Anyone else scared of their tarantulas? Tips on rehousing aggressive T's to bigger enclosures?

[Morgonious]

Agree with BrettG. If you are scared of it you probably shouldn't own it. Having respect for a tarantulas speed an venom is a whole different story though.

I have watched this conversation develop with interest...

I am in the hobby after several years of therapy for arachnophobia. I worked through a very careful plan to begin bringing T's into my home... and I have to say that the above statement is very true: simply because a healthy respect for speed, venom, and hefty personality is one thing - but fear is another, altogether. Unmitigated fear, simply being fear that controls our responses, by its very nature controls our choices.

I say that because it took me a while to move past fear reactions to normal, understandable tarantula behavior. As to the OP's question, I think it is a fair one... and honestly, I am glad to know that I am not the only one with a T that, (by all norms should be a veritable pet rock with an appetite), ultimately is highly defensive. I have a G. rosea that is the exception rather than the unspoken rule, and it is a good thing she is. I researched for a long time to decide which I would start with, and she was my first. But because she was such a little ho, I had to buckle up real quick to formulate my strategies for enclosure maintenance, feeding, rehousing, etc.

I also think BrettG is right on. It took me almost a year to build up the courage to buy my first T.

My personal strategy for managing my T's is to research, asking lots questions, watching multitudes of rehousing videos, and being patient with myself.