasions, as well as chicks to a snake here and there when things are slim...

I do, however, disagree a bit with feeding a bird to a tarantula, just because of the Beak and the "talons." I am paranoid about my pets, so something that can fight back so avidly as an animal with a beak would make me nervous...Perhaps the bird was p/k or dying? I personally don't see a bird, nestling or otherwise, sitting there and taking it as it is being attacked by a tarantula. I would also like to point out that wild birds often carry mites, which could possibly cause an infestation.

I am not 100% sure if it is the same with inverts as reptiles, but some variety here and there is always recommended with reptiles, so couldn't the nutrients and whatnot found in a hatchling chick or a rodent be a nice nutritional kick? (Though Prekilled would definitely be the best option...)

 

[Pennywise]

I didn't Realize it till now.

In the wild when a small bird falls from the nest or for some reason it is
pushed out of the nest by a parent or parasitic(nest stealing) bird then
it would fall victim to whatever is on the forest floor. I always thought of
a bird being grabbed from the air (not very likely)

 

[Crunchie]

but think of how many birds fall of thier nests every year and being road killed by cars or eaten by other wild animals?

Yes exactly! A perfect reason to conserve the ones which do not.

 

[P. Novak]

ah very nice pics!! now thats a birdeater!!! ;P

 

[ChrisNCT]

People feed different things to different animals....... Frankly its none of our business what they feed them. They feed whatever they want so give the guy a break.

I see nothing wrong with what they have done to feed there pets. When is the last time you looked at your pets food ingredients?

It's funny how those who contribute negative comments/replies also buy they're food prekilled in a variety or poultry/meat products and yet they continue to criticize others.

If you don't like it ...... don't look.
Is it too hard not to post negative responses?

 

[Cpt.nemO]

People feed different things to different animals....... Frankly its none of our business what they feed them. They feed whatever they want so give the guy a break.

I see nothing wrong with what they have done to feed there pets. When is the last time you looked at your pets food ingredients?

It's funny how those who contribute negative comments/replies also buy they're food prekilled in a variety or poultry/meat products and yet they continue to criticize others.

If you don't like it ...... don't look.
Is it too hard not to post negative responses?

I Absolutely agree with you chris !!!

 

[Belegnole]

Though I admit that part of me was disturbed by the pictures, I must admit that we DO have to allow something to die to feed our Ts. If the creature that is being used as a food item is within the group of items consumed by our T why should we pass judgement on nature. Of course when ever a "cute" item of food is offered we as humans have a tendancy to feel that it is somehow wrong. Large snake owners for example often have to feed their snakes rabbits. While we may find a certain discust in the act, do we not eat rabbits, cows, etc. I personally have always thought that if one is to eat meat then one should also have to at least once kill and butcher an animal so as to have a deeper understanding of what is really happening. Nature is not pretty or fair it just is....

P.S. like I said at the beginning I felt a bit disturbed by the photos....Feeding to gain pleasure for oneself or to (I hate to say it) torture a animal is just wrong...........I am not saying that this is an example of that.......Bel

 

[Crunchie]

Is it too hard not to post negative responses?

Is it not the purpose of forums such as this to allow everyone to express opinions?

Edit: for the record I don't normally get involved with threads such as this one but feel there is a difference between feeding animals bred specifically as food and plucking an otherwise healthy one from the wild for the same purpose.

 

[solaceofwinter]

im sorry but i think that is sick and horrid i cant believe u done that. a bird has got a brain unlike a cricket for gods sake

LOL crickets dont have brains?

 

[fyrburn]

Why do people see it as wrong to feed a spider a warm blooded animal, and not an insect? bugs feel pain too y'know.....

I found that pretty interesting, I have always wondered what would be left if a T was to eat something big