Uneaten Crickets causing problems

[PhobeToPhile]

So, I have had my tarantula for nearly two years now, and all that time it has never molted. Well, I think she may finally be in premolt, since she has stopped responding to food and I THINK I can see some black coming in on her back. At the very least, whine I shine it it does not have the vaguely translucent look it used to have. The problem is, the way I found out that she is not eating is that I dropped a bunch of crickets in there. And now they're jumping around and I have no idea how to get them out. Tongs just plain don't work, and that was the idea I found when I searched the archives. Any ideas?

 

[JadeWilliamson]

It may be the rum I just drank, but it would help to know what species it is. Providing pictures would help even more.
The crickets are probably stressing your girl out and need to be removed. Put a small chunk of a potato in there and they'll go to it within sixty seconds, at which point you can nab them with your hand or your tongs. Whatever tickles your fancy the most.
You could also go into a big open space and open the top of your T's enclosure. The crickets will jump out, so make sure you have a very well-qualified team of cricket grabbers before you start that venture.

 

[MarkmD]

Don't dump a bunch of crickets in with your T, as said will be stressing it out, what species of T is it? I guess G,Rosea or Brachypelma cause they are slow growing,

 

[Shrike]

Why don't tongs work?

How easy this is will depend on the species, but you could temporarily remove the T and get the crickets out. However, I wouldn't do this if a molt is imminent. As others have stated, in the future you should feed the T one cricket at a time to see if it's receptive to food.

 

[spiderengineer]

am I missing something here why are you unable to get them out?

 

[MarkmD]

Yeah very good question from the above posts, why can't you take them out?, I use a pare of 10" tongs that work for problems with food item's, if they are jumping around then wait till they stop then grab.

 

[vespers]

I often cut the "jumping legs" off of a cricket before putting it into the enclosure. It makes retrieving it...if necessary...a much easier affair.

 

[jakykong]

Yeah very good question from the above posts, why can't you take them out?, I use a pare of 10" tongs that work for problems with food item's, if they are jumping around then wait till they stop then grab.

If they're jumping around, another good method is to get a plastic cup, use the tongs to catch the cricket with the cup (corner it, it jumps, and the only place it can land is the cup), and you're done. If containment is an issue, keep some cardboard to cover the cup with on the way out. I find this a lot easier than tongs alone for catching crickets.

 

[edgeofthefreak]

Do you have any egg carton type material lying around? Crickets trust the feel of cardboard, and egg carton type is the best. When I had an outbreak of baby crix, I put a 6-egg carton in the tank for 20 mins and quite literally, all 200 tiny crickets were safely inside. If you're like me and lack tong dexterity (I don't want to crush the lil guys) then I suggest the Cricket Hotel.

 

[MarkmD]

I don't have the problem Jakykong, but thats good idea for the OP, TO OP I also cut the back (jumping legs off) works very well.

 

[PhobeToPhile]

In answer to the questions, its a G. pulchripes, and I can't get the crickets out because they won't STOP jumping, and I am not very dexterous with the tongs. Dumping them in to feed is my usual method, as I do once a month feedings, and she usually nabs them all within a few hours. This is the first time ever that she has not. To be honest, the reason why she has not yet molted might be cage placement-I live in a house full of arachnophobes, and my room is the only place the tarantula cage is allowed to be in barring cleaning. So she doesn't really get a seasonally varied light cycle, and considering her response to any moisture not in her bowl is to climb the walls... As for the crickets, going to try and give the cup method a try, and if that doesn't work I'll try some potato bait. Thanks a bunch guys.

 

[Stan Schultz]

In answer to the questions, its a G. pulchripes, and I can't get the crickets out because they won't STOP jumping, and I am not very dexterous with the tongs. ...

Why tongs?

Use your hands! Sheesh!

... Dumping them in to feed is my usual method, as I do once a month feedings, and she usually nabs them all within a few hours. This is the first time ever that she has not. To be honest, the reason why she has not yet molted might be cage placement-I live in a house full of arachnophobes, and my room is the only place the tarantula cage is allowed to be in barring cleaning. So she doesn't really get a seasonally varied light cycle, and considering her response to any moisture not in her bowl is to climb the walls... As for the crickets, going to try and give the cup method a try, and if that doesn't work I'll try some potato bait. Thanks a bunch guys.

