Pet Tarantula Spiders Diet [A Complete Guide + FAQs]

Tarantulas are the spiders that spring to mind first and foremost whenever the subject of deadly and terrifying spiders is broached. Tarantulas have been portrayed as dangerous killer spiders in a large number of movies, and they are a popular subject for “experiments gone wrong” stories in Hollywood. In real life, tarantulas are not nearly as terrible as they are depicted to be in movies. Tarantulas are at the top of the food chain because of their exceptional intelligence and level of expertise when it comes to hunting, which has propelled them to the top of their genus.

Tarantula Spiders

The tarantula is an exceptionally skilled spider which is able to take on any adversary, even ones that are many times larger than its size. Despite its diminutive stature, the tarantula is capable of doing so. Because of their intelligence and remarkable capacity to adapt to a broad variety of environments, tarantulas are formidable top-level predators that may do significant damage to their prey. Tarantulas are natural specialists at hunting, and because they are opportunistic feeders, it is quite unlikely that anybody will be able to stop them from looking for food. This brings up an important question: what do tarantulas consume for food?

What do pet tarantula spider eat?

Tarantulas are carnivores that consume only other animals for food. Their diet consists of large insects such as crickets, grasshoppers, caterpillars, beetles, and other spiders, and they may sometimes consume tiny lizards as well. Tarantulas that have grown to a larger size are able to consume not just tiny rodents but also frogs, birds, and even snakes on occasion. 

Tarantuala are among the biggest species of spiders that may be found anywhere in the globe. Tarantulas that have reached adulthood often reach a length of 5 inches. The Goliath Bird Eating Spider, which is the second biggest species of spider on Earth, has a leg span of 11 inches and weighs between 5 and 6 ounces. Because tarantulas often consume prey that is much smaller than themselves, this implies that the larger a tarantula becomes, the larger the prey it consumes.

For example, the Goliath Bird-Eating Spider has been known to consume birds as tiny as hummingbirds in its diet. Depending on their size, somethe majority of tarantula consume a diverse array of prey items. Tarantulas are opportunistic eaters and skilled hunters who will consume nearly all food and anything that they can get their claws on.

List of food tarantula eat:

1.Crickets
2.Grasshoppers
3.Beetles
4.Cicadas
5.Millipedes
6.House flies
7.Mealworms
8.Roaches
9.Silkworms
10.Kingworms
11.Hornworms
12.Pinky mice
13Small snake

How does Pet tarantula hunt for food?

Tarantulas are nocturnal predators, and they depend on their increased susceptibility to sensations from the ground in order to get cues as to where they should look for their prey. Tarantulas often hunt by surprise, pinning their victims down with a bite from their razor-sharp teeth and then injecting them with venom that causes paralysis.

Tarantula eating cricket

This bite produces a poisonous substance is chemically produced and has the ability to disintegrate the flesh of its target. This chemical assists in liquifying the victim’s flesh, allowing the tarantula to drink the liquid with its straw-shaped mouth hidden under its teeth. The creatures are also equipped with strong jaws that may destroy their prey after they have consumed it.

What is live food of pet tarantula?

Tarantulas are carnivores, which implies that they take pleasure in stalking and killing the animals that they eat. Even while some tarantulas may consume mealworms or crickets that have been frozen or are already dead, others will avoid eating dead prey. Instead, you should go out and get live insects that you can put into the tarantula’s home and let her to consume whenever she feels like it.

How does tarantula digest their food?

The digestive mechanism of tarantulas is characterized by a “sucking stomach,” which is unique among arthropods. Tarantulas have a special organ called a “sucking stomach” that lets them swallow and digest liquids. Tarantulas are able to drain their liquefied food into their digestive systems by utilizing their sucking stomach. This is accomplished by tightening the powerful muscles of the stomach, which allows the tarantula to suction its prey up through its mouth and into its digestive system. Tarantulas transform the flesh of their prey into a liquid by employing an enzyme in their digestive system.

The intestinal walls are responsible for breaking down larger food particles into smaller bits, which are subsequently taken into the circulation. Because of this system, the nutrients are distributed all throughout the tarantula’s body and digested once they have been consumed. After rolling up the dead body of its victim into a ball, the tarantula then gets rid of the substance.

