daveemory How many Tarantula(s) do you own?: 4,248,591
Joined: 27 Apr 2009 Posts: 503 User Online:
Location: Tarantuland
Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 1:51 pm Post subject: Aphonopelma eating habits?
I realize that the variant species within the Aphonopelma group aren't very well known/agreed upon, but has anyone seen a pattern with them in terms of not having big appetites as juveniles and/or sub-adults? I have a 2.5" wild caught Aphonopelma hentzi (or at least, that's how it was sold to me) and also caught an unknown 3+" Aphonopelma myself, on Mt. Diablo in northern California. In the four weeks since getting the hentzi, it has eaten only once. In the three weeks since finding the latter, it has also only eaten once. Both will slowly approach food, sometimes raising their front legs over it, but never strike at it.
Neither look to my untrained eyes as being pre-molt; the larger one has a typically small abdomen for a wild caught specimen. Anyone have any experiences to share in terms of these?
Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 6:44 pm Post subject: Ship Shock
have you offered less ambulatory prey ? Very small waxworms , mealworms , clipped crickets etc ? being WC perhaps they have more easily triggered defense mechanisms and are threatened by vigorous movement rather then it being an appetite issue? The stress of capture , shipping&handling temp changes is brutal it can amplify as well as nullify natural responses . Yes there are the stickers that say Careful Live Animals but the people actually handling them do not have the same sensibilities as we do and im being most diplomatic .
Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 7:48 pm Post subject: And i Would Name Him Cowboy If A Male
Speaking of Aphonopelma i think ive decided to get a Rio Grand as my next sling however pics ive seen of adults were variable some are so pretty , others eh . the pics didnt state sex . Also if male i would want to give him to someone in the forum once he's ready - i want more info on moderatum i think thats the terrestrial i want
Aphonopelma's shouldn't be fed as regularly as other T's. Brent Hendrixson has noted that over-feeding can result in a shortened life span. I feed my Aphonopelma's about once a month sometimes they go longer between feedings. I go by abdomen size when I make my feeding rounds. If their abdomen is nice and plump, I skip that T for the week. _________________ Kyle Dickerson
Peter, we have a California Ebony in our office, when we first got it it ate a few crickets, fasted for 2-3 weeks now eating normal again, it's a mature male, and has real weird eating habits. I'm almost thinking your little ones may need just a little time. _________________ Have you hugged your Tarantula Today?
Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 8:24 pm Post subject: When Less is More
noexcuse4you - by same principle it would also apply to using pinkies as a mainstay ? its like some people are virtually addicted to it . This Very Day a guy told me he was getting a T soley because he wanted to feed it pinkies . and some people sincerely feel that they are doing whats best in nourishing their Ts and they are just stuck there . i think its because they are so readily available . Dubia needs more P.R
it is same with many herp species that eat inverts or other herps . . people glut them with mammal prey , the animals gain bulk fast then drop dead of liver failure .
Location: Rancho Cucamonga, Southern California, USA
Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 8:36 am Post subject:
a basic rule of thumb that has served me pretty good
tropical tarantulas, at the same temperature, have bigger appetites ( or require more calories, however you want to say it) than tarantulas from temperate zones
of course, another rule of thumb i picked up on the ATS says that every increase of 10*C ~doubles a bugs metabolism (and thus, calorie requirements).... so a temperate tara kept warm could need more food than a tropical kept cooler
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