Too many at once?

[Bry]

Tonight I was feeding my 2" G. pulchra, I put in a small cricket, and she instantly nailed it. I was told to wait an hour between offering crickets. So, I waited an hour, went to put in another cricket. At first, I wanted to make sure that she had eaten all of her last one before offering her another. I couldn't quite tell whether or not it was done, but it looked like the cricket was gone. Anyway, I dropped the next one in, and she didn't give that one much of a chance either. I went ahead and fed my snakes, looked back in about 20 minutes later, and she appeared to be holding two crickets at once. I wonder if maybe she had somehow broken down that last cricket to look like two from a certain angle, or if she were actually holding two crickets. Is this a common thing with your Ts, or do I just have a pig of a spider?

Like I said earlier, I was told to feed a cricket approx. every hour, and that they should be given as much as they will eat, approx 4-6 crickets per feeding. So let's say the T eats 6 crickets, is it really supposed to take 6 hours? How do you guys go about it, especially those of you with busy lives and large collections?

Lastly, under appropriate conditions, approximately how long does it takes a G. pulchra to reach adult size?

Thanks,
Bry

 

[Bjorgly]

I have never heard to wait an hour inbetween feedings, but i feed all of my tarantulas one at a time anyways. When their larger they can take several at once.

My B.smithi is 10 years old and I know I will be waiting probably at least another 10 years before she is absolute maximum size. I would think that the G.pulchra takes around 15 - 20 years to reach ABSOLUTE maximum size give or take, which i believe can be up to 7 inches in some cases.

Mark

 

[skinheaddave]

Bry,

The two things you have to worry about when feeding multiple crickets are whether or not your T is going to moult and how easily stressed it is. Generally speaking, they can take care of themselves and there is no reason not to throw in a few at a time. Most larger Ts will capture multiple crickets at once in their fangs. Reminds me of a stack of pancakes.

Cheers,
Dave

 

[Bry]

Okay, so for a little 2" T, would dropping in say 3-4 crickets at once be alright? I don't much feel like finding out my T has become cricket dinner.

Bry

 

[RugbyDave]

Bry --

each T is very different, so its really up to you -- experiment a little a get to know your T --

HOWEVER, during the next few weeks while you're experimenting, make sure you sit down for a little bit and watch -- see what S/he takes and there you go --

start with a couple, maybe go down to 3 -- maybe up to 5 .. see what your T normall eats.. But remember -- this isn't set in stone, because, as you know, pre-molt, or just depressed T's won't eat as much, so as long as you keep an eye on the T (you don't have to watch it every second, since the crickets aren't going in with Uzi's and shotguns, ya know) -- don't be stupid and just leave -- you never know...

however, crickets rarely can bring down an adult or subadult T, unless the T is sick or molting... seriously... its' very difficult since the T will usually make itself known, and either kill the crickets and leave them, or kill them and eat them...
don't worry that much, just keep an eye on your T untill you can basically know what your pet's needs are..

the more you do this, the easier it is, and the more fun it becomes!

good luck!
peace
dave

 

[Nixy]

Our L. Parynanner is up to med crickets and we toss in three at a time as Willy seems to be Very good at snagging several at once.
Our one two one and a half inchers get two small crickets at a time and haven't shown a bit of problem.
Once they finish up with the two tiny crickets I offer them a meal, wax, or silk worm to them. If that vanishes I offer another.
Our big apressive eaters, three inches and over get two or three large crickets then a little bowl "worm buffet." EI: wax, meal, super and silk. Once of each on the weekends. They vanish in no time.

 

[chid]

I fed my tarantulas this morning and always give them one at time to start with, but if it gets taken straight away I throw in another. The reason for 1 to start with is its easier to remove 1 if its not eaten than 2 or 3.

Most of the time they take the other as well and end up with two at a time.
As long as they are the right size for your spider at the correct time i.e. not coming up to a moult, i find its no problem to feed a couple at a time.

Chid

 

[sunnymarcie]

Rio Grande Gold ~(1.5 inch T)CB-2 to 3 crickets a week.

Stripe Knee~(1.5 inch T)CB-2 to 3 small crickets a week.

These guys seem to be affraid of the small worms~

Rose Hair~(@ 3.5 inch T)?WC- usually 2 to 4 large crickets every
two days. Has not tried the worms, I offered, she refused

Pink Toe~(@2.5 inch T)WC-3 to 6 crickets daily.(any size) I plan to
give this one worms today, she takes the food from the
tweezers befor I get a chance to let it go!

 

[Bry]

Thanks for the help. I guess I'm just used to animals that scarf down their prey whole. I'll get the hang of it.

Bry

 

[Godzilla2000]

Originally posted by Bry
Tonight I was feeding my 2" G. pulchra, I put in a small cricket, and she instantly nailed it. I was told to wait an hour between offering crickets. So, I waited an hour, went to put in another cricket. At first, I wanted to make sure that she had eaten all of her last one before offering her another. I couldn't quite tell whether or not it was done, but it looked like the cricket was gone. Anyway, I dropped the next one in, and she didn't give that one much of a chance either. I went ahead and fed my snakes, looked back in about 20 minutes later, and she appeared to be holding two crickets at once. I wonder if maybe she had somehow broken down that last cricket to look like two from a certain angle, or if she were actually holding two crickets. Is this a common thing with your Ts, or do I just have a pig of a spider?

Like I said earlier, I was told to feed a cricket approx. every hour, and that they should be given as much as they will eat, approx 4-6 crickets per feeding. So let's say the T eats 6 crickets, is it really supposed to take 6 hours? How do you guys go about it, especially those of you with busy lives and large collections?

Lastly, under appropriate conditions, approximately how long does it takes a G. pulchra to reach adult size?

Thanks,
Bry

My G. rosea is a pig. She likes to snag 4 crickets at once. She's none too picky either. She'll snag freshly killed crickets as well. Just as long as I drop them near her.

 

[XOskeletonRED]

Speaking of scarfing food down quickly...I fed my adult female Lasiodora parahybana this AM through this PM. She ate, without a problem, 20-25 adult crix!!! She is a complete hog! I had to stop feeding her, because she was eating all of the other arachnid's food! My starving girl has eaten nearly 20 bucks worth of crix this month (and I get a huge discount)! And she doesn't ever even seem to stop eating. Not to mention, my scorps run through at least fourty bucks in a month on food, then the bearded dragon eats a huge amount too! I'm done for, I need more "Arachnopets"! heheh... I think I'm gonna have to start breeding feeder roaches. If not, I'm gonna go broke, cause the pets eat more than me.


adios,
edw. =D