How big is your tarantula?

How big is the cage?

What kind of cage is it?

Are you terrified of the spider? If so, why?

For now, if you're afraid of the spider, can you remove the lid, and use it as a barrier between the tarantula and a few of the crickets by placing the lid end-down between them? Then reach in and grab a few crickets before your vicious, man- (or women-) eating 8-legged monster can figure out how to attack you from around the lid's edges? (All right, I'm being silly. Sorry )

Are you afraid of the crickets? Or, do you simply not want to touch them? How about using a smallish aquarium fish net?

Or (assuming - based on your moniker - that this is some sort of phobia), how about biting the bullet and the core problem by learning not to live in terror of either the tarantula or the crickets? If so, now would be a good time to start.

Believe me, I'm on your side. But, if there is a problem the best strategy is to attack it face on and deal with it. No good can ever come from running from it for the rest of your life.

Have you read Carolyn Swagerle's book, Legacy of Annie Rose? Maybe you should.


In spite of all the creature features you've seen, tarantulas have never ravaged either Tokyo or Mexico City. Los Angeles, maybe. Especially Hollywood! But never Mexico City or Tokyo. Enjoy your little 8-legged movie star!

 

[jgod790]

I fail to understand the problem. If you have had a tarantula for 2 years, you should be used to dealing with crickets. Especially considering it is a gramostola. There is no reason you can't just simply, pick up the crickets with your hands.

 

[goodoldneon]

I think some people just enjoy the attention.

 

[PhobeToPhile]

...Truth be told, I never actually THOUGHT of picking up the crickets with my hands-I assumed I had to use the tongs to work in the cage (in part due to the U-hairs-my skin irritates somewhat easily, though I have never had a reaction to my T). I'm not scared of the spider (I am a *former* phobe, which lasted about until I took the time to sit down and LEARN about spiders, which is when I discovered I am fascinated by them, and would have more were it not for space and familial demands to NOT have more than one), but I was trying to remove the crickets with disturbing her as little as possible, considering she may or may not be in premolt. And no, I'm not scared of the girl-she's as docile as they come. Only even haired me once. And again, this is the first time she has ever refused her crickets-I'm used to removing the remains of crickets whenever I find them and cleaning the cage out, but not removing live crickets from the cage (It's a tarantulacages.com cage).

Edit: Five minutes of just picking them up by hand did the trick. I feel like facepalming at not having done this sooner.

 

[jgod790]

Well, there is NOTHING anyone can do to help you here. If you are not capable of catching crickets, then I guess your just out of luck. And U hairs from a gramostola, are nothing to be concerned about in the slightest. Worst case scenario, you get itchy for a couple minutes, just wash your hands and get over it. If you can't handle crickets, what do you expect anyone to tell you? There is no magic solution any one can give you, to help you catch them. Just give it an honest effort. If you fail, try again. As a tarantula keeper its just something you HAVE to do.

 

[MarkmD]

The U hairs will hurt if you get them in the eyes.

 

[PhobeToPhile]

Did it by hand, and it took five minutes. I feel like an idiot for not thinking of it and doing it sooner. The simplest solutions are indeed the easiest.

 

[MarkmD]

Lol very simple indeed.

 

[Formerphobe]

Glad you caught your crickets. For future reference, if the T is being cantankerous, you could set a catch cup over it, then catch the crickets. If T is in its hide, block the hide with something before catching crickets. Some pre-molt Ts can be a a little cranky even if have never given you problems before. A few of my 'docile' species, I would never stick my hand in the enclosure unless the spider were secured first.

For those of mine that only get fed every 4 - 6 weeks, I toss in one prey item. If they don't take it immediately, then I don't put any more in, and I only have one to hunt down and take out.

Maybe food refusal is indicative of an upcoming molt, though with Grammostola sp one can never be sure.