Handleable Tarantulas???

[Arachnogirl97]

Hi y'all!

I'm a tarantula noob and am wanting to get my first tarantula. However, as with all new pets I get, I like to do extensive research on care, which species would be best for me, and even things like looking into good DIY (I'm super handy, having a past of building sets for plays/musicals/etc and decorating fish and snake tanks) tarantula setups. I'm also curious about recommended size parameters for enclosures.

I'm wanting to know y'all's thoughts on recommendations for a good handleable tarantula for a complete novice like me. I'm actually fairly close to being legally blind, so if the tarantula has bright colors it'd be a massive plus, however color is not a necessity.

Thanks in advance!

 

[cold blood]

No tarantula should be considered for handling....its an outdated, dangerous practice for any t....there are no positives to handling, but a long list of potential negatives. Think of them like fish, as observational pets.

G. pulchripes

G. pulchripes

• cold blood
• Oct 13, 2018
• 3
• chaco golden knee tarantula female grammostola grammostola aureostriata grammostola pulchripes pulchripes

4" female

and B. albopilosum both make for excellent starter ts.

"Honduras"

• cold blood
• Sep 6, 2018
• 3
• albopilosus brachypelma albopilosum curlyhair tarantula female tliltocatl tliltocatl albopilosus

Female albopilosum

 

[boina]

or a good handleable tarantula

None. Handling carries a high risk of death - for the tarantula.

Drop it just a few inches -> dead tarantula
Have it get spooked and jump off your hand -> dead tarantula
Have it get spooked and bite you and you'll sling it off in reflex -> dead tarantula
Have it get spooked and just run off without falling -> good luck finding it again.

Don't be like those idiots on youtube - most keepers won't handle.

Having that out of the way: If you want some color, any one of the red legged Brachypelma species is pretty nice:

Pretty in red and black

• boina
• Aug 23, 2018
• 1
• boehmei brachypelma brachypelma boehmei female mexican fireleg tarantula

B. boehmei, or possibly a hybrid, in any case a striking spider. (I'm having a Brachypelma day)

Well, the B. boehmei can actually be a bit flicky (i.e. flicking urticating hair), but she's the one with the most contrasting colors. B. hamorii and B. emilia would be good choices, too.

 

[Arachnogirl97]

None. Handling carries a high risk of death - for the tarantula.

Drop it just a few inches -> dead tarantula
Have it get spooked and jump off your hand -> dead tarantula
Have it get spooked and bite you and you'll sling it off in reflex -> dead tarantula
Have it get spooked and just run off without falling -> good luck finding it again.

Don't be like those idiots on youtube - most keepers won't handle.

Having that out of the way: If you want some color, any one of the red legged Brachypelma species is pretty nice:

Pretty in red and black

• boina
• Aug 23, 2018
• 1
• boehmei brachypelma brachypelma boehmei female mexican fireleg tarantula

B. boehmei, or possibly a hybrid, in any case a striking spider. (I'm having a Brachypelma day)

Well, the B. boehmei can actually be a bit flicky (i.e. flicking urticating hair), but she's the one with the most contrasting colors. B. hamorii and B. emilia would be good choices, too.

Thanks!! I remember going to the local insect and arachnid zoo a lot as a kid and I always loved holding Rosie the Red Kneed Tarantula. I also wouldn't be holding it super often, just maybe taking it out to show it to people once in a blue moon or to clean its enclosure. Also maybe I have weird fish because both my angel fish and my betta will swim into my hand and let me pet them. They love it and get mad if I don't pet them while doing water changes XD

 

[cold blood]

Thanks!! I remember going to the local insect and arachnid zoo a lot as a kid and I always loved holding Rosie the Red Kneed Tarantula. I also wouldn't be holding it super often, just maybe taking it out to show it to people once in a blue moon or to clean its enclosure. Also maybe I have weird fish because both my angel fish and my betta will swim into my hand and let me pet them. They love it and get mad if I don't pet them while doing water changes XD

its actually far less dangerous for a fish to be held ( as long as you have wet hands)...theyre actually much more resiliant....it was just the paralell to another pet most people dont expect to hold.

 

[Major 78]

Most Brachypelma spp. but some like B. Boehemi can be quite flicky. Most Grammastola spp. If you can find one then Euthlus spp. are great. Aphonopelma Chalcodes and Hentzi are amazing, as well as most Aphonopelma spp.

 

[Minty]

Chromatopelma cyanepubescens is good for a beginner and it has the colours you’re after. Just be aware they can be a bit skittish and might flick hairs if disturbed.

Edit: Don’t handle tarantulas, for the same reasons stated above.

 

[viper69]

Do a T a favor and don’t get one.

After reading your comment on fish you aren’t ready to own fish or Ts.

 

[EulersK]

In short, don't handle. I've never met a hobbyist worth their salt who advocates the practice. Concerning everything else...

things like looking into good DIY (I'm super handy, having a past of building sets for plays/musicals/etc and decorating fish and snake tanks) tarantula setups.

This'll help you out:

I'm also curious about recommended size parameters for enclosures.

