- Joined
- Jan 3, 2006
- Messages
- 280
as what the others said..
Just Don't Try It..
Just Don't Try It..
Can I hold my H. Maculata?
- Thread starter meme101
- Start date
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2007
- Messages
- 166
This has been asked many times before, I would say the choice is yours and yours alone, we were told the same with our p.miranda after we had held her and posted pics (we were newbies on the boards). I think the first few days are
different, once they settle into their homes they know where their at and temperaments change, perhaps they are unsettled a bit cold (making them a little slower)when they first arrive. I wont be holding my Matilda again. Why bother get a G.pulchra, we have much more enjoyment having her out for an hour, letting her use your body as an exercise machine. It was a buzz holding a more dangerous feisty P.Miranda (she is beautiful). Its your choice to get bitten and be prepared, make sure someones with you, also remember that it (the T ) will not be enjoying it.:5: :5:
different, once they settle into their homes they know where their at and temperaments change, perhaps they are unsettled a bit cold (making them a little slower)when they first arrive. I wont be holding my Matilda again. Why bother get a G.pulchra, we have much more enjoyment having her out for an hour, letting her use your body as an exercise machine. It was a buzz holding a more dangerous feisty P.Miranda (she is beautiful). Its your choice to get bitten and be prepared, make sure someones with you, also remember that it (the T ) will not be enjoying it.:5: :5:
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2005
- Messages
- 8,325
*eventually* you could probably figure out if your particular mac is going to be a good candidate for free handling... but for now i would say not a good idea
i waited until i was comfortable handling the normal non-gnarly venom species and then started playing with the more human reactives
www.youtube.com/cacoseraph
macs are quick, inclined to jump, and are among the more human reactive venom bearing species of tarantulas that we know of. doable as a first tarantula (especially if you have experience with other venomous animals)... but probably not the best to learn how to free handle with
good luck with your spider, it is an excellent species
i waited until i was comfortable handling the normal non-gnarly venom species and then started playing with the more human reactives
www.youtube.com/cacoseraph
macs are quick, inclined to jump, and are among the more human reactive venom bearing species of tarantulas that we know of. doable as a first tarantula (especially if you have experience with other venomous animals)... but probably not the best to learn how to free handle with
good luck with your spider, it is an excellent species
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2007
- Messages
- 166
And yes having experience with handling is a bonus you can sort of predict kind of, how they move / how fast etc. My hubby is very good at handling. I only handle the slow friendly ones, oh and all the baby's.
- Joined
- Jan 11, 2008
- Messages
- 588
First off, let me point out that a Heteroscodra maculata will NOT kill a person. Yes, the bite can be painful with a bunch of unwanted side-effects, but you will not die. I know people that handle their H. macs on a regular basis and describe it more like an Avicularia on steroids! They spook a little easier, more prone to jumping and when they do jump, they can jump a lot farther than an Avic could dream! However, when they are "planning" a jump, they are cute. They wiggle their bottoms and stand up some...it's really kinda funny. But, I would not suggest handling this specie unless you are already very comfortable holding Ts of any kind. Tarantulas have a tendency to react to the comfort level of the handler in a strong way. So, if you are a little bit nervous, the T will be too. If you want a handler, there is none better than an Avic, though. These stress out the least and are usually the most docile of all tarantulas I've ever encountered. A Psalmopoeus irminia was recommended earlier, but I wouldn't recommend them unless you want to practice getting bit. Mine was fiestier than my H. mac and I considered it the scariest of all my Ts!
They wiggle their bottoms and stand up some...it's really kinda funny. But, I would not suggest handling this specie unless you are already very comfortable holding Ts of any kind. Tarantulas have a tendency to react to the comfort level of the handler in a strong way. So, if you are a little bit nervous, the T will be too. If you want a handler, there is none better than an Avic, though. These stress out the least and are usually the most docile of all tarantulas I've ever encountered. A Psalmopoeus irminia was recommended earlier, but I wouldn't recommend them unless you want to practice getting bit. Mine was fiestier than my H. mac and I considered it the scariest of all my Ts!
- Joined
- Jul 12, 2007
- Messages
- 1,125
If you do decide to handle your H mac. please video tape it as our bite reports are seriously lacking in multimedia presentations.
- Joined
- Jun 29, 2007
- Messages
- 821
- Joined
- Apr 11, 2007
- Messages
- 5,438
This is way late in the game but i had a few thoughts on this subject...
How knowledgeable was the person who identified this t as an H maculata? It's a pretty unusual species to be found in a pet store. Furthermore, any petstore that stocks as exotic a sp as that should know better than to sell it to someone as a first T. It was terribly irresponsible of them to do so without one single word of caution to you. This is the kind of scenario that can end up getting venomous inverts banned.
Meme, would you mind posting a pic to verify that it is in fact what you were told? It would be pretty funny if we found out after all this hemmin' and hawin' that it's actually a psalmopoeus or avic or something...