What do tarantula eat in captivity?

Carnivores like tarantulas that are kept in cages still need sources of live food since they cannot digest dead prey. When kept in captivity, tarantulas do best when fed gut-loaded insects, dubia roaches, mealworms, crickets, and other kinds of invertebrates. Mealworms and beetles are also a good option. You may also feed larger pet tarantulas little pinky mice, either frozen or thawed, according on your preference.

pet tarantula eating bug

When do pet tarantula should feed?

They are nocturnal creatures; tarantulas need be fed at night even when they are contained in cages. Young tarantulas often consume food on a daily basis, however adult tarantulas only require food once every other day. It is important to only provide tarantulas with the quantity of food that they are able to consume, since it is possible for them to get injuries if they are left with unconsumed live insects or other prey in their enclosures.

Do tarantula drink water?

Yes, in addition to this, tarantulas kept as pets should be given water on a consistent basis. Because there is a risk of their drowning if large volumes of water are introduced into their cages, it is recommended to feed them just little amounts of water and to continually replenish it. Because tarantulas often drink the moisture that is exuded by the plants that are in their environment, a bowl of water is more than plenty for their needs.

Tarantula sucking water

Does tarantula can bite human?

In most cases, tarantulas will avoid biting people unless they perceive that they are in some manner in danger. Their bite, on the other hand, is very painful, precisely like the sting of a bee.

In addition, as part of their defensive strategy against potential predators, tarantulas have urticating’s hairs positioned in their abdomen, which they may release by kicking. When employed against people, these “flicks” may result in a variety of adverse reactions, including irritation and allergies.

What are special consideration for pet tarantula’s habitat?

When you are cleaning up the environment for your tarantula, make sure to look for any food remnants that may have been left behind, such as dead insects or insect pieces. Mold and ants are two pests that may be harmful to your pet tarantula, and dead animals can be a magnet for both of these pests. In addition, you do not want your spider to consume spoiled food since doing so may be quite hazardous to its health.

pet tarantula in neat and clean habitat

What is wild diet of tarantula?

The specific foods that make up a tarantula’s diet in the wild are determined by the species of tarantula as well as the types of food that are readily accessible. Nevertheless, these predators will often consume insects, especially grasshoppers, as part of their diet.

In addition to eating other, smaller spiders, they will also devour animals such as frogs, toads, and tiny lizards if they can get their hands on them. There are certain animal species that are well-known for their ability to hunt birds and then consume them.

The tarantula is able to consume prey that is bigger than it is, in part because it does not need the food to be able to fit within its mouth in order to consume

What is size of feeders for pet tarantula?

The amount of food that is provided to the tarantula on a regular basis may most definitely be influenced by the size of the feeder that is used for the animal. There are some keepers who believe that it is best to provide their specimens with smaller prey items on a more consistent basis. Some people will give their tarantulas considerably bigger insects to eat, and then they will only feed them once a week or so. The keeper has complete control over the size of the population and the feeding schedule; there is no one method that is inherently superior or worse. When it comes to my own habits, I usually provide somewhat large foods a couple of times each week.

 How many items a tarantula can eat at a time?

In the case of hatchlings and juveniles, It is believe that the consumption of one piece of prey at each meal is quite reasonable. At this size, they often have their hands full with one item of food that is adequately sized, and adding a second item would only serve to stress the animal even more.

Putting in more than one item at a time is an option that may be suitable for adults in some circumstances. When it comes to my own tarantulas, I like to employ bigger insects, such as dubia roaches, rather than swarming them with a half-dozen erratic crickets as some people do. In addition to that, I’ve seen animals become clearly upset if more than one object was placed in.

What to do if tarantula is not eating?

Don’t freak out if tarantula begins to refuse its food. During premolt, tarantulas often reject food, and certain species may fast for extended periods of time (you can learn more about premolt here). Because this is an animal that can spend months without eating and yet maintain good health, missed meals are not a reason to be concerned about the animal’s wellbeing.

When it is not eating, you shouldn’t continue to put bugs in its enclosure every day. Instead, you should wait a week or two, then put in a piece of prey, and then observe to see if there is any interest in it. Remove the food from the T’s diet and give it another go after a week if it still won’t eat it. Always check to make sure that there is clean water accessible.