Can you handle a tarantula pre-molt?

[R3CORD24]

Hi all, I wanted to clean my tarantula's tank but wasn't sure if it was ok to disturb her while she's preparing for a molt. I think she has a few more weeks to a month before she molts. Also, she is a Chilean Rose Hair. Thanks for the help in advance.

 

[cold blood]

I wanted to clean my tarantula's tank

Cleaning can be done with a tweezers. You really never need to break down the enclosure...spot cleaning is all you really need to do generally.

I think she has a few more weeks to a month before she molts. Also, she is a Chilean Rose Hair

Well, considering the species, it could even be a year before it actually molts....predicting their molts are about as hard as any t on the planet.

As for handling...well, there is never a need for that....this is a choice, not something anyone ever needs to do.

 

[R3CORD24]

Cleaning can be done with a tweezers. You really never need to break down the enclosure...spot cleaning is all you really need to do generally.


Well, considering the species, it could even be a year before it actually molts....predicting their molts are about as hard as any t on the planet.

As for handling...well, there is never a need for that....this is a choice, not something anyone ever needs to do.

I know I can always spot clean but some of my family are mildly allergic to something in the tank (not the tarantula) and so I have to fully clean it now and then. Would fully cleaning the tank be bad for her?

 

[cold blood]

I know I can always spot clean but some of my family are mildly allergic to something in the tank (not the tarantula) and so I have to fully clean it now and then. Would fully cleaning the tank be bad for her?

how do you know the allergens are coming from the tank? About the only thing are the hairs, and you could change the tank 3 times a day and there will still be hairs.

its not necessarily bad for the t, just disruptive.

 

[Minty]

Technically, you can handle a tarantula at any point in it's life cycle, but that doesn't mean you should.

I'd stick with spot cleaning, as cold blood suggested.

 

[R3CORD24]

how do you know the allergens are coming from the tank? About the only thing are the hairs, and you could change the tank 3 times a day and there will still be hairs.

its not necessarily bad for the t, just disruptive.

I didn't realize they flicked hairs so often. Is it wrong to handle tarantulas?

 

[cold blood]

I didn't realize they flicked hairs so often. Is it wrong to handle tarantulas?

Well they are covered with hairs.

Wrong? I dunno, but it is an unnecessary and selfish act. There's literally no positives in t for the animal, only a host of potential dangers/issues. Its something people do for themselves (whatever the motivation), not the good of animal.

Its like getting fish an expecting to hold them...but there's actually less issues with handling fish....like a fish won't break if you drop it, won't escape and hide, and won't stick you with fangs and inject you with venom and won't get itchy hairs all over you.

Handling is a personal choice, a choice many of us don't exactly embrace. IMO its a leftover from a time when we had few species available and a ton less knowledge about them.

 

[R3CORD24]

Well they are covered with hairs.

Wrong? I dunno, but it is an unnecessary and selfish act. There's literally no positives in t for the animal, only a host of potential dangers/issues. Its something people do for themselves (whatever the motivation), not the good of animal.

Its like getting fish an expecting to hold them...but there's actually less issues with handling fish....like a fish won't break if you drop it, won't escape and hide, and won't stick you with fangs and inject you with venom and won't get itchy hairs all over you.

Handling is a personal choice, a choice many of us don't exactly embrace. IMO its a leftover from a time when we had few species available and a ton less knowledge about them.

I feel so bad. When I was preparing to buy a tarantula, I thought I had done all the research. I guess I wasn't as educated on them as I thought. Thanks so much with helping me with this. I'm going to go do some more research on proper care for tarantulas and ways to be respectful towards their well being.

 

[Mjb30]

I didn't realize they flicked hairs so often. Is it wrong to handle tarantulas?

With regards to the urticating (itchy) hairs of the tarantula, most tarantulas from the Americas (known as New World species) have these hairs.

They can flick them in self defence but also can remove them in other cases, possibly to create a kind of ‘defensive barrier’ in their territory.

So, due to this, by cleaning the enclosure there is a strong chance that you will disturb these irritating hairs and make the problem for your family worse. As others have said, there is no need to do anything in enclosures, in my opinion, other than:
-top up the water bowl
-remove, clean and replace the water bowl
-remove uneaten or remimants of food

Directly handling a spider is mostly frowned up by the experienced keepers on this board for reasons already outlined. There just is no reason to do it as the spider can not benefit from it and greatly increases risk of harm to all involved.

I hope you stay around these forums as there is so, so much useful information on here. A lot of the advice provided to you is quite direct but I hope you can see that everyone had the best interests of yourself, your family and your pets to mind.

Welcome to the boards and hope to see you stay around!

 

[cold blood]

I feel so bad. When I was preparing to buy a tarantula, I thought I had done all the research. I guess I wasn't as educated on them as I thought. Thanks so much with helping me with this. I'm going to go do some more research on proper care for tarantulas and ways to be respectful towards their well being.

Don't feel bad, you aren't alone...unless you know where to do your research, doing research just isn't possible. Most of what you see on the internet is absolutely terrible info...same for pet stores. Care sheets are the worst, because to a new person, they appear to be so specific and accurate...but they are not, in fact much of what you read in care sheets is a list of what not to do or expect.

Now that you have found arachnoboards you have a reliable place to do your research....where you can get your info directly from keepers that will interact with you and offer real world help.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

Is it wrong to handle tarantulas?

No, at all

What is damn wrong (in regards of handling T's) is to don't post, after, here on this site, the hypothetical damage occurred to the spider, or the hypothetical escape, bite etc now that would be wrong and selfish, because Chris LXXIX loves to laugh about other people stupid acts.

 

[Kendricks]

I feel so bad. When I was preparing to buy a tarantula, I thought I had done all the research. I guess I wasn't as educated on them as I thought. Thanks so much with helping me with this. I'm going to go do some more research on proper care for tarantulas and ways to be respectful towards their well being.

Don't worry about it, you seem to have the right attitude. Other's just ignore any advice and start a flame war because they feel attacked.
Just stick to this board, you can learn all you need to know and so much more here, all you gotta do is ask.
Welcome to the gang!

 

[NukaMedia Exotics]

When you do clean the tank, just catch the T in a cup while you do maintenance instead of picking it up by hand.

 

[Moakmeister]

You shouldn't handle a tarantula period.