As will this:

I'm wanting to know y'all's thoughts on recommendations for a good handleable tarantula for a complete novice like me. I'm actually fairly close to being legally blind, so if the tarantula has bright colors it'd be a massive plus, however color is not a necessity.

And, finally, this:

 

[The Seraph]

Thanks!! I remember going to the local insect and arachnid zoo a lot as a kid and I always loved holding Rosie the Red Kneed Tarantula. I also wouldn't be holding it super often, just maybe taking it out to show it to people once in a blue moon or to clean its enclosure. Also maybe I have weird fish because both my angel fish and my betta will swim into my hand and let me pet them they love it and get mad if I don't pet them while doing water changes

You are from East Colorado? Funny to see another person mention Rosie. She was a big part of my childhood. Regardless, you really should not handle. Tarantulas are still wild animals after all and are unpredictable. I would go with some of the species others have mentioned as some are almost always visible.

 

[Teal]

Please do NOT handle a T on purpose for any reason.

Also, they do not need their enclosures cleaned. Spot cleaning is all you might need to do - remove any bolus you see if they are easily accessible. But that is it.

Brachypelma are good starter Ts, and Chromatopelma cyanopubescens are colourful and heavy webbers.

After reading your comment on fish you aren’t ready to own fish or Ts.

I have Bettas that enjoy being pet, too. It's a thing.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

Drop it just a few inches -> dead tarantula
Have it get spooked and jump off your hand -> dead tarantula
Have it get spooked and bite you and you'll sling it off in reflex -> dead tarantula

If the spider in question is a juve/adult arboreal, the 'dead' scenario wouldn't happens, they are extremely agile and jump, as we know

Once I personally saw a P.cambridgei sling jumping from a furniture taller more or less 80/100 cm, landing on the carpet in 'parachute' mode, then escaping.

He lived until his MM era

Just saying... I'm against handling tout court

 

[Nightstalker47]

If the spider in question is a juve/adult arboreal, the 'dead' scenario wouldn't happens, they are extremely agile and jump, as we know

Once I personally saw a P.cambridgei sling jumping from a furniture taller more or less 80/100 cm, landing on the carpet in 'parachute' mode, then escaping.

He lived until his MM era

Just saying... I'm against handling tout court

Yeah, its much less likely...but could still happen, especially if it gets flung rather then just jumping on its own.

 

[sasker]

By now you must realise that handling tarantulas is strongly discouraged on AB

Of course it's your decision, but personally I would not keep tarantulas if could hardly see them. Caring for tiny slings would be virtually impossible, but since tarantulas are not exactly pets that should be touched, I think large tarantulas are not that great either for someone who's vision is seriously impaired.

I also understand that the urge for touching and petting fish and tarantulas is stronger in someone who is visually impaired, but there are loads of pets that are better suited for this purpose.

Again, it's your decision. But I would advice against keeping tarantulas.

 

[Eiki]

It will depenend on the individual tarantula. Suprisingly they have quite different characters. There's no way to say how it will react to handling. There are of course species which are more likely to be docile and which are less likely. Most new world Ts are fairly docile, but I've seen plenty of new worlds that get quite defensive, so yeah, you can't know before hand, you will have to see once you get the T.

 

[Dannica]

As everyone else said above, no good reason to handle. Actually, no good reason, and lots of bad reasons. Although, if you are dead set on handling, I’ve attached a photo of my only girl that I feel comfortable handling, I’d upload a more current photo but she’s currently in the dryer.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

I'm a 40 years man so I want to know this, once and for all. And this is a legit question that, again, once and for all, deserves a legit answer

What's the 'lust' that someone feel when he/she puts in his/her hand a quite big, hairy, spider? I mean, I do understand the 'handling' of an (adult) hot chick (sorry, I'm a man) but, honestly... a spider?

I've started to keep T's in early '90s, never handled, never felt that need.
Mostly because I grew up in a - more sane than today world - where, the act of handle a venomous animal (no matter which) was always viewed as 'utter dumb' or, eventually, a folklore trap for gain cash from tourists, like in some poor and exotic places always happened.

I know that in the world of today 'rules' went directly in the toilet, still, I'm curious.

What's that lust "you" feel, oh handler? Please tell me that, and being honest

 

[Nightstalker47]

As everyone else said above, no good reason to handle. Actually, no good reason, and lots of bad reasons. Although, if you are dead set on handling, I’ve attached a photo of my only girl that I feel comfortable handling, I’d upload a more current photo but she’s currently in the dryer.

Thats a beautiful B.emelia! Huge specimen too, so jealous.

 

[Andrew Clayton]

I'm actually fairly close to being legally blind

Are you still going blind? If so totally wrong idea getting a Tarantula or anything that is venomous really get a dog!

 

[The Seraph]

Are you still going blind? If so totally wrong idea getting a Tarantula or anything that is venomous really get a dog!

Legally blind is not as severe as you think. My father has -9/20 vision and he can see with glasses and contacts. The colorblind are legally blind. Even still, it is not a good to get something like that if her vision is just going to get worse and worse.