If you’re a tarantula owner, you’re probably wondering what food tarantulas eat. The good news is that these amazing reptiles can easily be induced to eat dead animals or even frozen pinkie mice! This article will go over some of the most common options and what your pet should avoid. But first, here’s a quick primer on what they don’t eat.
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Crickets
The question “do Tarantulas eat crickets?” might seem simple, but this is not the case. In fact, crickets are a common diet item for most tarantulas, especially if they’re newly hardened. They will nibble on unhardened tarantulas, flipping them over when they rest. Luckily, crickets are opportunistic feeders, meaning that they can feed on a variety of other insects, including mealworms.
Crickets are a favorite diet of tarantulas, but the insects can be difficult for the spider to catch. Many spider species are shy around prey close to their size, so small crickets are better for these reptiles to hunt. If you don’t have a tarantula, you can buy pre-killed crickets or cricket mealworms. Be sure to clean up the remains of crickets afterward, as they can accumulate fuzzy mold if not properly removed.
Tarantulas consume crickets by molting. Their shells look like two spiders with translucent bodies. They feed on crickets, mice, and other insects. When they’re molting, they can also eat live crickets. In addition to crickets, tarantulas also eat roaches. You can feed a tarantula live crickets by placing them inside a water dish.
Mealworms
If you’re trying to feed your tarantula a healthy diet, you should try mealworms. These tiny creatures are a staple of most tarantulas’ diets. However, mealworms can bite your tarantula and burrow into the substrate. Once they burrow into the substrate, they can be difficult to remove. What’s more, mealworms aren’t particularly nutritional for your tarantula.
When you feed mealworms to your tarantula, make sure to only give it one at a time. Wait for it to grab one mealworm and then place another one nearby. Discard burrowing mealworms and only leave mealworms that are actively eating. If you can’t keep fresh mealworms, you can try dried mealworms instead. These are easier to keep in the refrigerator, so they’ll be ready to feed your tarantula whenever you need them.
Aside from mealworms, tarantulas also eat leftovers. When food isn’t used, it will end up in the terrarium and cause fungus or bacteria to grow. You can keep dead insects in the corners of the terrarium or in their drinkers. Make sure their enclosure is kept humid enough so the tarantulas can drink water from there without too much trouble.
House geckos
Did you know that tarantulas eat house geckes? While this reptile is not usually a threat to humans, they are deadly to other creatures. Geckos are carnivores and will eat almost anything, including small spiders. They are also excellent climbers, and have special pads on their legs that help them scale surfaces. This gives them a distinct advantage over their prey, as well as predators.
Typically, geckos eat crickets, mealworms, or super worms. These insects are inexpensive and easy to find in the pet store. You can also raise them in your basement or garage. Just be sure to keep them away from windows, and avoid leaving them alone in your home. Tarantulas can be very aggressive and can easily get into your house, so you will need to keep a close eye on them.
Vegetables
Vegetables are not the only form of plant matter that tarantulas eat. They are also capable of eating fruits and fungal spores. Although tarantulas are carnivores, they will occasionally consume vegetables and fruit if they find them in the enclosure. They may also eat crickets and small vegetables. Nonetheless, the food should not be their primary source of nutrition.
When feeding a tarantula, remember to choose a smaller feeder than the tarantula’s actual size. The larger size of the feeder will cause digestive issues. If you’re not sure what size feeder to buy, ask a veterinarian or pet store for advice. A smaller feeder is also ideal since the tarantula won’t get the proper nutrients from larger items.
A tarantula can become dehydrated if it does not have access to fresh water. They also tend to suffer from dehydration, which is worse than hunger. This is why they look for sources of water whenever they can. Vegetables are a perfect choice since they are more than ninety percent water. As a result, a tarantula will slowly munch on a vegetable for a few hours.