To feed or not to feed?

[Svane]

Hello spider-web.
I’m having a hard time deciding on when to stop feeding? My G. Pulchra loves to eat, and takes anything offered to her - but she does get very grape-butt and I’m afraid to over feed her.
What do you usually do to hit the right schedule of feeding with a grammostola? She does grow very slow, and I usually feed her once a week after she molts, and then stretch it out when she starts to get really round.

 

[Charliemum]

She is a good size just cut feeds down say by weekly rather then weekly she will decide when she is full don't worry. You can't overfeed t's like all creatures they will stop eating when full

 

[kingshockey]

i feed a couple of mine every couple of weeks or once a month cause they had that brazillian butt lift thing going on until they thinned out some

 

[Mike41793]

That spider looks pretty fat, I wouldn't feed it for awhile. Just keep water available

 

[CentiPete]

B. Hamorii here, last cycle I was feeding daily for a couple weeks and then dropped the frequency when it didn’t pounce immediately and the butt got ridonculously big. I have found a lot of posts here that suggest there is such a thing as a too fat tarantula and that it would delay molts or the spider can get injured more easily from a fall and rupture the abdomen. This cycle I am putting it to the test with biweekly feedings to see how fast it will grow and molt. I feed bigger prey though.

 

[viper69]

My G. Pulchra loves to eat, and takes anything offered to her

Have you thought why you observe a behavior that is not unique to only your species?

 

[spideyspinneret78]

You don't need to feed her for a while. Possibly until after her next molt.

 

[Mustafa67]

Hello spider-web.
I’m having a hard time deciding on when to stop feeding? My G. Pulchra loves to eat, and takes anything offered to her - but she does get very grape-butt and I’m afraid to over feed her.
What do you usually do to hit the right schedule of feeding with a grammostola? She does grow very slow, and I usually feed her once a week after she molts, and then stretch it out when she starts to get really round.

That’s fat. Stop

 

[cold blood]

She does grow very slow, and I usually feed her once a week after she molts, and then stretch it out when she starts to get really round.

stretch out the feedings right from the start....just feed two of three meals a month, and dont feed large meals.....when plump, stretching it out even more and feed small meals.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

I feed once a month or less for juvys and bigger. Once there fat I stop feeding.

 

[Mike41793]

I feed once a month or less for juvys and bigger. Once there fat I stop feeding.

Yea same I've had to catch myself. Because feeding is the only time you get to see some it seems. And I do enjoy the interaction with them. But have to realize they don't need it. Instead I'll still go through and water/pull out any bolus. But lay off the food for sure.

Up until the 1-2in mark depending on species I do tend to feed heavier though. I just feel better getting them out of the sling stage quicker if I can. Slings always just seem more fragile to me. What I really need to do is stop buying OW and get more of the faster growing terrestrial new worlds in the collection. Stuff like Phormictopus can eat more cuz they just seem to grow that much quicker lol. And once they're big enough to take more than 1 red runner at a time then I'd really be cooking with fire haha

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

Yea same I've had to catch myself. Because feeding is the only time you get to see some it seems. And I do enjoy the interaction with them. But have to realize they don't need it. Instead I'll still go through and water/pull out any bolus. But lay off the food for sure.

Up until the 1-2in mark depending on species I do tend to feed heavier though. I just feel better getting them out of the sling stage quicker if I can. Slings always just seem more fragile to me. What I really need to do is stop buying OW and get more of the faster growing terrestrial new worlds in the collection. Stuff like Phormictopus can eat more cuz they just seem to grow that much quicker lol. And once they're big enough to take more than 1 red runner at a time then I'd really be cooking with fire haha

ow are harder because there more escape prone from speed, although some new worlds are quick too.
I can’t really buy anything right now , and the pet shop sucks most of the ones I got there died … I may still check there. But my mom didn’t want me getting more online …I already got 4 slings I wasn’t aloud to get they will be mad when they notice eventually. I’d have to ask for more …I only wanted Few anyways..

 

[Charliemum]

Yea same I've had to catch myself. Because feeding is the only time you get to see some it seems. And I do enjoy the interaction with them. But have to realize they don't need it. Instead I'll still go through and water/pull out any bolus. But lay off the food for sure.

