Tarantulas are carnivorous invertebrates that may eat virtually any reside animal they will subdue. Whereas this could embody small birds, reptiles and even mammals, in actuality this implies tarantulas virtually solely eat different suitably-sized invertebrates.
Child tarantulas, being so tiny after they hatch, mostly eat very small bugs.
For child pet tarantulas the commonest feeder bugs are:
- Fruit flies
- Pinhead crickets
- Cricket elements
- Mealworm elements
Let’s look extra totally at every of those choices in flip so you may choose the reply most fitted for you…
Fruit Flies
Fruit flies – typically offered below their Latin title of Drosophila – are tiny flies measuring only a few millimeters in size.
As their title suggests, the larvae of those flies feed on fruit, somewhat than the carcass-loving flies many people detest. In consequence they’re fairly hygienic to purchase and work with.
They’re additionally fairly straightforward to tradition at dwelling, that means you may have a continuing provide on your child tarantulas.
Drosophila have been utilized in all kinds of experiments through the years, significantly as regards to the inheritance of genes from one era to the subsequent. They have been one of many first animals to have their genome absolutely sequenced.
That is essential as a result of we all know extra in regards to the genetics of fruit flies than the overwhelming majority of the animal kingdom. Whereas finding out these genes scientists have found all method of recessive genes not sometimes seen in wild populations.
This has allowed feeder insect suppliers to tradition flightless fruit flies. Because the title suggests, these specific fruit flies are unable to fly away. As you may think, this makes them far, far simpler to feed to a child tarantula.
Fruit flies that can fly can turn into fairly a ache after they escape round your home – which they’ll. So ideally search for the flightless selection when potential.
Pinhead Crickets
Crickets have lengthy been one of the vital well-liked forms of feeder insect. Like fruit flies, they’re straightforward to breed in captivity, with the hatchling crickets being completely tiny. That makes them an ideal meals for child tarantulas.
These not too long ago hatched crickets, like fruit flies, measure simply 1-2mm in size. They’ll both be purchased at this dimension from respected insect breeders, or you may tradition your individual fairly simply after shopping for a field of grownup crickets.
There are two downsides to pinhead crickets. Firstly, in fact, they develop into adults. Inside a matter of weeks your hatchling crickets could also be getting too giant for newly-hatched child tarantulas to eat.
Secondly, pinhead crickets get very simply dehydrated. They require correct care or they will shortly die off.
Thankfully there are a number of options out there to this challenge.
Firstly, you may simply order commonly. I’ve sufficient child tarantulas in my assortment at any time that I simply obtain an everyday weekly supply from my chosen livefood breeder. Virtually the entire crickets get used up earlier than the subsequent tub arrives.
Secondly, you may attempt to present correct look after the infant crickets. Principally this implies taking them out of the bathtub they arrive in, to allow them to obtain correct air flow. Then present not simply dry meals (bran and many others.) but in addition meals that may stop them from getting dehydrated. Slices of carrot, or greens reminiscent of cabbage, can work properly.
Thirdly, some tarantula keepers have discovered that their child tarantulas will eat even lifeless pinhead crickets. Some keepers, subsequently, place pinhead crickets into their freezer to protect them, then simply thaw out what they want every week earlier than feeding night time.
I need to confess that I’ve not tried this final approach myself so can’t vouch for a way profitable it’s.
Cricket Components
Some keepers report success giving child tarantulas only a piece of a bigger feeder insect. One well-liked instance used are particular person legs of bigger crickets.
That is very a lot akin to freezing hatchling crickets to make use of later for feeding. To my information, tarantula keepers aren’t chopping the legs off reside crickets. As an alternative, a bath of crickets is bought, then positioned into the freezer.
As soon as lifeless and frozen, a handful of those crickets is defrosted every week. As soon as defrosted, the cricket is “chopped up” utilizing tiny scissors or nail clippers, and the tiny particular person items are then popped into the infant tarantula vials.
Mealworm Components
Mealworms are one other well-liked feeder insect amongst unique pet hobbyists. Even a small piece of a mealworm could be an excessively giant meal for the tiniest of child tarantulas. Nonetheless for barely bigger specimens a bit of mealworm is usually a welcome meal.
Mealworms have quite a bit going for them as feeder bugs. They are often simply bred within the dwelling (and child mealworms are tiny – best meals for child tarantulas). They are often stored within the fridge for lengthy intervals of time, which is able to decelerate their metamorphosis into grownup beetles. They’re additionally slow-moving and flightless, making mealworms straightforward to work with.
Like feeding cricket items, some tarantula keepers report success by chopping up a bigger mealworm into smaller items and feeding these to their spiders.
Scaling Up Meals Sizes As Your Child Tarantula Grows
It goes with out saying that whereas the above feeder bugs are the proper for feeding child tarantulas, as your pet tarantula grows, the meals gadgets ought to improve in quantity and/or dimension.
Attempt to goal for a feeder insect of roughly the size of your tarantula’s stomach as a broad rule. In order your spider molts and grows, you can begin to supply greater crickets, child cockroaches, small locusts and extra.
Eradicating Uneaten Meals After Feeding
Feeder bugs, whether or not alive or lifeless, must be eliminated out of your child tarantulas’ cage if not swiftly eaten. Personally I feed my spiders within the night, then the next morning examine every one. Any uneaten meals is eliminated.
Some keepers like to provide their tarantulas even much less time, taking out any uneaten meals after simply an hour or two.
The timing itself isn’t essential. What issues most is eradicating the uneaten meals. You don’t need a reside insect inflicting points for a tarantula that’s developing the molt, and also you don’t need a lifeless insect attracting mites into your assortment. So clear, and clear commonly, to maintain all the things hygienic on your pets.