Tarantula Eatting

Lost In Space

Arachnopeon
Joined
Feb 18, 2012
Messages
27
Simple question, My tarantula will pounce on a cricket within 5 minutes of me putting it in there, but it takes her UP TO SEVEN HOURS to fully eat it.. I'll check back in like 3-4 hours and she'll still have rather the head or legs sticking out.. another 3-4 hours go by and it'll be just a little left.. finally she will hve eaten it. Is this normal behaviour?
 

Hobo

( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
Staff member
Joined
Jul 27, 2009
Messages
2,208
Yup.
It takes 'em a while sometimes.
 

HoboAustin

Arachnosquire
Old Timer
Joined
Dec 22, 2011
Messages
100
When a tarantula catches a cricket, it doesn't "eat" it in a traditional way. The T's fangs inject venom which will slowly turn the insides of a feeder into a soup like substance. They SUCK the soup up. They never eat as in taking bites. This process is slow, so yes this is normal.
 

Lost In Space

Arachnopeon
Joined
Feb 18, 2012
Messages
27
I know that their venom dissolves the crickets organs and then they begin to suck it out, I was just asking for the actual swallowing part - does it take that long. Thank you for your answers.
 

grayzone

Arachnoking
Old Timer
Joined
Jan 17, 2011
Messages
2,461
^+1 paassatt....... spencer, if ya think it takes a while to feed it a cricket, try feeding it a dubia :wink: just outta curiousity (and it has no significance) what kind of t and how big
 

paassatt

Arachnoangel
Old Timer
Joined
Nov 19, 2010
Messages
887
Enzymes in a digestive fluid are what dissolves the prey.
 

paassatt

Arachnoangel
Old Timer
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Nov 19, 2010
Messages
887
The enzymes found in their venom, correct?
No, the digestive fluid and venom are different. The venom incapacitates and kills the prey and the digestive fluid is what dissolves it, allowing it to be sucked into the spider's mouth.
 

HoboAustin

Arachnosquire
Old Timer
Joined
Dec 22, 2011
Messages
100
No. The venom originates in the spider's head and is released through the fangs, like a hypodermic needle. The digestive fluid comes from the stomach through the mouth. They are different processes altogether.
I learn something new everyday. Thanks.
 

z32upgrader

Arachnobaron
Old Timer
Joined
Mar 13, 2012
Messages
366
My LP sling about 1.25' has been eating a .5" cricket for at least 6 hours now when he/she normally finishes it off in thirty minutes. This is the first meal since it molted a week ago. Red flags maybe?
 

spiderengineer

Arachnoangel
Joined
Apr 22, 2012
Messages
998
^+1 paassatt....... spencer, if ya think it takes a while to feed it a cricket, try feeding it a dubia :wink: just outta curiousity (and it has no significance) what kind of t and how big
yeah mine take about twice to three times as long to eat a roaches then a cricket.
 

Spiderkid

Arachnosquire
Old Timer
Joined
Sep 29, 2012
Messages
50
I guess it's sorta like how it is with people; some of us can finish off a cheeseburger in about 2 seconds, others like to take their time :D There's probably a lot of different factors involved, like time since last meal, size of the T, size of the prey item, overall health of the spider,etc.
 

qpLMBqp

Arachnopeon
Joined
Sep 30, 2012
Messages
22
Mine has taken like 5 minutes to eat it, one time an hour... They're weird like that.
 
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