Handling for the first time?

[cold blood]

While I am well aware that the tarantula derives no benefit from being held, seeing someone holding the "big, scary spider" without fear can go a long ways toward overcoming arachnophobia, especially with children who are still forming their opinions of the world around them.

Actually it gives those people a false sense of what a big hairy spider is all about..."do as I say and not as I do" is a poor form of education that more often than not leads to doing as you did and not as you said. If something shouldn't be handled, why are we educating by handling? To me its like a driving instructor showing how to do doughnuts in a parking lot, while telling the students that this isn't how you should be handling your automobile.

 

[Abyss]

Actually it gives those people a false sense of what a big hairy spider is all about..."do as I say and not as I do" is a poor form of education that more often than not leads to doing as you did and not as you said. If something shouldn't be handled, why are we educating by handling? To me its like a driving instructor showing how to do doughnuts in a parking lot, while telling the students that this isn't how you should be handling your automobile.

Agreed to a point. But In my opinion there absolutly is a time/place to handle for education purposes. Fact is, if your going to own a T (or many T's) its likely that you will no doubt need to handle them at one point or another. Personally i'd prefer to be an "expert" handler rather then a "novice" when the time comes. I would much rather know what im doing then risk injury to myself or the T in the process and that comes from practice/experience. There is no substitute imo

 

[cold blood]

Fact is, if your going to own a T (or many T's) its likely that you will no doubt need to handle them at one point or another.

This is something we hear a lot....its not even the first time it was mentioned in this thread alone and I'm glad you brought it up, because I chose to pass on it in my last comments.

I don't really understand this statement...in 15 years I have yet to have a single instance where I needed to handle any t. I just don't get where this perceived "need" comes in. Keep in mind, a t walking across or on you when doing maintenance or a spooked t running up your tongs onto you are not what I consider handling...its more inadvertent contact while the t is corralled....even that is a rare occurrence IME. Even in those circumstances there is frequently an alternative...I use a thick paper or piece of wood that I allow them to walk on as I can manipulate that to get them back to where I need them very quickly.

 

[BorisTheSpider]

This is something we hear a lot....its not even the first time it was mentioned in this thread alone and I'm glad you brought it up, because I chose to pass on it in my last comments.

I don't really understand this statement...in 15 years I have yet to have a single instance where I needed to handle any t. I just don't get where this perceived "need" comes in. Keep in mind, a t walking across or on you when doing maintenance or a spooked t running up your tongs onto you are not what I consider handling...its more inadvertent contact while the t is corralled....even that is a rare occurrence IME. Even in those circumstances there is frequently an alternative...I use a thick paper or piece of wood that I allow them to walk on as I can manipulate that to get them back to where I need them very quickly.

Agreed 100% . Handle them as you handle all venomous animals , by NOT handling them . It is just no good for them , plain and simple .

 

[Abyss]

This is something we hear a lot....its not even the first time it was mentioned in this thread alone and I'm glad you brought it up, because I chose to pass on it in my last comments.

I don't really understand this statement...in 15 years I have yet to have a single instance where I needed to handle any t. I just don't get where this perceived "need" comes in. Keep in mind, a t walking across or on you when doing maintenance or a spooked t running up your tongs onto you are not what I consider handling...its more inadvertent contact while the t is corralled....even that is a rare occurrence IME. Even in those circumstances there is frequently an alternative...I use a thick paper or piece of wood that I allow them to walk on as I can manipulate that to get them back to where I need them very quickly.

Handle is a loose term imo.
By handle i dont nescessarily mean scooping one up with your hands. Handling to me is the simple act of "forced" intrusion meaning:
You physically go in their home for one reason or another.

This can be to rehouse, hold, clean, whatever the case may be. While i have never had a T bolt outside due to this some say it happens alot and these circumstances may require your hands to hold them (i.e. They run up your arm then back down to your hand).
This can also include traditional "handling" which most i think define as only holding with your hands.
This can be to coax them to a fdif location or whatever.

In any case, or however you choose to define "handling". My overall point above is that you font wanna be caught with your pants down so to speak. You will want to be well versed in manipulating your T's for re-housing, re-capture, or any putpose you have to intrude on them.

I also agree 100% as i said in my 20+ years with many many T's i have never had any bolt, run, jump, bite, or anything but i attribute that to lots of "handling" practice in that when i am going to rehouse, they basically cooperate fully with no issue or rarely any issue.
I cant think of many instances where there would ever be a "need" to physically remove them from enclosure and "hold" them tho so agreed on that point as well

Also i will further agree in that i will use a tool suck as a nice big flat cork bark if one does happen to scurry where i dont eant them like up an arm or whatever.
This reinforces the point of being experienced and prepaired.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

I'm honestly surprised (just for saying) by the fact that no one points out (before talking about, indeed, a 100% proved and right fact, like "Theraphosidae, or other Arachnids, doesn't need handling, they gain nothing from that" and bla bla...) that handling a venomous animal, no matter which, is a very, incredibly, ignorant & stupid thing to do.

