- Joined
- May 6, 2003
- Messages
- 645
okay, first off, i have some questions for you guys, and then a story to relate. in your personal opinions, please answer the following in regards to docile Ts:
- how often do you feel it is necessary to hold to help maintain this docility?
- do you feel this trait can change if not handled enough?
- do you agree that females are typically more mellow than males in the more docile T varieties?
now, here's my story. (long sigh)
as some of you may remember, i joined this forum at the beginning of May after conquering my lifelong arachnophobia fear, one of the few true fears that i have/had/whatever.
since then, i have to own 8 Ts of docile varieties and currently have 2 more on order.
well, the other day, i went into my one and only favorite local petstore as they were expecting in an order of B. albo. they got three.
i was just thrilled. one especially large one seemed very content and after drinking a large quantity of water (they immediately took my suggestion of putting shallow bowls of water as opposed to the gel chunks of stuff used for crickets - yay them!) it had wandered towards the front of the tank in a very 'siteseeing' posture and began to contentedly and calmly groom itself.
being one of THE only people there who will even consider holding a T, i offered to check their temperaments from a safe distance with the longest mechanical pencil available. (grin) even though they were curlys, i take no chances. (i am naturally paranoid and consider it a very useful trait) so...this large and beautiful, fluffy curly was my first choice as the second was in a ball (legs up, hiding) and the other was in a flattened ball near the upper left corner of the tank too near the opening for my liking.
well, i gently and slowly put down the pencil and hopefully let the T notice it. then, ever-so-slowly i brought it gently against one of its back legs....with no result whatsoever. i withdrew briefly wondering if this was a good sign (as it is with my A. avic who is so mellow as to seem on valium some of the time) or if it were merely awaiting the chance to destroy the unsuspecting victim with malice. so...i ventured in once again and gently pressed a bit more with a little nudge. no reaction. so, i gently nudged its abdomen which resulted in a rather lazy slight saunter maybe a step away from the original position. much encouraged, i stroked it gently on the side to which it exhibited the same complete lack of interest.
i was very encouraged. then, i gently nudged a front leg and once again, it lazily moved slightly sensing that i was trying to 'guide' it somewhere and as it had nothing better to do, why not? so, i was thrilled. i happily went up to my friend the manager and pronounced it exceedingly docile and calm.
i then proceeded to the next tank with the ball of legs. again, slowly, gently, i lowered the pencil. i moved it a bit so hopefully the T would see it and brushed it ever so gently against its back leg. to which it LEAPT INTO THE AIR, SPUN AROUND, and tried to end the more already non-living pencil's meager existance. upon this action i leapt about 10 ft backwards and uttered the MOST girly of screams. :8o i was not too pleased. so, i thought, okay, i must've totally scared the little guy and he didn't see the pencil and was naturally freaked out. so, i let him sit for a few minutes and he didn't curl back up, seemed to relax a little. again, i ventured forth with the pencil, again SLOOWLY and gently brushing a back leg and this time the pencil was attacked even MORE quickly and seemingly viciously. at this point, i informed my friend and wandered off looking quite pale and chastised.
so...basically i have two problems:
1. ever since my G. rosea was surprised (i think) and gently chastised me with a front-leg thwap, i have not been able to pick her up, paranoia ruling my entire body.
2. i am naturally more concerned with other docile Ts being actually demon-spawns in disguise merely awaiting another foolish and innocent victim. :/
(sigh) what i'm looking for here is suggestions so that i avoid the HORRIBLE prospect of sinking slowly back into my state of perpetual arachnophobia.
help?
- btw, before you complain, this was actually an exerpt from the new novel i'm writing, 'how to annoy T people with incredibly innane and long-winded questions'. thank you.
- how often do you feel it is necessary to hold to help maintain this docility?
- do you feel this trait can change if not handled enough?
- do you agree that females are typically more mellow than males in the more docile T varieties?
now, here's my story. (long sigh)
as some of you may remember, i joined this forum at the beginning of May after conquering my lifelong arachnophobia fear, one of the few true fears that i have/had/whatever.
since then, i have to own 8 Ts of docile varieties and currently have 2 more on order.
well, the other day, i went into my one and only favorite local petstore as they were expecting in an order of B. albo. they got three.
being one of THE only people there who will even consider holding a T, i offered to check their temperaments from a safe distance with the longest mechanical pencil available. (grin) even though they were curlys, i take no chances. (i am naturally paranoid and consider it a very useful trait) so...this large and beautiful, fluffy curly was my first choice as the second was in a ball (legs up, hiding) and the other was in a flattened ball near the upper left corner of the tank too near the opening for my liking.
well, i gently and slowly put down the pencil and hopefully let the T notice it. then, ever-so-slowly i brought it gently against one of its back legs....with no result whatsoever. i withdrew briefly wondering if this was a good sign (as it is with my A. avic who is so mellow as to seem on valium some of the time) or if it were merely awaiting the chance to destroy the unsuspecting victim with malice. so...i ventured in once again and gently pressed a bit more with a little nudge. no reaction. so, i gently nudged its abdomen which resulted in a rather lazy slight saunter maybe a step away from the original position. much encouraged, i stroked it gently on the side to which it exhibited the same complete lack of interest.
i then proceeded to the next tank with the ball of legs. again, slowly, gently, i lowered the pencil. i moved it a bit so hopefully the T would see it and brushed it ever so gently against its back leg. to which it LEAPT INTO THE AIR, SPUN AROUND, and tried to end the more already non-living pencil's meager existance. upon this action i leapt about 10 ft backwards and uttered the MOST girly of screams. :8o i was not too pleased. so, i thought, okay, i must've totally scared the little guy and he didn't see the pencil and was naturally freaked out. so, i let him sit for a few minutes and he didn't curl back up, seemed to relax a little. again, i ventured forth with the pencil, again SLOOWLY and gently brushing a back leg and this time the pencil was attacked even MORE quickly and seemingly viciously. at this point, i informed my friend and wandered off looking quite pale and chastised.
so...basically i have two problems:
1. ever since my G. rosea was surprised (i think) and gently chastised me with a front-leg thwap, i have not been able to pick her up, paranoia ruling my entire body.
2. i am naturally more concerned with other docile Ts being actually demon-spawns in disguise merely awaiting another foolish and innocent victim. :/
(sigh) what i'm looking for here is suggestions so that i avoid the HORRIBLE prospect of sinking slowly back into my state of perpetual arachnophobia.
help?
- btw, before you complain, this was actually an exerpt from the new novel i'm writing, 'how to annoy T people with incredibly innane and long-winded questions'. thank you.