Are you scratching your head, wondering what’s best to feed your companion? Pet tarantula enthusiasts know that the right diet is key for their arachnid’s health and happiness.
From crunchy crickets to protein-packed roaches, our guide will lay out the top-tier menu options for your fuzzy pal. Dive in – tasty tidbits await!
Mealworms and Superworms
Superworms
Mealworms and super worms are excellent feeders for your tarantula in terms of nutritional content. However, they come with two drawbacks.
The first is that we need to ensure that our spider will attack and consume them, as mealworms quickly burrow into the substrate and transform into beetles, which the tarantula may no longer show interest in.
Another concern is that there is a significant probability that our tarantula may be attacked by mealworms during the molting process. When dealing with a larger number of tarantulas, this feeding method requires a lot of time to monitor whether they have been consumed.
It is possible to feed these insects in such a way that the enclosure in which the spider is located is relatively small. In this case, we can cut off the head of the mealworm and place it in the enclosure, thus avoiding the two aforementioned drawbacks.
Crickets
Random grasshopper because I hate them
Crickets, compared to the aforementioned mealworms, are an even better source of nutritional value. They don’t burrow into the substrate and are more noticeable to our tarantula due to their jumping behavior.
Unfortunately, they share the same drawback as the previously mentioned feeders; they can injure or even kill our tarantula. I have experienced this with both a scorpion and a tarantula.
Another issue may be the challenging task of breeding them on your own, as crickets often die due to poor ventilation or insufficient water. Continuous monitoring of their container can be cumbersome, and breeding them at home may result in additional costs, with the constant need to purchase new individuals. Additionally, crickets bought from local pet stores may carry parasites.
Dubia Roaches
Dubia Roaches Container
Dubia roaches are almost an ideal feeder for our tarantulas because they are highly nutritious, reproduce easily, don’t die for no reason, and don’t exhibit cannibalism.
This minimizes costs to only the purchase of bran and carrots. Additionally, they don’t produce a strong odor and don’t attack the spider even during molting.
They are mainly suitable for feeding sub-adult tarantulas that can handle adult roaches. If we want to add food to our tarantula’s enclosure and forget about it, we should use only adult roaches because they don’t burrow into the substrate, making them more likely to be found by our tarantula sooner or later.
Turkish Roaches: The Best Tarantula Feeders
Red Runners
Turkish roaches, in my opinion, are the best feeder option available. These roaches reproduce very quickly, and although cannibalism occurs, it doesn’t hinder their successful reproduction in substantial quantities.
They rarely die off, allowing us to go on vacation without fearing that our colony will be decimated. An additional advantage is that this species lays oothecae from which young roaches emerge. We can collect them in a separate container, allowing us to have them sorted by size.
They are an excellent food source, don’t burrow into the substrate, and are very active, catching the keen interest of our tarantula. The food remnants left by them are minimal, reducing the possibility of parasitic development in the terrarium.
They don’t climb vertical surfaces unless they are rough; however, their only drawback is that they emit an odor compared to the roaches mentioned above.
Conclusion
Alright, feeding your tarantula just got easier! From wriggly mealworms to crunchy crickets and roaches – each option offers something tasty. Remember, mix it up for a happy spider.
FAQs
1. What is the best feeder for spiders?
Spiders, especially tarantulas, love any kind of insects that are constantly moving, signaling their presence through the vibrations they produce.
2. What roaches are best to feed tarantulas?
Every type of cockroach is great for our tarantula; however, it’s worth choosing a species that doesn’t burrow in the substrate due to the threat, making it quickly caught by our pet. One such species is the “Turkish cockroach,” which also won’t climb on a clean vertical surface.
3. Can I feed my tarantula bugs from outside?
It’s better not to feed our tarantula with insects caught from the backyard as they might be sick or carry parasites.
4. Can I feed my tarantula dead crickets?
Yes, however, it’s best when they are insects killed by us for feeding purposes. Specimens that have been dead for some time in high humidity may already be infested with fly larvae or parasites that could pose a threat to our pet.
5. What is the healthiest feeder for tarantulas?
In our opinion, captive-bred roaches are the healthiest option. They are not as fatty as mealworms or superworms, and additionally, they are more resistant to parasitic attacks than crickets.
