A T for the Legally Blind

[DDaake]

So, a lady i work with has a 16yr old daughter who is legally blind. Her mother had asked about getting her a T. I told her I would ask around for advice. Her mother is 100% supportive and 110% involved with her daughters interests. Mom has 0 experience with T's.

My concerns are: Urticulating hairs, bites, dropping, etc. The mother explained her daughter likes to be able to hold all types of critters and is fearless. My first thought was b. smithi as they are usually calm and less likely to flick hairs IME. But is it a good Idea? As I said her mother would be very involved. I can explain keeping the T close to the floor, preferably on carpet, and caring for the T, and being prepared for the hairing. But is it a good idea?

IMHO, I think a T would be great for a blind person. Due to the inability to see, other senses are much more sensative. They use these senses more than someone who isn't blind as they depend on it to give them a picture. If I were blind I would definately be interested in owning a T I can handle.

I appreciate any opinions on this and given these responses I would like to know what you guys think would be a good T for this person. Thx D

 

[Miami Cracker]

the problem i see (sorry) is that if a person is blind they feel the animal...
with a T you cant feel it like you would say a ferret or a rabbit (animals you can "feel") think about it ...close your eyes and all you would feel is the T's little feet barely touching you and you cant use your other hand to feel or pet it that would surely invite a bite.

one of my best friends is blind and he has held one of my Ts and really didnt feel it and she was a 5inch smithi so.........just thoughts

 

[JC]

I don't think it would be a good idea.

1) T's are mostly look but don't touch animals.

2) You need to use your eyesight to judge the Ts attitude and behavior while holding.

3) 95% of the of fun of having a T is watching its behavior.

I think there are tons of pet animals that are well suited for your friend, tarantulas are just not one of them.

 

[DDaake]

the problem i see (sorry) is that if a person is blind they feel the animal...
with a T you cant feel it like you would say a ferret or a rabbit (animals you can "feel") think about it ...close your eyes and all you would feel is the T's little feet barely touching you and you cant use your other hand to feel or pet it that would surely invite a bite.

one of my best friends is blind and he has held one of my Ts and really didnt feel it and she was a 5inch smithi so.........just thoughts

I understand. I think they understand No petting. But I can't imagine them not feeling it walk on them.
I didsuggest a sugar glider, bearded dragon, and snake. This girl wants a T.

 

[Exo]

Ts are an animal that dont really like to be handled to begin with, and add to that the concerns that the others have stated and I think that it probably wouldn't be the safest idea.

 

[Fran]

Agree with the people.

Sadly, it can only be ok if someone takes care of the T, and someone put the spider on this girls hands,so she can hold it without petting or grabbing the t.
Forget about doing it being alone.

 

[DDaake]

I don't think it would be a good idea.

1) T's are mostly look but don't touch animals.

2) You need to use your eyesight to judge the Ts attitude and behavior while holding.

3) 95% of the of fun of having a T is watching its behavior.

I think there are tons of pet animals that are well suited for your friend, tarantulas are just not one of them.

1) I agree
2) Agreed, Mom would definately need to be there 100% of the time to ensure everything goes well with all duties including handling.
3)I know, I don't handle any of my T's. Mainly because I have no carpet but I enjoy watching them more than anything.

Thx keep the opinions and concerns coming. D

 

[Roski]

I'm sorry, but I don't really understand why she wants this T. As someone above mentioned, the hobby is about observing Ts with minimal handling. Does she plan to handle her T every day? Does she just want the experience of handling a T? (In which case let one of your Ts walk across her hand).

There are also of course many inherent dangers of not being able to read a T's "body language" that put you as well as the T at risk. I'm guessing the mom has volunteered to take over for feeding and watering the T? And cage maintanence and bolus picking? And taking the T out of the tank for her daughter during handling? Has she read the TKG?

I have a lot of questions here . I guess I just don't know what she will get out of owning a T, and am a bit perplexed at why she insists this type of pet out of all the options. :?

 

[burmish101]

It sounds like a neat idea to me. Since t's are almost blind as is other than senseing light and dark, and mostly rely on touch just like with blind people. Also if her mother is super involved I think the idea is a good one only with proper supervision. I would also agree to a docile terrestrial and teaching her mother the course of *T 101* about behavior ect. to make the experience safe as possible.

 

[DDaake]

Agree with the people.

Sadly, it can only be ok if someone takes care of the T, and someone put the spider on this girls hands,so she can hold it without petting or grabbing the t.
Forget about doing it being alone.

Agreed, Mom would have to learn alot about care and mostly in this case handling.