How knowledgeable was the person who identified this t as an H maculata? It's a pretty unusual species to be found in a pet store. Furthermore, any petstore that stocks as exotic a sp as that should know better than to sell it to someone as a first T. It was terribly irresponsible of them to do so without one single word of caution to you. This is the kind of scenario that can end up getting venomous inverts banned.
Meme, would you mind posting a pic to verify that it is in fact what you were told? It would be pretty funny if we found out after all this hemmin' and hawin' that it's actually a psalmopoeus or avic or something...
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2008
- Messages
- 571
I agree. Lets see a pic!
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2007
- Messages
- 166
LMAO I held our A.versi yesterday, and it ran too fast for me!!!!, jumped every time i tried to pick it back up, squirted poo on my thigh, I cant handle these they are far to quick (and mine only has 6 legs) lol. luckily I was free handling on my bed so it couldn't get very far. quite quite funny. ;P ;PFirst off, let me point out that a Heteroscodra maculata will NOT kill a person. Yes, the bite can be painful with a bunch of unwanted side-effects, but you will not die. I know people that handle their H. macs on a regular basis and describe it more like an Avicularia on steroids! They spook a little easier, more prone to jumping and when they do jump, they can jump a lot farther than an Avic could dream! However, when they are "planning" a jump, they are cute.
- Joined
- Aug 12, 2007
- Messages
- 1,746
- Joined
- Mar 15, 2006
- Messages
- 584
I am no expert but I do have an adult female H. maculata and I so would not recommend holding that T. Way to fast and way to nervous. WHEN (not if) you spook it, it will be gone in a flash.Hey guys and gals. Just a quick question. I recently was able to get my first tarantula, yay! He or she is a very cute and furry little bugger and I'd like to handle it. Will it show any sign of aggression and try to bite? Or will it just sit and relax? I would hope if I do try to hold it, it won't run away and out the front door. Haha! Just kidding. Anyways, the whole reason for this post is... can I hold my little guy?
meme101
- Joined
- Dec 13, 2005
- Messages
- 1,323
Vey good idea here. To accustom you to your Mac, another arboreal is what you need. Avics are agile and can be fast, quite harmless also, but H. mac are still another level. After the Avic, Psalmopeus cambridgei is your 'training partner' that will be the closest to Hmac without sending you to the ER (most of them)
The problem is that H mac is not only a venomous T, but one of the most venomous as well, along Stromatopelmas and the Aussies, even worse than Pokies (resd bites report of those) and there really is a chance to loose appendage mobility for quite a while du to cramps and other aches.
I think that you will be quite contemps with handling your Psalmos or avics.
BTW, I would,nt encourage to hold a P irminia, by all accounts, it's the NW T with the most unpleasant effects to a bite!!!
- Joined
- Mar 15, 2006
- Messages
- 584
Agree with you on getting "training" Ts, but I'd still say a person should never handle a Mac regardless of experience. I think it would be a blueprint for disaster.
The pet store I purchased it at specializes in exotic pets, and after doing a bit of reading and research, the H. Mac is not an unusual species.. In fact, it's a hobby classic! Oh, and it's certainly a H. Mac! I am not saying that the person selling them is a rocket scientist, but not a complete idiot either.
meme101
No, not losing respect. Just being cautious after religiously being told the dangerous potential. As I said, I am new to this.
meme101
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2008
- Messages
- 571
I would still like to see a picture.
- Joined
- Sep 9, 2007
- Messages
- 703
I'm still waiting on the bite report. Maculatas aren't cute fuzzy hand pets. This whole thread is somewhat irritating. "They're a hobby classic!"..... No, they're actually somewhat unusual, even for a shop that specializes in exotics. If you want a cute fuzzy T that you can hold then go with a G. Pulchra...... or an Avicularia... It's your decision if you want to hold this T, but you will most definately pay for it. Lets hope the T doesn't end up paying for it as well.
- Joined
- Aug 22, 2004
- Messages
- 174
I know how excited and curious I was when I got my first T. Even though I wasn't experienced and knowledgeable on them, I still wanted to learn more and have even the most advanced. Come on folks, let's give meme101 a break and let her enjoy the hobby. After all, it's a small world and without people like us, it cannot survive. Amen.
Niloticus
Niloticus
- Joined
- Sep 9, 2007
- Messages
- 703
No, I understand that, and I am very happy that our numbers seem to be growing every day. I myself actually started the hobby with a P. Regalis, one of my roommates started with a C. Crawshayi, and another started with an H. Maculata. These are not traditional "starter" Ts, as has been said. They are however, not out of the realm of possibility for a newbie if they are educated and have a healthy respect for what a certain T is capable of. I am concerned not because of the T itself, but for the apparrent lack of education and respect. More than anything I'm just worried about the T getting hurt and meme getting bit. A bite from an H mac is enough to make a lot of people think twice about this hobby, especially someone who is brand new to it. I'm just very concerned that a bite from this T will discourage her from advancing in the hobby.