If you're thinking about handling your tarantula.. Please, don't.

[SkittleBunny]

Most of the people who come in wanting to handle tarantulas are 100% beginners.. This makes non beginners nervous.. As beginners generally lack the experience and knowledge that comes with the hobby and some of them will end up killing their first T with heat lamps, tall enclosures, or handling accidents. Live and learn. (Thats why Arachnoboards is here! It is a great tool for beginners to learn with!)

Seasoned hobbyists, (2 years or more in the hobby) have normally held a tarantula by then. There are reasons however; and none of them are "because I want to show it off" or "because I want to hold it" unless they are too immature to see that risking injury to the spider is not worth showing it off or feeling like the spider loves you, when in fact you are just a surface to it. (Even I'm guilty of handling a pet shop rosie when I was a beginner..even though nothing went wrong 100 things could have)

Examples are; having to briefly have the t on your hand if it comes over the edge of the enclosure during maintainance, and this is only if you were unable to simply block it from crawling out, which happens to the best of us. (for those kinds of Ts that just always know when the lid is up..) Or having to handle spiderlings during shipping/receiving (for breeders with 100s of slings where it just happens occasionally)

Otherwise there really arent any reasons why you should handle them; even though sometimes we'll have to, providing the situation calls for it. There are many ways to avoid handling your T; cups are great for this as you can place a T in a cup without touching it with your skin at all.

There are safe ways of handling, but the risks outweigh the reward and the information is there to make an informed choice on wether or not to handle your T (which honestly isn't that great..its just a spider, handling will not earn you bragging rights here.)

Bottom line: if you love your spider, dont handle it. It could run away, be dropped, jump off of you, get smacked off of you by an unsuspecting stranger..or even run up your arm and down your back where you cant see it which increases the risk of injury to both you and your beloved spider.

Knowing the risks, it honestly just isn't worth it! Right?

Have a blessed day everyone! I hope this is informative to beginners or those thinking about handling their tarantulas.

 

[starnaito]

I agree 100%. Although I'm totally guilty of pet store handling before I got my first T. The staff seemed to think that when I said I was interested in the tarantula, that meant I wanted to hold it!

I have (by need) handled one of my versicolors that tried to make an escape, and on several occasions, handled my Euathlus sp. red (guess this is Homoeomma chilensis now?) because she just can't seem to stay in when the lid's open. That said, it was only briefly in order to coax them back in.

After having been indirectly haired by my B. albiceps (it was through touching things in his habitat), I would offer additional advice for beginners: don't underestimate those urticating hairs! Especially if you're sensitive, they can make you very itchy and uncomfortable for days.

 

[Starocean112]

Hey there, great post to read for a newbie like me. Quite a coincidence too as I was just signing up for this forum.

Read a lot of stuff concerning "not handling your T's" on this forum and youtube, guess I can be sure now on what to do when I actually get a T myself. Funny though, the guys at my local expo kinda told me that some docile species can be fun and handleable . I was thinking to myself all the while "what if I want it just to be a display pet". Glad to see that I wont be missing out much If I dont ever handle my T(unless needed to as you mentioned)

 

[SonsofArachne]

having to briefly have the t on your hand if it comes over the edge of the enclosure during maintainance, and this is only if you were unable to simply block it from crawling out, which happens to the best of us. (for those kinds of Ts that just always know when the lid is up..)

This happened to me with my Nhandu chromatus, the only time I've handled a non-sling.

I have also heard of people handling because of peer pressure, especially with younger keepers. A friend teases the keeper that they're afraid, or just wants see the the T being handled. I would explain to the friend the dangers of handling, and maybe (depending on the temperament of the T) placing your hand the T's enclosure. That should shut up anyone who thinks you're afraid.

 

[fleetwoodmcc]

Funny though, the guys at my local expo kinda told me that some docile species can be fun and handleable

Yeah, they really want to sell you a spider, they'll put it over as a fun pet you can snuggle with if that's what'll get you to buy it. Stuff like this drives me nuts. Keep spiders in their enclosures.

