Do you handle yours?

[Lynn57]

Hi everyone! I'm just wondering how many of you handle your T's and if so what type is it that your handling? I know that it's not something that they would seek out...but I'm curious if you they get use to it or not? For example if you were to handle it from a juvenile to adulthood once a week or so would that be enough for them to adapt to it or would that just stress them out more? Thanks for you thoughts!

 

[viper69]

Handling is for people who don’t care if their T lives or dies

They do NOT get used to it.

 

[IntermittentSygnal]

Handling is dangerous for your T, with those soft, unprotected abdomens, and they get nothing positive out of the experience. They aren’t capable of bonding with you. Also, for the human, there are urticating setae and the risk of a bite (which could also be deadly for your T if your reaction is to fling them). You won’t find many here that risk their T’s lives for personal enjoyment. I’ve heard them referred to here as “dirt fish”. Look, watch, marvel, but don’t pick it up.

 

[Andrew Clayton]

Hi everyone! I'm just wondering how many of you handle your T's and if so what type is it that your handling? I know that it's not something that they would seek out...but I'm curious if you they get use to it or not? For example if you were to handle it from a juvenile to adulthood once a week or so would that be enough for them to adapt to it or would that just stress them out more? Thanks for you thoughts!

Depends on the situation but yes I do handle spiders even old worlds and not just Tarantulas. Although I definitely do not recommend holding any, the Tarantula gets nothing from it and will never get used to being handled. It can be dangerous for the T too, especially since the species that would be advised as handleable are all Terrestrial T's and they will not come off well if you drop it.

 

[Arachnophobphile]

Hi everyone! I'm just wondering how many of you handle your T's and if so what type is it that your handling? I know that it's not something that they would seek out...but I'm curious if you they get use to it or not? For example if you were to handle it from a juvenile to adulthood once a week or so would that be enough for them to adapt to it or would that just stress them out more? Thanks for you thoughts!

Unfortunately it used to be common practice in the 20th century and in the early 2000's. As arachnoculture evolved it was accepted by responsible keepers not to handle tarantulas for their best interest as husbandry advanced.

Even books on tarantulas from the 90's not only condone it but explain the techniques used to handle them.

After all the tarantula deaths and people coming on this site, Arachnoboards for example posting about it keepers know it is better to not handle.

Those of us that used to suffer from arachnophobia make excellent keepers which there were two most important factors right out of the gate:
1. Secure, escape proof enclosure
2. Never handle
Followed by correct husbandry

Since 2019 when I got my first tarantula I never handled any of my T's. I never had any mistakes where my T's bolted onto me. I never had an escape and I never been bit.

Sure I've made other mistakes but those so far, knock on wood I have never had and hope I never do.

 

[cold blood]

No

 

[jennywallace]

I have never handled mine and never will for all the reasons mentioned. Admire their beauty with eyes only.

 

[FatBadBay]

Nope. Strictly a look at pet. Not every pet needs to be touched or handled.

 

[Stu Macher]

I don't really like the concept of my T being stressed out, but ive held them. With all the time I've invested in slings, a fall would suck for you and them. On rare occurrences, one manages to crawl out during a rehouse. If its a docile sp i use my hand as a platform and put them back.

 

[Mustafa67]

Hi everyone! I'm just wondering how many of you handle your T's and if so what type is it that your handling? I know that it's not something that they would seek out...but I'm curious if you they get use to it or not? For example if you were to handle it from a juvenile to adulthood once a week or so would that be enough for them to adapt to it or would that just stress them out more? Thanks for you thoughts!

No

 

[Lynn57]

Thanks! I really don't have any intention of handling mine, I was just curious as to what the consensus on it was. I see a lot of people on you tube doing it and always wondered if the spider just got use to it or not. Thanks for your opinions.

 

[Mike41793]

I don't handle anything. They get nothing out of it. I treat them like fish. Nice to look at and admire in their enclosures. The only exception is slings under an inch or so. When they're that small if I am trying to rehouse I do feel it's safer sometimes to let them run onto my hand or use my hands rather than a prodding them with tongs or cupping. But it's usually a second resort. I'll try using a paint brush first. If their current enclosure will fit in the new enclosure I will usually just place it in the larger enclosure and let them come out on their own. That's not always possible though. I did get a threat display from a ~3/4" O. schiodeti recently though so that definitely reminded me even at that size I really should keep my hands out of their way haha.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

Nope I don’t handle them.