Tarantulas are fascinating arachnids recognized for their impressive size and predatory nature. These creatures are carnivores, meaning their diet consists entirely of meat. Understanding their feeding habits, both in their natural environments and as pets, reveals much about their biology and care.
Tarantula’s Natural Diet
Tarantulas are opportunistic feeders in their natural habitats, consuming nearly anything that moves. Their primary diet consists of large insects and other arthropods, such as crickets, grasshoppers, beetles, roaches, millipedes, centipedes, and other spiders. They are nocturnal hunters, using stealth and strength to overpower their prey.
Larger tarantulas occasionally prey on small vertebrates like lizards, frogs, small snakes, and small mammals. While the Goliath Birdeater tarantula is named for its occasional consumption of birds, such instances are rare.
How Tarantulas Capture Prey
Tarantulas are ambush predators, patiently waiting for prey to come within striking distance. They often lie hidden in burrows or vegetation, quickly striking when an animal passes by. Some species may line their burrows with silk, which acts as a tripwire, alerting them to nearby prey through vibrations. Once prey is detected, they pounce, grabbing it with their front legs.
They use their fangs, or chelicerae, to bite the prey and inject venom. This venom affects the prey’s nervous system, causing paralysis or death. The fangs also help crush the prey, making it easier to process.
Tarantulas cannot consume solid food, so their digestion begins externally. After immobilizing the prey, they secrete digestive enzymes onto or into its body, which liquefy the prey’s tissues. The tarantula then sucks up the resulting liquid using straw-like mouthparts and a muscular “sucking stomach,” discarding any undigested solid parts.
Feeding Pet Tarantulas
For pet tarantulas, appropriate feeder insects include:
- Crickets
- Dubia roaches
- Mealworms
- Superworms
Dubia roaches are often favored due to their nutritional value and calm demeanor. Avoid feeding wild-caught insects, as they may carry pesticides or diseases harmful to the tarantula.
Feeder insects should be “gut-loaded” before offering them. This involves feeding the insects a nutritious diet, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, for 24 to 72 hours. Gut-loading enhances the nutritional content of the feeder insects, transferring these benefits to the tarantula.
Feeding frequency varies depending on the tarantula’s age, size, and species. Spiderlings and juveniles require more frequent feedings, perhaps every 2-3 days, while adults may only need to eat once a week or every few weeks. Offer prey no larger than the tarantula’s abdomen.
Tarantulas also require access to fresh water, even though they can obtain some moisture from their food. Provide a shallow water dish in their enclosure, ensuring it is not too deep to prevent drowning. Regular cleaning of the water dish is necessary to prevent bacterial growth.