Up until the 1-2in mark depending on species I do tend to feed heavier though. I just feel better getting them out of the sling stage quicker if I can. Slings always just seem more fragile to me. What I really need to do is stop buying OW and get more of the faster growing terrestrial new worlds in the collection. Stuff like Phormictopus can eat more cuz they just seem to grow that much quicker lol. And once they're big enough to take more than 1 red runner at a time then I'd really be cooking with fire haha

Fast growing ow Chilobrachys my second favourite ow genus Augacephalus being the best obviously .
Phormictopus do not grow quickly that's a lie lol they are like geniculata take ages to moult but once they do they put on an inch I have 5 sp n the big girls are good moult every 6-8 months or so but my male auratus...13 months to moult at 3 inch it took forever . Get sp blue or dominican purple they seem to moult quickest n both are stunning pinks n purples. Worth the having if you can get past their crazy temperament . ( FYI the crazy....best part about them )

 

[Mike41793]

Fast growing ow Chilobrachys my second favourite ow genus Augacephalus being the best obviously .
Phormictopus do not grow quickly that's a lie lol they are like geniculata take ages to moult but once they do they put on an inch I have 5 sp n the big girls are good moult every 6-8 months or so but my male auratus...13 months to moult at 3 inch it took forever . Get sp blue or dominican purple they seem to moult quickest n both are stunning pinks n purples. Worth the having if you can get past their crazy temperament . ( FYI the crazy....best part about them )

Yea right now I only have auratus. It seems like if I feed a baboon sp of similar size an adult male red runner, say a few weeks in a row. They kinda fatten and balloon up. And I have to lay off for awhile. The auratus just doesn't seem to fatten up as quickly. Like their metabolism works faster or something, not sure. I would like a dominican purple for sure at some point. The Xenethis genus interests me too. I don't mind the auratus crackhead energy it has, cuz it has yet to flick hairs at me. That's all I really care about, don't flick me! Haha

ow are harder because there more escape prone from speed, although some new worlds are quick too.
I can’t really buy anything right now , and the pet shop sucks most of the ones I got there died … I may still check there. But my mom didn’t want me getting more online …I already got 4 slings I wasn’t aloud to get they will be mad when they notice eventually. I’d have to ask for more …I only wanted Few anyways..

I always get mine sent fedex and pick them up at the local hub. If you got a car you can pick them up yourself and unbox in the car. Bring the vials inside in your pocket or a bag haha.

Of all the things I did as a teenager, sneaking some tarantulas inside is pretty tame imo. It's a responsible hobby! Better than a lot of other stuff kids could be spending money on haha. Life gets easier when you're the king of your own castle as far as hobbies go. But it also gets a LOT more expensive. Enjoy being a kid!

 

[Charliemum]

Yea right now I only have auratus. It seems like if I feed a baboon sp of similar size an adult male red runner, say a few weeks in a row. They kinda fatten and balloon up. And I have to lay off for awhile. The auratus just doesn't seem to fatten up as quickly. Like their metabolism works faster or something, not sure. I would like a dominican purple for sure at some point. The Xenethis genus interests me too. I don't mind the auratus crackhead energy it has, cuz it has yet to flick hairs at me. That's all I really care about, don't flick me! Haha

Don't get xenesthis then mine flicks if I breathe . Tbh my phormictopie don't flick they either run or slap the ground at me theres no in-between .

Purples are great perfect mix of beauty n psycho . If you can get one pics really don't do them justice.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

I always get mine sent fedex and pick them up at the local hub. If you got a car you can pick them up yourself and unbox in the car. Bring the vials inside in your pocket or a bag haha.

Of all the things I did as a teenager, sneaking some tarantulas inside is pretty tame imo. It's a responsible hobby! Better than a lot of other stuff kids could be spending money on haha. Life gets easier when you're the king of your own castle as far as hobbies go. But it also gets a LOT more expensive. Enjoy being a kid!

Terrible job market here. 🥲

https://arachnoboards.com/threads/why-jobs-here-don%E2%80%99t-pay-a-living-wage.373102/

 

[Mike41793]

Terrible job market here. 🥲

https://arachnoboards.com/threads/why-jobs-here-don%E2%80%99t-pay-a-living-wage.373102/

I don't have access to this thread? Maybe I need to become a member. I have been thinking of it anyways since I hate the pop up ads lol.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

I don't have access to this thread? Maybe I need to become a member. I have been thinking of it anyways since I hate the pop up ads lol.

I forget how to join it , ask in website troubleshooting.

 

[Mike41793]

I forget how to join it , ask in website troubleshooting.

Yea I'm not sure! What's the forum called? I did buy a membership and the ad free browsing is worth it alone. Website runs so much smoother without the pop ups. But I still can't see that thread you made. Weird lol

 

[CentiPete]

Nah you just have to send a message to the mods, there should be a thread where you can request access the off topic section, its called the watering hole and is disabled by default. Nothing wrong with becoming a member though. Be advised it is a section that also allows political discourse and whatnot, if you want to keep it to spider centered content you don't need it.