Home
What Do Tarantulas Eat? Tarantulas primarily eat insects, such as crickets and roaches, but their diet can also include small vertebrates like lizards and mice, depending on the species.
These arachnids are carnivorous predators that rely on stealth and ambush techniques to capture their prey.
Understanding a tarantula’s diet is key to keeping them healthy, especially when they are kept as pets.
The Natural Diet of Tarantulas
In the wild, tarantulas are opportunistic hunters, primarily consuming a diet of insects and other small animals that they can overpower. Their diet may vary depending on the size and species of the tarantula, as well as the habitat they live in. Most tarantulas are nocturnal, using the cover of darkness to stalk and catch their prey.
Insect Prey
Insects make up the majority of a tarantula’s diet. Common prey includes crickets, locusts, roaches, and mealworms. These insects are easy for tarantulas to catch and provide the nutrients they need for growth and health.
- Crickets: One of the most common food sources for tarantulas in captivity and the wild.
- Roaches: Tarantulas can eat various types of roaches, such as dubia and hissing cockroaches, which offer a good source of protein.
Learn more about tarantula species on Wikipedia.
Small Vertebrates
Larger tarantula species, such as the Goliath bird-eating tarantula, can consume small vertebrates, including mice, frogs, and even small birds. However, this is more common in wild tarantulas and is not recommended for pet tarantulas unless supervised by an experienced handler.
- Mice: Live pinky mice are occasionally fed to large tarantulas, though many pet owners prefer to avoid this due to the risk of injury to the tarantula and ethical concerns.
- Lizards: Some tarantulas may also catch small reptiles, depending on their size and environment.
Feeding Schedule for Tarantulas
Tarantulas have a less frequent feeding schedule compared to many other pets, with their requirements varying based on age, species, and size.
Adult tarantulas can often go days or even weeks without food, while younger tarantulas, or spiderlings, need more regular meals to support their rapid growth.
It is recommended to feed spiderlings every 3 to 5 days, juveniles once every 4 to 7 days, and adults approximately once every 7 to 10 days.
Larger species may require even less frequent feeding based on their size and activity levels.
Always remember to remove any uneaten prey from the enclosure within 24 hours to prevent stress or potential harm to your tarantula.
Learn more about proper tarantula feeding schedules on Wikipedia.
