All pets require proper feeding to remain healthy. To keep your pet well, make sure to offer the feeders they require.
Tarantulas can be fascinating companions for pet lovers. They are not typical domestic pets. They are exotic pets, and they require special care and feeding processes. Their standard of care is different from other pets. That is why regular rules applied for domestic pets may not suit them. If you want a tarantula as your pet, there are many species to choose from. Chilean Rose, Mexican Redleg, Pink Zebra Beauty, Costa Rican Zebra, Mexican Red-Knee, Grammostola Pulchra, etc., are some popular tarantulas.
If you own a tarantula, you might need to know about their habits and diets to keep it well. Let us go through the discussion below to know about their food habits thoroughly.
Tarantula’s Diet and Nutrition
If you are a tarantula owner, you must know there is nothing like “Tarantula Chow”. It is used to eat insects as they are carnivores. Besides high-quality tarantula enclosures and a temperature and humidity-regulated environment, tarantulas need a balanced diet to remain healthy. Not all bugs are the same. There are several options to choose from, but the ones that are best for them are:
- Crickets
Crickets are available in most pet stores. You can get them in several sizes. You should purchase them in bulk as large quantities can be less expensive. Use modified storage containers made of plastic to keep them alive. You can also use large critter keepers. Place potato slices into the storage to avoid humidity as it may kill them.
- Mealworms
Mealworms are a good food source for your tarantula. They are sold at almost all pet stores. They are easy to raise and reproduce. You can store them in a refrigerator for the future. They do not have any odor. You might need to feed them in bulk as they are relatively small in size.
- Superworms
Superworms are mainly beetle larvae. They are relatively larger that makes them a better meal for your pet. They are less expensive. If you want to keep some on hand always, you can raise and breed them in colonies. Remember to crush their head before offering, as they may bite your pet.
- Lateralis Roaches
Lateralis roaches are known as red racers or rusty reds. They are great feeders as crickets. They can be very attractive to the tarantulas as feeders. They are available online as well as the pet stores. They are not used to burrowing. You can raise them in colonies. Make sure to keep them well as they can escape with their fast-moving skills.
- Dubia Roaches
If you own a large tarantula, Dubia roaches are the best feeders for it. They are cheap and easy to raise. You can raise them in colonies like Lateralis roaches. It will help you to get them at any size for slings, juveniles, and adults. They do not breed in homes generally if they escape by chance.
Roaches and crickets have more nutritional value. You need to feed them regularly if you want your pet to remain in good health. Worms are known to be fattier than some other bugs. So, adding worms with cricket or roaches to the tarantula’s diet is necessary to balance their diet. If you feed the feeders well, they can be more nutritious for your pet. That is why raising some feeders in colonies is advisable rather than buying them regularly from the pet stores.
Food Frequency
You need to maintain food frequency if you want your pet to have adequate nutrients. Plan for when to feed them and what you are feeding them. Be regular with feeding times. They need different food sizes and portions at different life stages.
- Slings
Slings are fragile and more vulnerable than their other life stages. You need to take proper care of them as they tend to die suddenly. You can keep them well only if you feed them in a scheduled manner. Remember to offer them feedings at least every two or three days. If the size of the feeder is large, offering once a week is enough.
- Juveniles
When your pet reaches the juvenile stage from the sling, it is not that fragile anymore. You can ease off the feeding schedule a bit. Offering it a larger prey once or twice a week is certainly enough for your pet. You can feed your pet more if you want but try not to overfeed it. It will make your pet look fat.
- Adult Tarantulas
Before planning the feeding frequency, you need to consider the species of the adults. Some tarantulas like Grammostola Porterie/Rosea might need only four to five crickets every month to remain healthy. But Theraphosa or Pamphobeteus species might need them in a single meal every week. Keep knowledge about the species you have. Feed them according to their needs. Observe their growth rates and feeding responses to know how much they need to remain healthy.
Food Sizes
You might want to know what size of the feeders can do well. The sizes of the feeders have an impact on the frequency of feeding. So, you should make a plan well. If you feed small bugs, you need to feed them more often. You can offer them larger prey to feed your pet only once a week. To feed them more than once a week, make sure to provide the feeders in medium size. It will keep them healthy by providing the nutrients they need.
Be sure to feed your pet with the required nutrition to keep it healthy. Tarantulas might need less attention than regular pets, but they also need to be fed well. But if you see them not eating the offered feeders, don’t freak out. Tarantulas can remain without eating for months. So, offer the feedings regularly, and if they don’t seem to eat, take out the feeders. Make sure to provide fresh water regularly to keep them well.
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