I'll be emailing the mom to bring her attention to this thread. She can then make the descision for herself so keep the info coming. I don't think it is totally out of the qestion until the mother decides how willing she'd be to deal with the concerns described in this thread.

Thx, D

 

[WelshTan]

Hmmm this is a hard one ... it would be nice for the girl to experience a "docile T" walking on her but as for actually owning one.... I would be inclined to say no... they truly are NOT "hands on" pets... maybe it would be better for you or someone who owns a docile T to let her hold one every now and then but T's do not actually need to be held, and IMHO would prefer to NOT be handled as they simply "cannot" like it or get "tamed" like other "furry" pets such as hamster, rat, cat, dog etc....
Also the girl would simply not be able to see the threat pose or behaviour exibited when the T would feel threatened and would put herself in harms way by suffering a bite and the T also with the possibility of her reflex reaction upon being bitten to flinch or "fling" the T ....Also she would not be able to anticipate the T's direction if it needed to "bolt" through feeling threatened or insecure
I would say "yes" to her maybe holding someone elses docile T every now and then for short periods of time but "no" to her owning one tbh
Having lack of sight is a bummer, I sympathise with her but a T is unfortunately a no-no

 

[DDaake]

It sounds like a neat idea to me. Since t's are almost blind as is other than senseing light and dark, and mostly rely on touch just like with blind people. Also if her mother is super involved I think the idea is a good one only with proper supervision. I would also agree to a docile terrestrial and teaching her mother the course of *T 101* about behavior ect. to make the experience safe as possible.

Thank you, never thought of the fact the most T's have very bad eyesight. Although my pamphos seem to see everything within 10-12" of them.

Yes, the mother would have to educate herself and do most of the work. Which is very little IMO. Especially when we're only talking about one T.

 

[Steve Calceatum]

It sounds like the decision has been made, so I'd suggest an Avic avic. Dropping wouldn't be so much of an issue, and bites are pretty uncommon from Avics (though they will bite, as I personally found out this weekend, LOL).

I have no carpet either. I handle low, or over my bed. If a constantly moving arboreal is an issue with your friend, B. smithi makes a good lap-spider as well.

 

[burmish101]

Also I would like to add the T's the OP mentioned are quite harmless. If a bite were to occur it would be little more than a pin prick. If her mom is there the entire time supervising she would be able to tell if the T is getting a bit rowdy or defensive and can remove it. Again she would just need to be on top of the whole supervision thing just in case. Most of society cant understand why we keep t's as pets in the first place, and she wants a big spider so kudos to her.

 

[WARPIG]

To what degree is she blind, legally blind does not mean without sight. I have a friend who is legally blind and can see fairly well, however not well enough to have corrective vision, hence legally blind.

If she has enough vision to care for her T then why not. If she has no vision or seriously hampered vision, then I would not recomend a T for a whole host of reasons including possible harm to her or the T.

PIG-

 

[Exo]

Well, if the mom plans on doing most of the work and has no problem with learning to care for it, I guess it might work. :?

 

[Fran]

Agai its sad, cos we all love t;s, but...
I still dont think its a good idea . you really have to work to get a Smithi to bite you...but hey, an adult smithi can have fangs of around half inch, that will hurt more than a little "pinch".

I think she should be perusuaided (Spell?) from the idea,and get something more needy to be pet.

 

[DDaake]

It sounds like the decision has been made, so I'd suggest an Avic avic. Dropping wouldn't be so much of an issue, and bites are pretty uncommon from Avics (though they will bite, as I personally found out this weekend, LOL).

I have no carpet either. I handle low, or over my bed. If a constantly moving arboreal is an issue with your friend, B. smithi makes a good lap-spider as well.

No descision has been made, I'm not her mother!

Although I am in support. I think it would be great given the supervision of someone experienced and educated in caring and handling T's. It's as simple as the mother educating herself and becoming firmiliar with the hobby. Mom may want to give it some time but I don't think it's out of the question.

 

[JC]

It sounds like the decision has been made, so I'd suggest an Avic avic.

I thought about A. avic, but then I thought about how nervous and jumpy they are. But then again it probably is the best handling spider. It rarely bites, and if you were to move wrong, it would probably not even put up a threat display. A. avic would also survive a fall a lot better than a B.smithi.

 

[DDaake]

To what degree is she blind, legally blind does not mean without sight. I have a friend who is legally blind and can see fairly well, however not well enough to have corrective vision, hence legally blind.

If she has enough vision to care for her T then why not. If she has no vision or seriously hampered vision, then I would not recomend a T for a whole host of reasons including possible harm to her or the T.

PIG-

She can make out forms but no detail. Thx for the reply's, D