Handling my rose hair for the first time

[Siska]

Hey guys. I'm kind of skeptical if I should handle my rosehair, Larry. He seems rather hostile, and I don't want to get bit and hurt him in the process. I saw on YouTube and such to first gently touch the hair on his side legs, then touch the hair on the back of his legs to make him move forward onto your flat hand. Here's what I'm curious about. The other day, I used the eraser-end of the pencil to very gently touch his legs, and he was very hostile over it. He put his front end up and reacted with lightning speed. I'm hesitant to try the above method because of this. When I first bought him, I touched his back legs and he/she was fine with it, it just moved forward. How shall I go about doing this? I'm sorry if this has been explained before.

Thanks guys,
siska

 

[SpiderNurse]

Before I say anything as far as handling goes...Choosing not to handle your Ts is always an option, and no one here will look down on you for it.

That being said, the eraser end of a pencil is good, I personally use a small paintbrush. If it attacks or acts hostile in any way, stop. If it calmly walks forward, proceed. Pretty simple Once you're handling it, just remember to keep it low to the ground.

 

[Shell]

If you gently touch him witha paintbrush or something similar and he reacts the way you described, then I would advise against holding him.

G. rosea are notorious for mood swings from docile to defensive.

Tarantulas do not need to be handled, they can't be tamed and they get nothing from it. I'm not saying don't handle him, just that the only one getting anything out of it would be you. If you really want to handle, and he seems to be in a tolerant mood (ie. not attacking the paintbrush, giving threat displays, kicking hairs etc) then sit on the ground and keep him low to the ground...always keep him low to the ground.

With the behavior you described above though, I would advise against handling when he is like that. I'm not big on handling myself, but I'm not going to give you a hard time if you do it safely.

Edit* SpiderNurse beat me to it, that's what I get for typing slowly.

 

[Siska]

Thank you two! Much appreciated, and I got the advice I was seeking. I really just want to do it once, it seems silly to me to own a pet I can't pick up just once. Thanks!

 

[Anonymity82]

It's up to you to handle yours. I handled mine the first day I brought her home, (I now know that you shouldn't do this, but I didn't know much about T's when I first got him). I'm not telling you this is what you should do but this is my experience. If I use something to prod her with, she gets really upset and turns around and throws up threat displays. If I use my hands I get a completely calmer response. I haven't had her throw up threat displays to my hands yet. I'm not really going to be handling too much anymore anyway. The excitement of handling has worn off, but I still love observing her through her tank.

IF, you're going to handle her, whatever you do, keep her low to the ground over carpet in case something happens and she falls or runs off your hand her abdomen wont get damaged. If she throws up a threat display while you're handling her, don't get scared. Just give her a couple of minutes and if possible try to get her back in to her enclosure.

Most importantly: DON'T LET HER SMELL YOUR FEAR!!;P

 

[bchbum11]

Everything that was said above ^^ The only thing I'd like to add is that it seems like you just brought your spider home recently. Let it settle in a bit before even attempting to handle. Some of the aggression you've noted could have to do with the fact that it's stressed over being recently rehoused. Was it sold to you as a male? If you got it at Petco, etc,... it is likely a female. Post some pics

 

[Jquack530]

Everyone pretty much covered everything, but I would just like to add that if you catch your tarantula in a tolerant mood and are able to handle it that maybe it might be a good addition to the other advice given about staying low to the ground and all that...to handle it over an old pillow you no longer use just in case. That's what I do. Typically I don't handle mine though.

 

[Fireleg]

Whoa same with my fireleg... but I can seem to handle her after it feeds..

 

[Chris_Skeleton]

Thank you two! Much appreciated, and I got the advice I was seeking. I really just want to do it once, it seems silly to me to own a pet I can't pick up just once. Thanks!

Do you have fish?

 

[Siska]

Do you have fish?

Haha, very funny...haha

Thanks for the responses everyone! And I actually bought Larry from a small owned pet store called Animal Krackers here in Chicago. I'm hoping it's a female just so it lives longer..

 

[Anonymity82]

Whoa same with my fireleg... but I can seem to handle her after it feeds..

My G. rosea seems to be edgier after she feeds. Weird.

---------- Post added 01-31-2012 at 04:08 PM ----------

OH! Wash your hands afterwards. Wouldn't want to accidentally get those bristles into your eyes.

 

[High_Rolling_T]

Another thing that hasn't been mentioned is that tarantulas are generally much less defensive when out of their homes. It might help to catch it in a cup first and set it to the side for 15 minutes or so. When in an unfamiliar area, it will be more likely to explore its surroundings than feel the need to protect itself.

 

[Siska]

Another thing that hasn't been mentioned is that tarantulas are generally much less defensive when out of their homes. It might help to catch it in a cup first and set it to the side for 15 minutes or so. When in an unfamiliar area, it will be more likely to explore its surroundings than feel the need to protect itself.

Hmm, I never thought if it that way...good comment! Thanks again to everyone - it was all much appreciated. This forum is awesome!

 

[jbuburuz]

I agree with High rolling T. I would suggest cup T, move him away from his enclosure.

I hand le all my T's. For the aggressive ones, I move them away from there enlcosure first. They are far less defensive if they do not know there surounding.

One suggestion for poking your T. I use a stiff paper towel. I know people use brushes, sticks, but I am always afraid of applying to much preasure with a stick or brush. I find paper towel is stiff enough to let your T know you are not food. You can gently cover your T from a safe distance at first. Using paper towel is similar to cuping a T with your hand. But the difference is if your T was to turn and get defensive, he/she will simply bite the towel. This way you and your T do not get hurt. Most of the time your T will curl up into ball once they realize you are bigger. You can even use the paper towel to heard your T into a plastic cup.

I would ALWAYS suggest handling your T on the ground! Always! Never standing up!

Hope this helps.

 

[Siska]

Thanks jbuburuz! That was helpful, I'll give that a try!

and before I read that...I was changing the water in Larry's tank yesterday and while I was away he moved into the waterbowl spot slightly (a leg or two). I stupidly used my finger to nudge his back legs and thankfully I have quick reflexes and just barely pulled my finger away before he pounced. It was pretty intense, haha. I'll try taking him out in a cup first, and I'll probably put a pillow in the bathtub or something so if he does fall he won't get hurt, and so he's contained in SOMETHING so he doesn't scurry away under my bed...that...would be very bad. haha

 

[InvertFix]

Another thing that hasn't been mentioned is that tarantulas are generally much less defensive when out of their homes. It might help to catch it in a cup first and set it to the side for 15 minutes or so. When in an unfamiliar area, it will be more likely to explore its surroundings than feel the need to protect itself.

That's a pretty interesting point. I never thought about that before. Though it could be defensive out of it's home because of the new unfamiliar surroundings.

But to support your claim, my G. pulchripes gal is very defensive when in her home. Anything that comes in she attacks and fangs the tongs, pain brush, plastic bar or anything really. Last night she actually managed to pull the tongs out of my hand and began fanging it trying to sink them in. O.O

She makes me nervous sometimes. haha

 

[High_Rolling_T]

That's a pretty interesting point. I never thought about that before. Though it could be defensive out of it's home because of the new unfamiliar surroundings.

One would think so, but I've always noticed the majority are more apt to roam. Of course there will be those that maintain their defensiveness, also keeping in mind the species at hand, but in my experience, a T out of it's environment would rather wander when undisturbed and bolt when startled.

Your G. pulchripes sounds like a ball of joy! Haha