I am almost the proud owner of...

[mariemaria]

A chilean rose for beginers. I ordered it. it's on its a way...in a week.
THing is, i've never touched a t, and im planning on handling it...

I just need to know how it'll feels when it's held... incase i don't freak out ...

will it tickel me? i am very ticklish...;P

and what should i name it?!

 

[kru008]

you should think of tarantulas more like a fish..its mainly for viewing...handling should be kept to a MINIMUM(meaning only if your really really have to)..but to answer the question,it feels like..yeah,id say tickles but not like poking tickles..name?..Rosie is typical for a rosea lol

 

[JColt]

I call mine Spaz because that is what she is.

 

[Jorpion]

Me Too!

I also am a proud owner of my first Tarantula, also a Chilean Rose Hair! So after a year of raising 5 different species of scorps, the Tarantula bug has "bit me" - so to speak.

 

[Tapahtyn]

I had one as a teenager and I held it quite often.(not knowing what the hell I was doing) They are so soft and fuzzy. That's why I love them. I'm WARNING you it's VERY addicting

 

[gvfarns]

Most tarantulas are surprisingly light. They walk really delicately and you hardly feel them. If it gets on your shirt it can get around behind you can you can't even tell where it is.

If they are having a hard time staying on you (or you try to pull them off) they might stick their little foot-hooks in you which can be uncomfortable if you have sensitive skin.

The thing to worry about is your psyche. They don't do much but they either don't move or move in what seems to us to be unpredictable ways. Short bursts of (shocking) speed are not uncommon when they are in their enclosure. Outside, they walk really slowly or hold still.

Before you handle, just decide that you will not fear them, and no matter what happens you won't freak and throw it. It will be totally fine. Once they are out of their enclosure slow, docile terrestrials are really easy to deal with.

If it helps, think of them as little fuzzy animals, not spiders. After a couple of handlings it will be second nature.

 

[gvfarns]

Actually one thing I forgot to mention is the afterwards...

For me it takes a day or so before I notice the itching, but it pretty much always comes. It's between my fingers typically and lasts up to a week. if it's really bad (like I've been re-arranging the enclosure after a molt with my bare hands) I can even get a little rash.

I used to think I'd handle my T's all the time. It turns out I never do any more, simply because it's not as novel as it used to be, and it can be itchy. I always get them out when people come to visit, but that's not much.

But you may handle a lot at the beginning to get the experience and that kind of satisfaction. After that they do become more like fish, that you love to look at and collect.

 

[SCORPIONNOOB]

you should name it Mr.Fangsleworth

 

[Mack&Cass]

You just have to remember that rosea's are unpredictable. I have two females, a mature one and a juvenile one and we only handle the juvie. We actually don't handle the juvie out of choice...when we open her enclosure to do maintenance, she climbs out so one of us ends up holding our hand out so we can get her back in. I used to handle my mature female when she was a juvie but since she matured, there is no way. I can't even change her water without getting a threat display from her. Just make sure you know the warning signs of when they're getting stressed out. Make sure you're close to the ground because a fall can be fatal for a rosea. Also, if you plan on reading the bite reports, don't let them get you paranoid. When the T is on you, it doesn't know it's being handled so it's not going to just bite down for no reason. If it's startled, then chances are likely, but not always. I agree with the others, you may do it a lot at first like I did, but the novelty will wear off eventually. Good luck!

 

[Julia]

A chilean rose for beginers. I ordered it. it's on its a way...in a week.
THing is, i've never touched a t, and im planning on handling it...

I just need to know how it'll feels when it's held... incase i don't freak out ...

will it tickel me? i am very ticklish...;P

and what should i name it?!

My only advice is that you need to prepare for how STICKY their feet feel! It doesn't hurt, but if you have one walk on you, the feet feel very sticky. That was the part that freaked me out the first time. Otherwise, if you "pet" them, they are kinda furry/fuzzy. Have fun!