What should tarantulas eat?

Most captive tarantulas eat appropriately sized feeder insects such as crickets, locusts, roaches or worms. Prey should generally be smaller than the spider's body, especially for spiderlings.

How often should you feed?

Spiderlings often eat more frequently than adults. Adults may eat weekly, fortnightly or less often depending on species, temperature, growth stage and body condition. Refusing food is not automatically a crisis.

• Remove uneaten live prey within 24 hours.
• Do not feed during a moult or immediately after one.
• Use abdomen condition and species behaviour as a guide.

Water and cleanliness

Keep fresh water available for juveniles and adults, and clean up boluses or leftovers when safe to do so. A tidy enclosure is far less exciting, which is exactly what we want.