Handling tarantulas

[Dry Desert]

Yeah I totally agree. I was exaggerating and totally didn't mean to offend. I have gotten to really love the hobby considering everything that goes along with it. Maybe I expected rude comments so when someone had a slight edge to it I got defensive. And I would feel a huge amount of guilt if I were to have dropped one or it died in my care. Although I can't see inside its head I assume it feels pain resembling what we feel. Regardless, it was insensitive for me to say that.


All I talk about with my anyone who will listen is these spiders lol. I have taken lots of care to make sure the enclosure will be perfect. Just guess I was defensive

Old Chinese proverb - Confushus him say " If you don't like the answers, don't ask the question "

 

[Frogdaddy]

Speak for yourself! I earned this medal!

Only till the sanctions committee finds out your tarantulas have been doping.

 

[hestoncv]

Old Chinese proverb - Confushus him say " If you don't like the answers, don't ask the question "

The answers we great, the attitudes were as expected. Me still stupid

 

[KeGathings17]

I'm assuming you haven't been reading. I said loads and loads of times that I totally agree with everything stated, I appreciate the information, I just didn't agree with the emotion behind it if someone did decide to handle it. I for one don't want to take the risk, but I also did not plan on holding it because I could not imagine being bitten, would hugely gross me out. Do you just want to argue? I'm going to assume you didn't feel like reading the replies, which is understandable.

Then you simply do not care about tarantulas like the rest of us do.

Noo. Warning them is totally okay and should be encouraged. But as long as its known that they can still be a part of the community and the hobby regardless as long as the proper measures are taken then thats cool. But saying that all people that handle are selfish and stupid is rude in my opinion and some people really enjoy that part. Like I said though, looking at the obvious risks I don't care to hold them. I was curious and then defensive from the verbiage used

The truth hurts. Ignorance prevails, and people here are sick of stupid children with dead animals asking "What happened to my T??" As far as I am concerned only people who absolutely love these animals should keep them, and everyone else should just stick to dogs, and I don't much care about whether you think I am gatekeeping or not. This hobby is not for stupid people, end of story.

 

[hestoncv]

Then you simply do not care about tarantulas like the rest of us do.

Okay buddy. Go snuggle your tarantula. I'll watch mine and learn about them and be super interested, but it's not a kid. Leave it alone

 

[Almadabes]

Okay buddy. Go snuggle your tarantula. I'll watch mine and learn about them and be super interested, but it's not a kid. Leave it alone

Again you're making the argument of "you care too much, its not like x, y, or z."
And again - that doesn't fly here.

This is a website specifically made for people to discuss inverts - so yeah people here care very deeply about their tarantulas.
I don't understand why that's problematic for you. I don't understand why you need to keep downplaying their importance to us.

Just stop.

There are plenty of posts here with new keepers - even just today I've seen

- someone randomly received a tarantula and has never kept one.
- Someone just started, got 5, and plans to let his daughters keep them in their rooms.

No gatekeeping from the boards - just solid advice.

the "gatekeeping" happens when dumb people say and do dumb things despite being told its dumb.

 

[hestoncv]

Again you're making the argument of "you care too much, its not like x, y, or z."
And again - that doesn't fly here.

This is a website specifically made for people to discuss inverts - so yeah people here care very deeply about their tarantulas.
I don't understand why that's problematic for you. I don't understand why you need to keep downplaying their importance to us.

Just stop.

I've explained myself plenty. Want to know what I think re read. Quit badgering me over questions the gods of spiders as to whether you should hold it or not

 

[Almadabes]

Quit badgering me over questions the gods of spiders as to whether you should hold it or not

If you didn't want people to tell you whether or not to hold, then again - why did you ask us, my dude???

I'm not re-reading what you said - I've lost enough brain cells already. You haven't explained yourself because you retract everything you say.

- Holding isn't that bad
- Well I'm not gonna hold

- spiders are like laptops
- well I didn't mean that, I love spiders

- Everyones being a gatekeeper
- oh, you're right, they did give me good answers, I just interpreted it wrong.

- What's your opinion on holding?
- stop "badgering" me on the topic of holding.

You can't even keep an opinion - and you want to keep tarantulas.
I hope you find a decent home for them to go to once you're bored.

 

[hestoncv]

If you didn't want people to tell you whether or not to hold, then again - why did you ask us, my dude???

I'm not re-reading what you said - I've lost enough brain cells already. You haven't explained yourself because you retract everything you say.

- Holding isn't that bad
- Well I'm not gonna hold

- spiders are like laptops
- well I didn't mean that, I love spiders

- Everyones being a gatekeeper
- oh, you're right, they did give me good answers, I just interpreted it wrong.

- What's your opinion on holding?
- stop "badgering" me on the topic of holding.

You can't even keep an opinion - and you want to keep tarantulas.
I hope you find a decent home for them to go to once you're bored.