Even a little children here would know such a utter, disgusting for a medium IQ Man/Lady (so no need for 'Mensa' one) 'Captain Obvious' logic fact, that's probably why, when i was a teen and bought my first T's here, "handling" wasn't exactly one of the questions asked to the breeder/seller

Just like those religious US nuts who play with venomous snakes for perform their laughable religious show of "Bible & Bucks" muahahah ah ah ah ah.

"REPEENT!" Jesus Christ, "REPEENT!" OH-BITES-ALLAAARGH + Godsend (crickets/B.dubia for T's) from the sky!

I'm lucky because my Religion is 'Poontang'

 

[chanda]

Actually it gives those people a false sense of what a big hairy spider is all about..."do as I say and not as I do" is a poor form of education that more often than not leads to doing as you did and not as you said. If something shouldn't be handled, why are we educating by handling? To me its like a driving instructor showing how to do doughnuts in a parking lot, while telling the students that this isn't how you should be handling your automobile.

There are many people who have an irrational fear of spiders, insects, snakes, or other creatures. Seeing someone handle them properly can allay their fears and take them from a point of thinking that they should be killed on sight to realizing that they are living creatures who are deserving of tolerance, curiosity, and respect. Do I advocate that the children hold spiders? Of course not - and I tell them so in no uncertain terms. On the other hand, if the spiders are always kept locked behind glass, that perpetuates the myth that these are dangerous creatures that should not be tolerated within our living space.

 

[Toxoderidae]

There are many people who have an irrational fear of spiders, insects, snakes, or other creatures. Seeing someone handle them properly can allay their fears and take them from a point of thinking that they should be killed on sight to realizing that they are living creatures who are deserving of tolerance, curiosity, and respect. Do I advocate that the children hold spiders? Of course not - and I tell them so in no uncertain terms. On the other hand, if the spiders are always kept locked behind glass, that perpetuates the myth that these are dangerous creatures that should not be tolerated within our living space.

Still, it brings upon second hand thoughts. Yes, it may help them out, but it can also cause "Hey, I can hold it then" A great example I saw at an expo yesterday was a poor A. metallica that somebody was trying to hold. The booth people said "oh yeah they're harmless you can hold a spider" And the dude was manhandling a spider he was obviously uncomfortable with and was trying to get over his fear with. Had he asked that about the Haplo I ended up getting, he would've likely been in a lot of trouble. I see no pros whatsoever to handling.

 

[chanda]

Still, it brings upon second hand thoughts. Yes, it may help them out, but it can also cause "Hey, I can hold it then" A great example I saw at an expo yesterday was a poor A. metallica that somebody was trying to hold. The booth people said "oh yeah they're harmless you can hold a spider" And the dude was manhandling a spider he was obviously uncomfortable with and was trying to get over his fear with. Had he asked that about the Haplo I ended up getting, he would've likely been in a lot of trouble. I see no pros whatsoever to handling.

There is a big difference between irresponsible handling like what you are describing at the expo and careful handling - by someone who is experienced with the spider in question - in a controlled classroom environment, with dialogue about what is going on - and why it is NOT something that the children should attempt themselves.

Yes, I've seen dealers at expos who allow anybody who walks by to hold the tarantulas - and I believe that it's reckless and irresponsible of them to do so. At a recent expo I attended, many of the dealers were eager to let me hold the tarantulas I was interested in - but I turned them down because holding the spider was not necessary for me to purchase it. Likewise, at a Geography Day I participated in yesterday (with a presentation on South American tarantulas) there was another exhibitor who had a Mobile Zoo and was allowing the children to hold his rose tarantula, along with a snake, a parrot, a couple of chinchillas, and a couple of guinea pigs. Fortunately, the worst thing that happened was a dropped chinchilla made a break for freedom - but was recaptured without injury. My own spiders remained safely in their cages because - in that setting - there was no advantage to taking them out.

 

[Haksilence]

*insert cliche anti recreational handling rant here*

with that long rant out of the way, if your specimen is showing aggression towards you then it is best to leave it be. but if you absolutely must, its best to share safe practices for your own and the tarantulas safety.

place the enclosure on the ground and pop a squat next to it, lessening the height in case your proclaimed faster specimen desides he wants to go bungie jumping without the bungie. take your paintbrush, straw or similar and tap it lightly on the abdomen, if it turns to face the disturbance put the lid back on and leave it be, if it moves a few steps away its probably calm enough. lightly prod the specimen to the edge of the enclosure and out onto your waiting hand, have your fun, then allow them to walk back off yourhand back into their enclosure, preferably in front of and facing their burrow so they can go right in to de-stress. this is probably the way that disturbs the creature the least. with safe practice the risk to the tarantula can be reduced to none and can be done with minimal stress on the creature.

