Wobbles & Feeding

[thewesterngate]

Hey guys, I fell off the radar for a while but I wanted to explain the situation I have with my spider. I've had him since early February and (thank the BP gods) he FINALLY ate for me for the first time today!

It took him several minutes before finally striking the rat pup (I've had him in a dark room for a while, I tried everything--even baby gerbils) and even longer before he was able to strike the second (hours). He's a big yearling, but he's had no interest in larger food..it scares him, or he ignores it if it's pre-killed.

I feel like his wobble causes him way too much trouble feeding. Even with the second rat pup, he'd inspect it all over and rub his face against it..but it took him ages to finally grab it, it's like his body just won't follow his brain! If he has this kind of trouble with tiny food, how should I feed him larger prey, now that he's eating?

Any advice is appreciated, I'm just so glad he's off his fast! He's shed once since I've had him and it was perfect, that plus his parameters: I know it's most likely nothing environmental.

[LizardPants]

That's one of the reasons why it saddens me that his trait is perpetuated. I'm glad he ate, best of luck!

[Skittles1101]

My female spider does't have too bad of a wobble, until there's a rat dangling in her rack lol. I have let her strike a few times, and if she's in that feeding mode sometimes I'll just let the rat go and sit in her cage, it's usually gone quickly. You can also try dipping the head in hot water for a minute or so to help him find it a little easier.

[thewesterngate]

Thanks for your responses! I think I will try various methods of F/T feeding, since he gets SO excited with live food that it scares him.

Of course I appreciate any more tips or advice.

[vegastoy]

My spider has the wobbles very bad but come feeding time I just place a F/T in the tank once dark and in the morning it is gone. Best of luck!

[th3jok3r]

i thank god my spider female has a very very slight wobble when shes excited but hasnt missed once so far! (knocks on wood)

[kitedemon]

My spider will not drop feed so I have to play live ratty with him. he is quite good on the first strike but degrades if he misses. What I have found is a well heated head helps some as mentioned above. But also keeping the rat about 3 inches in front of his face, even if he is pointing the wrong direction. if he misses and get all amped up I'll let him be for a while (30min to 1 hour) and start over he seems to calm down and get back under control.

Most people fail to realize that gerbils in pet stores are from mongolia and the african gerbil is from south africa, and for the most part not a natural prey item it seems to be a popular myth. The African soft furred rat is a closer natural prey item but even that the ranges over lap in only some areas. I just thought that I'd suggest that gerbils are less natural than feeder rats. I believe this is a myth however any small rodent would likely be viewed as prey. I have read about gerbils all over the place, I am not sure where it started but gerbils we get are mongolian.

Good job on getting yours to feed, it is so hard for us poor humans to get our heads around an animal not eating for months, I want to eat ever 3 hours!!