# Do spiders know when their meal is ready to eat (i.e., 'drink)? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 25, 2016, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-spiders-know-when-their-meal-is-ready-to-eat-i-e-drink/755678 "2016-05-25T17:37:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-spiders-know-when-their-meal-is-ready-to-eat-i-e-drink/755678/1 "2016-05-25T17:37:47Z")
So a spider envenomates its prey, and the digestive enzymes go to work dissolving the innards of the hapless bug (or whatever). Do they have an instinct for knowing when it’s ready to slurp up, or do they go back and test it every minute or so? ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-spiders-know-when-their-meal-is-ready-to-eat-i-e-drink/755678/2 "2016-05-25T18:21:25Z")
Good question. How long does the process take? I just assumed they’d take a test every so often till the innards were slurpable. ---
**Author:** ![Me\_Billy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Me\_Billy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Me_Billy)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-spiders-know-when-their-meal-is-ready-to-eat-i-e-drink/755678/3 "2016-05-25T21:10:41Z")
I imagine they have some sort of timer. That is what I use when I am cooking something. Although I’ve never been around a spider at meal time, so I wouldn’t know if there is a “ding” (when done) or not!