i personally remain neutral on the handling issue, i dont see it as a smart activity but not really one that deserves the amount of flack it receives. i personally dont handle my specimens for all the obvious reasons, but when doing rehousals and such on my more docile specimens im not against moving them by hand, for no other reason than my own selfish enjoyment and to feel slightly more involved with my creatures.
i have also on occasion removed a specimen to show people they are not something to be feared, but respected, i dont do this to advocate handling but more to give a little awareness to how not-scary these beautiful creatures are. its my personal opinion that this can do more harm than good, but would not do so to a large, highly impressionable, potential future owners like a childrens classroom. that is a different situation.

 

[Walter1]

*insert cliche anti recreational handling rant here*

with that long rant out of the way, if your specimen is showing aggression towards you then it is best to leave it be. but if you absolutely must, its best to share safe practices for your own and the tarantulas safety.

place the enclosure on the ground and pop a squat next to it, lessening the height in case your proclaimed faster specimen desides he wants to go bungie jumping without the bungie. take your paintbrush, straw or similar and tap it lightly on the abdomen, if it turns to face the disturbance put the lid back on and leave it be, if it moves a few steps away its probably calm enough. lightly prod the specimen to the edge of the enclosure and out onto your waiting hand, have your fun, then allow them to walk back off yourhand back into their enclosure, preferably in front of and facing their burrow so they can go right in to de-stress. this is probably the way that disturbs the creature the least. with safe practice the risk to the tarantula can be reduced to none and can be done with minimal stress on the creature.

i personally remain neutral on the handling issue, i dont see it as a smart activity but not really one that deserves the amount of flack it receives. i personally dont handle my specimens for all the obvious reasons, but when doing rehousals and such on my more docile specimens im not against moving them by hand, for no other reason than my own selfish enjoyment and to feel slightly more involved with my creatures.
i have also on occasion removed a specimen to show people they are not something to be feared, but respected, i dont do this to advocate handling but more to give a little awareness to how not-scary these beautiful creatures are. its my personal opinion that this can do more harm than good, but would not do so to a large, highly impressionable, potential future owners like a childrens classroom. that is a different situation.

Good advice. Slightly different, I use my fore finger to prod. Onto an open palm if cage is large enough.

 

[Haksilence]

Good advice. Slightly different, I use my fore finger to prod. Onto an open palm if cage is large enough.

i dont advocate this at all. even the most docile of tarantulas can have a pissy day and decide they arent putting up with your crap then and there, if you prod with your finger and it decides to respond agressively it can move way faster than you can and youre gonna get tagged on the finger. granted this is unlikely, but as i mentioned i advocate safest practice possible, and safest practice is with your hands nowhere near the tarantulas until you determine how tollerant they are feeling that particular moment.

i had an instance the other during a breeding attempt where the male finished his business and scurried away, so i placed my hand on the edge of the females enclosure to catch him, no problems, and replace him on the ground while i closed that females enclosure and prepared the next females. i handled the specimen to introduce him to the next females enclosure, another good attempt, rinse repeat from the previous. i closed up the females enclosure then went back to him to get him back home and he was not having it, full threat posture and charging, had to actually guide him to the lid of his enclosure and theninto the enclosure itsself to get him back safely. tarantulas can change their mind at any time, they are WILD ANIMALS.

 

[Walter1]

i dont advocate this at all. even the most docile of tarantulas can have a pissy day and decide they arent putting up with your crap then and there, if you prod with your finger and it decides to respond agressively it can move way faster than you can and youre gonna get tagged on the finger. granted this is unlikely, but as i mentioned i advocate safest practice possible, and safest practice is with your hands nowhere near the tarantulas until you determine how tollerant they are feeling that particular moment.

i had an instance the other during a breeding attempt where the male finished his business and scurried away, so i placed my hand on the edge of the females enclosure to catch him, no problems, and replace him on the ground while i closed that females enclosure and prepared the next females. i handled the specimen to introduce him to the next females enclosure, another good attempt, rinse repeat from the previous. i closed up the females enclosure then went back to him to get him back home and he was not having it, full threat posture and charging, had to actually guide him to the lid of his enclosure and theninto the enclosure itsself to get him back safely. tarantulas can change their mind at any time, they are WILD ANIMALS.

Two issues. First are breeding males. High strung and scared. A touch could be by that of an attacking female. For the rest of mine, I use my finger so that there is no surprise as to what lies next. These are for for individuals of my discretion. I note this as a 'how to' by me, not a 'pro-handle v anti-handle.

 

[Venom1080]

whats with people and even wanting to handle spiders? why is it so tempting?? get a different pet if you want to handle so much.

