Bag Transfer Technique: How To Transfer Your Tarantulas

[k2power]

I have only cooled one tarantula....an adult male OBT and it went on to father 50 slings over a year later. I don't think it does any harm but don't know for sure. Interesting about moths. One thing to think about is when we get tarantulas shipped in the warmer months a cold pack is often included. I would suspect that the temps initially following packaging are cool enough to slow them down similarly to chilling in a refrigerator and that is necessary to keep them from overheating. I also have kept scorpions and herps in chilled coolers while on field excursions with no harm even with tropical species from S. Florida. I am not sure chilling is the demon it is made out to be but wouldn't recommend it except for the difficult situations.

 

[jakykong]

I usually don't care that much for old threads randomly making their way to the top, but I'll go ahead and thank whoever bumped this one. It was a great read (although I haven't found a need to use this method yet, it's nice to know the options.)

 

[Tman86]

I seen several replies saying what do you do if its a big defensive T? Well you could use a pillow case or snake bag (limits your view but more durable than plastic) AND a pair of welding gloves lol. I know that sounds like overkill but better safe tan sorry. I've never done this but if I had an 8 inch P ornata I would not hesitate to do this with a pillow case and some welding gloves to keep from getting bit through the bag. Although I hope to have my P ornata in something more permanent by time its a giant 8)

 

[Meaningless End]

My H mac's cage is a bit dirty.... now where's that pillow case? Yep, time for some cleaning

 

[Meaningless End]

My H mac's cage is a bit dirty.... now where's that pillow case? Yep, time for some cleaning

Ok so i cleaned my mac's cage trying the bag technique and to be honest feel way more comfortable with a cup and some forceps. Its a good idea its just not my thing. After spending 20 min trying to coax her into a bag i finally just ripped the bag off and grabbed my deli cup

 

[NAVENTO]

I have done this with my pokie and tonight with an OBT. I also poked a hole in the side of the bag with some long tongs in order to be able to speed the process up with my OBT. As someone who is new to transferring more defensive T's this technique has really been working for me!

 

[Misty Day]

I have a p.regalis in heavy premolt now and will need to be rehoused after it, definitely gonna use this method!

 

[jgod790]

I don't understand why you would go through all that trouble. Dealing with fast and defensive T's isn't that hard. Save your self the trouble, and simply scoop it up in something. If you can't stand the heat, leave the kitchen and get a hampster, or G. Rosea.

 

[BobGrill]

Its a very simple method to use. Also what works for you might not work for everyone or even every T. Its not always that cut and dry. You're dealing with a living animal that is going to do what it wants to do and might not always want to cooperate.

Sent from my LG-P999 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Heckapunchez]

This method defininitly sounds like a good idea however I have yet to encounter a T that didn't want to go the direction I was attempting to move it to. It also seems a little sketchy with some of my bigger ones that have fangs that could drill completely through my fingers like my lovely A. Genic who bites everything that enters her home. A plastic bag won't last long with her ._. I MAY have to use this for shipping my MM P. Regalis though and I'm glad this information is available. So please don't dilute it with the unrelated comments.

EDIT* And maybe to prevent comments can this be stickied and added to the list of useful posts like the Newbie guides?

 

[Femangel]

Good technique! Might be trying it out very soon since i have two P. metallica's ready for rehousing They are young and nervous compared to my super cool P. regalis, so i was looking for a way to go about this. This seems like a very safe bet

 

[Lilka]

Great photo instructions. Thanks for sharing.

 

[viper69]

I don't understand why you would go through all that trouble. Dealing with fast and defensive T's isn't that hard. Save your self the trouble, and simply scoop it up in something. If you can't stand the heat, leave the kitchen and get a hampster, or G. Rosea.

Using different methods or tools to handle animals doesn't mean one "can't stand the heat". Too each their own!

I reckon in handling venomous snakes like pit vipers, cobras, mambas, you would suggest someone just use their bare hands or a stick off the ground as opposed to some better tools hahaha

For some owners, if they don't use the bag method they may be in trouble or their pet may be too fast for them at times and the animals speed alone may be enough to find it running off and eventually dead because the owner couldn't catch it. Why go through all that "trouble" to ensure a treasured pet's safety-after all, pets are disposable, who cares

 

[jgod790]

I just don't think people should have pets that they can't manage. I think pit vipers are cool, and id love to have one. But my experience with snakes is limited and I don't think I could handle it. So I'm not getting one. I'm very comfortable and experienced with spiders. So I have no trouble transfering an obt. This is just my belief. If your scared and not comfortable with a pet, don't get it.

 

[BobGrill]

It has nothing to do with not being able to manage their pets. It has to do with the fact that we care about our pets and we choose to excercise caution around our pets because we would hate for something to happen to them and it minimizes the chances of being bitten. You make it seem as if just because people use caution when working with animals like these that it automatically means they can't manage them. Its silly logic and I don't get it.

Sent from my LG-P999 using Tapatalk 2

 

[viper69]

I just don't think people should have pets that they can't manage. I think pit vipers are cool, and id love to have one. But my experience with snakes is limited and I don't think I could handle it. So I'm not getting one. I'm very comfortable and experienced with spiders. So I have no trouble transfering an obt. This is just my belief. If your scared and not comfortable with a pet, don't get it.

Your idea of manage in this thread is myopic. Many world experts with many lifetimes more experience than most people combined use specific snake handling tools to handle and manage venomous snakes, but like I said, you'd probably recommend they use their hands or a stick on the ground because they obviously can't "stand the heat".

 

[mholmgree]

It has nothing to do with not being able to manage their pets. It has to do with the fact that we care about our pets and we choose to excercise caution around our pets because we would hate for something to happen to them and it minimizes the chances of being bitten. You make it seem as if just because people use caution when working with animals like these that it automatically means they can't manage them. Its silly logic and I don't get it.

Sent from my LG-P999 using Tapatalk 2

Agreed.
Because someone goes along with caution, it's assumed they can't handle it. I'm sorry, but some of these comments are plain ridiculous. I'm not necessarily "scared" of my t's, but I'd rather be sure nothing happens to me or them...
It seems some people here would prefer to have some new t owner be some fearless idiot and not try to be safe and get bit, or worse, just to live up to some macho standard of "I'm not scared, I'll just scoot it out with my paintbrush"...

I personally just move the entire juvie containers into their adult "forever" homes. I leave my t's be. The less contact I have with them the better, as far as I'm concerned.

Rant done...

 

[jgod790]

Ok, id like to see someone do this with a ten gallon tank, theraphosa species. If you don't know how to manage your T's, what happens if something goes wrong, and your first time actually having contact, is an emergancy where your panicking, rather then already being prepared and knowing how to handle your pet.

 

[BobGrill]

Ok, id like to see someone do this with a ten gallon tank, theraphosa species. If you don't know how to manage your T's, what happens if something goes wrong, and your first time actually having contact, is an emergancy where your panicking, rather then already being prepared and knowing how to handle your pet.

Are you upset because someone actually provided a valid argument to your black and white point of view? You are prepared and knowing how to handle it, that's what the bag method is all about, it minimizes the chances of anything going wrong.. Of course, I'm sure someone can arrange what you requested for.

 

[Plissken]

For those who think this method is goofy, try rehousing a huntsman with forceps and a deli cup. It's like catching a fly with chopsticks