Behavior question.

[firebird73159]

Hello

Was wanting to know if tarantulas become more docile as they get older. I have a few juvenile T's and was wanting to handle the more docile species G pultra B Smith for example. Should I begin interacting with them now at 3 to 4 inches or wait till they mature and are bigger. And also besides the threat posture and hair kicking are there any other warning signs a T Might show befor a bite.

 

[Formerphobe]

"Docility" is going to be both species and individual dependent. Some individuals of what are considered 'docile' species do not tolerate handling. Some will be more handleable during certain times of their molt cycle. Some may become more tolerant with age, others less so. Tarantulas don't really 'learn to like' being handled. They either tolerate it or they don't on any given day at any given age or size. Threat posture and/or hair flicking can be precursors to biting, but some will bite without any advanced notice. It really is a crap shoot.

 

[poisoned]

There's also brush test to see tarantulas mood. Prod tarantulas abdomen and if it turns around it's definitely not a good idea to try interacting with it.

 

[Stan Schultz]

... Was wanting to know if tarantulas become more docile as they get older. ...

Not normally. As a rule, their personalities don't change much once they reach about 1/3 grown. Younger than that they're sometimes a little more jumpy.

... I have a few juvenile T's and was wanting to handle the more docile species G pultra B Smith for example. ...

WARNING: INCOMING, UNABASHED, SELF-SERVING REFERENCE!
If this sort of thing offends you, please move to the next post in this thread, or to the next thread.​

The Tarantula Keeper's Guide, Third Edition (a.k.a., TKG3) has a lengthy discussion about handling, biting, and lot more peripheral information than you probably ever thought to ask. The relevant section, "Personal Contact - One on One," begins on page 184. Note that you don't have to buy the book! You can probably check a copy out of your friendly, neighborhood public library for free.

Note also that ALMOST EVERYBODY PICKS UP THEIR TARANTULAS INCORRECTLY! In spite of my holy war to teach them the correct ways! The safe ways are described in detail in the book.

END WARNING​

... Should I begin interacting with them now at 3 to 4 inches or wait till they mature and are bigger. ...

Start now! If you wait any longer they may be too much of a handful for you.

... And also besides the threat posture and hair kicking are there any other warning signs a T Might show befor a bite.

"Hair" kicking (more properly "bristle" kicking, since tarantulas don't have true hair) is not a sign that the tarantula is going to bite. It's merely a sign that it's unsure of your motives and is trying to fend you off. Many, if not most, tarantulas will not kick bristles once they become accustomed to being handled. In fact, there is some indication that many will actually learn to enjoy being picked up and held ONCE YOU LEARN TO DO IT PROPERLY.

Enjoy your little, 8-legged hand pet!

 

[Phlerr]

There's also brush test to see tarantulas mood. Prod tarantulas abdomen and if it turns around it's definitely not a good idea to try interacting with it.

+1 on this. I have a juvie female B smithi that has mood swings like no other. Sometimes she's as docile as a kitten and other times she's a banshee from hell. So I def recommend doin the brush test before interacting with your T

 

[firebird73159]

Thanks a ton for all the info it is extremely helpful to have suck knowledgable advise. I have purchased the Tarantula Keepers Guide and had a question on the correct way to pick up a tarantula the way it described in the book. My hands are pretty big compared to my T's for now anyway lol, but after using the technique used in the book do you just place the T in your other hand/ desired location or is it bad to place the tarantula in your free hand after picking it up.

 

[Storm76]

+1 on this. I have a juvie female B smithi that has mood swings like no other. Sometimes she's as docile as a kitten and other times she's a banshee from hell. So I def recommend doin the brush test before interacting with your T

Same with my G. pulchripes girl...sometimes she doesn't even care, on other occassion she swirls around and bites outright...lol. "Great beginner T my rear"...(unless you've done your research! )

 

[Stan Schultz]

... but after using the technique used in the book do you just place the T in your other hand/ desired location or is it bad to place the tarantula in your free hand after picking it up.

This depends entirely on what you're trying to do with it. However, if you want to let it walk on your hand freely, you'd better be d*** certain that you do so really close to a table top, a floor, a bed, any large flat surface so that if it jumps or falls, it doesn't rupture and die. They splat like tomatoes.

Actually, tomatoes splat a lot like tarantulas!

[size=+2]YOU'VE BEEN WARNED![/size]​

It's also really smart to have a drinking glass (preferably clear plastic) and a large file card handy in case it gets out of control. Some people prefer something like a Cool Whip tub. Anything that you can put over it or herd it into if you or the tarantula gets panicky.

HINT: For the first couple of times that you handle your tarantula, do so on a soft bed or at floor level over a carpet or rug. Try extremely hard to NEVER hold it more than a foot (25 or 30 cm) above a surface unless you have it securely nestled into the palm of your cupped hand! SECURITY AND CONTROL ARE EVERYTHING!

Tarantulas and base jumping don't mix.
-- David Desoer