 

[Abyss]

Two issues. First are breeding males. High strung and scared. A touch could be by that of an attacking female. For the rest of mine, I use my finger so that there is no surprise as to what lies next. These are for for individuals of my discretion. I note this as a 'how to' by me, not a 'pro-handle v anti-handle.

Note*
Using finger is never good practice under any corcumstances with any T.

Thats why we have tools
i.e. Paintbrush, feather, rubber tip to gs, etc etc etc

 

[Chris LXXIX]

whats with people and even wanting to handle spiders? why is it so tempting?

Well, T's are way cheaper and available than portable console/smartphones/tablets etc nor they are a: "That's not mine! I haven't ordered one!" some strange sex pleasure toy.

 

[Walter1]

Well, T's are way cheaper and available than portable console/smartphones/tablets etc nor they are a: "That's not mine! I haven't ordered one!" some strange sex pleasure toy.

Well Venom, thank you for reducing me to people who should keep something else because they don't conform to your sensibilities. You're free to never handle your Ts and get no judgment at all from me, and I'm free to handle for reasons I see fit and pay no mind to your judgment, or, for that matter, to Chris' insult about sex toys.

 

[cold blood]

This can be to rehouse, hold, clean, whatever the case may be. While i have never had a T bolt outside due to this some say it happens alot and these circumstances may require your hands to hold them (i.e. They run up your arm then back down to your hand).
This can also include traditional "handling" which most i think define as only holding with your hands.
This can be to coax them to a fdif location or whatever.

In any case, or however you choose to define "handling". My overall point above is that you font wanna be caught with your pants down so to speak. You will want to be well versed in manipulating your T's for re-housing, re-capture, or any putpose you have to intrude on them.

The first part, agreed, the term is often thought of in a different manner by different people, which was why I quantified how I viewed it. But I see that as part of the issue when these arguments come up as everybody has completely different views sometimes on the basic subject.

As for the last part...a spider does not have to be walking on you for you to learn how to manipulate your t to move in certain directions or manners...in fact, learning by handling is the worse way to learn such a thing IMO....I see handling, and learning how to "manipulate your ts for re-housing, re-capture...", as completely unrelated.....Most of the people in the hobby that are the very best at this, do not handle them to get good as this skill.

There are many people who have an irrational fear of spiders, insects, snakes, or other creatures. Seeing someone handle them properly can allay their fears and take them from a point of thinking that they should be killed on sight to realizing that they are living creatures who are deserving of tolerance, curiosity, and respect. Do I advocate that the children hold spiders? Of course not - and I tell them so in no uncertain terms. On the other hand, if the spiders are always kept locked behind glass, that perpetuates the myth that these are dangerous creatures that should not be tolerated within our living space.

Hey you are preaching to the choir, I used to be one of those irrational individuals...handling or watching someone handle was not in the least bit re-assurring for me, in fact despite my attempt to act normally, it really just increased my anxiety, and I know for a fact I am not alone on this as I have talked to many people with a similar fear of spiders and other animals (like snakes). For me, and many others I know, the best way to ease the fear is through long term observation in a situation deemed "safe" for the fearful one.

whats with people and even wanting to handle spiders? why is it so tempting?? get a different pet if you want to handle so much.

I don't get it either, but people are very different and we see things very differently very often, which is a good thing, because the world would be a boring place if everyone had the same opinions or views on everything.

I don't handle, and will discourage others from doing so, but ultimately its their own choice....a lot of this handling banter is good (even if it may not always seem so) because a lot of people just into the hobby often think that its the way of the hobby and expected...still others will gain the education to realize the amount of things that can go wrong, and therefore make better decisions as to when, where and how they choose to handle.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

or, for that matter, to Chris' insult about sex toys.

Disclaimer (lol):
- speaking for my part only

Oh, c'mon now, man. That was only a joke comparison. If you were offended by that, then accept my apologies, but "Insult" ? No, that wasn't my "goal". Is everything an insult, or viewed like that, in the world of today, btw?

Both of those things i've mentioned (lol) seems to be 'handled' by someone. Just that one/s are appareantly made for that purpose, T's not.

You want to handle your T's? Fine, for me. Seriously. Just like i will continue to say that "handling" (no matter which, no matter how "docile" nor weak venom one) venomous animals (or poisonous creatures/things etc) is a complete stupid thing to do in the first place, for that i grew up, thank God!, in a "world" were those things were a 'Captain Obvious' things to understand, without (unwanted, nasty... name one) 'bad' first hand experiences.

That's all.

 

[Bemottled]

whats with people and even wanting to handle spiders? why is it so tempting?? get a different pet if you want to handle so much.

This!
I got a ball python for handling. She loves being out and about (or snuggled up in my jacket) and I feel much more relaxed handling her.
As for my Ts- I see no reason to handle them and always keep catch cups handy (they're all over my room) so I'm never forced into a situation where I need to handle.