I know that some, maybe many, of you have had luck handling A. geniculata. Coloring-wise, they're striking (if one likes the contrast of white-on-black), and they get to be nice and big, but they seem to have urticating hairs that would make a mosquito itch! And yet, I've seen photos of them, big suckers, being handled like poseys on a young prom-queen's wrist, with no apparent side-effects. Do any of you have any handling-wisdom to share? (Or horror stories?). Is it just that some people are allergic and others aren't? Just wondering.
Handling A. geniculata
- Thread starter killy
- Start date
- Joined
- Nov 21, 2009
- Messages
- 733
I don't handle my young mf much anymore but she's easygoing about the ordeal. She's slightly skittish and scrunches a little at first but rarely kicks now. She'll stretch out relaxed shortly thereafter if I don't move. At 6" or a little over, she's been conditioned with occasional handlings since I got her last December at just shy of 3". I haven't picked her up in 2+ months so it's about time for another in-hand pic. I experience a faint itch every once in awhile from u- hairs but that's about it. 
I would love to see that - please post it! And your anecdote sort of confirms what I'm thinking - that I'm allergic to A geniculata hairs ...I haven't picked her up in 2+ months so it's about time for another in-hand pic. I experience a faint itch every once in awhile from u- hairs but that's about it.
I had an peculiar experience a couple of weeks ago.
I've handled just about all of my Ts over the past year and a half with no ill effects or itchiness, in spite of (infrequent) hair flicking. This includes a 1/4 inch A geniculata I got back in May. He was such a cute little guy that I decided to start a photo-account of his growth rate each molt. I would hold him in my hand alongside a dime and the exuvium for the shot, then let him crawl around. This has gone on right up to his next to last molt, at which time I allowed him the traditional crawl all around my left hand before returning him to his enclosure. Keep in mind that at no time did he ever flick any hairs.
About a 1/2 hour later, my left hand started itching like a son-of-a-gun, all over, and this continued for 2 hours before the itching subsided. And we're talking about just a wee little tyke – ¾ inch - imagine what damage he'll be able to do when he grows up!
But you handle yours at 6" with little or no apparent consequences!
Although the jury is still out, and further experimentation is required, I'm going to go with the following tentative conclusions: 1) little Rocky has reached "urticating hair maturity," - 2) I'm allergic to A genic hairs, and 3) no flicking is required to trigger the itchiness.
Just to make sure that it's the A avic hairs and not me, I've since taken my much bigger GBB, A avic, G pulchripes and B smithi out for similar strolls without a glitch, a hitch, or (thankfully) an itch! However, as the second image attests, it's 'HANDS-OFF' on the A genic photo shoots from now on!
- Joined
- Nov 21, 2009
- Messages
- 733
Hi Killy, Here's a few for ya! I wanted to wait another day so she'd have a few days after her last MM B dubia. She didn't kick once and overcame the "scrunch" in about two seconds after opening the enclosure- there again mostly attributable to conditioning from a young age.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/trdavis/5235215678/" title="008 by trdavis22, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5048/5235215678_5097fe944c.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="008" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/trdavis/5235215678/" title="008 by trdavis22, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5048/5235215678_5097fe944c.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="008" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/trdavis/5235215678/" title="008 by trdavis22, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5048/5235215678_5097fe944c.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="008" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/trdavis/5235215678/" title="008 by trdavis22, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5048/5235215678_5097fe944c.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="008" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/trdavis/5235215678/" title="008 by trdavis22, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5048/5235215678_5097fe944c.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="008" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/trdavis/5235215678/" title="008 by trdavis22, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5048/5235215678_5097fe944c.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="008" /></a>
- Joined
- May 31, 2010
- Messages
- 158
I have to put a rubber glove on just to put my hand in my A genic's cage. She doesn't kick (she likes to give threats!) but when I've put my hand in before, I itch for 1-2 weeks with lots of bumps, then the skin on my hand dies. It's pretty gnarly. She's one of my favorites though...they really are SO beautiful.
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2007
- Messages
- 1,139
I get similar reactions to the hairs from my A. geniculata. I get slight swelling, made itch that lasts for a week or two and little tiny blister bumps. I stay clear from her hairs especially now since she is so large.
Everyone will have different reactions to the hairs of different species.
Everyone will have different reactions to the hairs of different species.
- Joined
- May 31, 2010
- Messages
- 158
Good to hear I am not alone!
- Joined
- Nov 21, 2009
- Messages
- 419
Mine's just super duper cranky. And skittish. So I avoid handling her. But man, she is gorgeous. :drool:
- Joined
- Nov 21, 2009
- Messages
- 733
Thanks, and yeah, she's a looker!! She's almost as calm as my G pulchra now but I still rarely handle her. I had a faint itch at the center joint of my ring finger after this but it was just a light tingle and went away immediately after. I don't have a camcorder right now but looking to get a good one well on down the rd- mostly for field purposes. Actually, I should have had one a long time ago.
She's almost as calm as my G pulchra now but I still rarely handle her. I had a faint itch at the center joint of my ring finger after this but it was just a light tingle and went away immediately after. I don't have a camcorder right now but looking to get a good one well on down the rd- mostly for field purposes. Actually, I should have had one a long time ago.
- Joined
- Nov 21, 2009
- Messages
- 733
Sounds like it's about time for a visit to your eye doctor for a checkup. :}