Holding isn't that bad, but I don't have an interest in holding. If I did have an interest i would.
Spiders are pure instinct and don't need love and kisses, but they are amazingly fascinating and I love the idea of replicating their environment
They gave me great advice and answered all my questions. But their advice had some annoyance and rudeness to it, understandably. But I got defensive because I felt the rudness was directed towards me and it was about 10 different people.
I wanted to know their opinion. But telling me over and over that I actually plan on holding, I shouldn't be in the hobby, I am dumb, or whatever else was said is badgering. That isn't giving me a kind opinion.
I hope this answers all the points. I'm not stupid, nor am I wreckless and willing to hurt my spider. But I'm also not blind to the fact that it is just a spider, and if Billy Bob online wants to hold it and he knows the risk then he's just as valid in the hobby as I am. Thats all. Your opinion is valid and appreciated and no hard feelings

 

[Almadabes]

Thank you - I have a good understanding of what you believe now. And yes I do respect your right to that opinion.
Yes - At the end of the day, people do what they want and it doesn't impact me directly.
I'm not saying someone shouldn't be in the hobby if they want to hold their tarantula as safely as they can.

What I cannot see eye to eye with you is "its just a spider".
Yes, it is a pretty simple organism with a lack of cognitive skills.
Yes, all animals have their place in the grand scheme of things.

But as history and science have shown, humans should not be the ones deciding what organisms are more important, what organisms we should feel upset about destroying - which ones are "just a bug".

 

[hestoncv]

Thank you - I have a good understanding of what you believe now. And yes I do respect your right to that opinion.
Yes - At the end of the day, people do what they want and it doesn't impact me directly.
I'm not saying someone shouldn't be in the hobby if they want to hold their tarantula as safely as they can.

What I cannot see eye to eye with you is "its just a spider".
Yes, it is a pretty simple organism with a lack of cognitive skills.
Yes, all animals have their place in the grand scheme of things.

But as history and science have shown, humans should not be the ones deciding what organisms are more important, what organisms we should feel upset about destroying - which ones are "just a bug".

I guess that makes sense. But there are ethical differences, like testing on mice

 

[Robert Marley]

You could make the same argument about petting a goldfish. I’m sure you could take it out of the tank and pet it for a second put it back in and it would be fine. I’m sure if you kept doing it every other day, eventually something will go wrong. Goldfish aren’t venomous though. There’s no goldfish with medically significant venom. I have no intention to hold my tarantulas intentionally. They’re all four slings and I’m pretty new. However Listening to and watching videos by Tom’s big spiders has taught me a lot. I think that the non-handling logic is bulletproof. There’s just no sound logic that holding these animals is a benefit to anyone. There’s hairs you don’t want on you, fangs you don’t want in you. There’s much risk to the animal and yourself. It’s bulletproof logic, that you can disregard (your choice) but it doesn’t prove anything. It’s probably best for the hobby, if you enjoy keeping those crazy ones I’m not ready for yet. That you don’t promote or handle tarantulas. I think that’s probably why people come off as elitist (they’re not) but they could see someone messing up the hobby by encouraging kids or newbies like me to handle. I’ve handled my sling by accident, because it got scared of prey and ran on my hand.

 

[viper69]

I have an idea for a friendly discussion. Obviously the majority of people are against handling tarantulas. As for me I don't plan on handling my tarantula at all when I get it, just doesn't appeal to me. As for the people who actually want to, what is the harm in it as long as precautions are taken where it can't fall? I'm assuming the tarantula knows what its comfortable with more than the owner, if the tarantula didn't like it or if it hurt it in any way I assume it would flee/bite/kick hairs. I currently don't have an opinion on the subject, just want some feedback both ways and start a discussion about it. To me it seems like the situation with water bowls for slings, 10 years ago it was a big no no, now its recommended. Also, proof it harms them other than falls? Ive seen threads where people say they handle them and they look totally healthy. Thanks for the replies!

Peeps lose their Ts too due to handling, even if no fall occurs.

When crap happens only the T suffers not the human animals!

 

[spideyspinneret78]

I just try to think about what's best for the animal. Tarantulas view us as predators, so handling is stressful for them. When being disturbed and grabbed by a potential predator, they will then try to escape or defend themselves with their venom and/ or urticating hairs. I personally want my animals to experience as little stress as possible, so that they will be healthier overall. So I don't do it unless I must. It's a risk-benefit scenario, and in this case there's potential risk with very few benefits.

 

[Almadabes]

I guess that makes sense. But there are ethical differences, like testing on mice

Life should be respected, period.

There are necessary evils in this world, yes.
But we have guidelines to define what is the "ethical" way of doing things in regards to scientific study.

These guidelines often include minimizing and alleviating the discomfort of the animal wherever possible, providing them with appropriate housing, and maintaining their necessary nutritional needs.

This is all in the practice of respecting life.

 

[hestoncv]

Life should be respected, period.

There are necessary evils in this world, yes.
But we have guidelines to define what is the "ethical" way of doing things in regards to scientific study.

These guidelines often include minimizing and alleviating the discomfort of the animal wherever possible, providing them with appropriate housing, and maintaining their necessary nutritional needs.

This is all in the practice of respecting life.

I agree. I think you should respect the spider, but its still your pet and I don't think its wrong ethically to hold them as long as you are doing everything you can. That's just my opinion. Thanks for the time