 

[Starocean112]

Yeah, I figured thats the case. The only good thing that came out of that was I got to at least feel the Ts on my hand. Still isnt enough to rid my full phobia but at least I know that am not too afraid of them. Maybe its not really a phobia but fear of the unknown?

I do find them to be cool and part of the reason that am trying to get into this hobby is to try something new in my life without it being too demanding. Kinda on the fence still between having Ts or some sort of gecko/lizards in regard of care/supervision .

 

[SonsofArachne]

Kinda on the fence still between having Ts or some sort of gecko/lizards in regard of care/supervision .

If amount of care is a concern, T's are much easier to care for than lizards, speaking from experience with both.

 

[Potatatas]

Bottom line: if you love your spider, dont handle it. It could run away, be dropped, jump off of you, get smacked off of you by an unsuspecting stranger..or even run up your arm and down your back where you cant see it which increases the risk of injury to both you and your beloved spider.

So are you telling me that it's actually a bad idea to put my T on my face? I mean, c'mon. Where's your common sense?!

I have also heard of people handling because of peer pressure, especially with younger keepers. A friend teases the keeper that they're afraid, or just wants see the the T being handled. I would explain to the friend the dangers of handling, and maybe (depending on the temperament of the T) placing your hand the T's enclosure. That should shut up anyone who thinks you're afraid.

My girlfriend was like this. She was in a mood with me because I bought a T without telling her so jumped at the chance to say I was scared of it the first few days of having it. I did talk to her about getting a T a lot and she was happy about it so I got one as a surprise. While doing maintainance she'd say "just put your hand in" which i would reply with a polite "f*** off". She wanted to put her hand in to prove a point and would of if I had let her. I doubt anything bad would have happened but still didn't know the temperament at the time. Still don't put my hand in now even though he is pretty chill

 

[Starocean112]

If amount of care is a concern, T's are much easier to care for than lizards, speaking from experience with both.

Haha, as you can tell I was already veering towards having a T anyway(hence signing up for the forum). Thanks for the affirmation though.

Can definitely agree on that a reptile would probably require a more detailed setup/care having had one myself years ago. Anyways, apologies if I derailed this thread somehow.

 

[SonsofArachne]

I doubt anything bad would have happened but still didn't know the temperament at the time. Still don't put my hand in now even though he is pretty chill

Out of all my adult/sub-adult T's (I have a lot) there are about 10 where I feel reasonably sure nothing would happen, about 6 - 10 more that I'm pretty sure nothing would happen, and the rest (including all my OW's) where I wouldn't risk it.
Obviously if I felt the need to prove I wasn't afraid I would pick one of the first 10, and I would narrow than down to one of a few that I have actually put my hand in their cages (sometimes tongs are just too clumsy, at least with T's you trust)

In any case putting your hand in the cage is preferable to handling. Or you could just tell the person to 'censored' off.

 

[The Grym Reaper]

the guys at my local expo kinda told me that some docile species can be fun and handleable

"Buy a Brachypelma hamorii" They said...
"They're docile and pettable" They said...

Update: Still Evil.

• The Grym Reaper
• Aug 10, 2018
• 2
• brachypelma brachypelma hamorii brachypelma smithi hamorii mexican redknee tarantula threat threat pose threat posture

Answering the important questions.

My B. hamorii is still defective.

• The Grym Reaper
• Jul 23, 2017
• 8
• brachypelma brachypelma hamorii brachypelma smithi hamorii mexican redknee tarantula threat threat pose threat posture

She still thinks she's a P. cancerides.

 

[SonsofArachne]

"Buy a Brachypelma hamorii" They said...
"They're docile and pettable" They said...

Update: Still Evil.

• The Grym Reaper
• Aug 10, 2018
• 2
• brachypelma brachypelma hamorii brachypelma smithi hamorii mexican redknee tarantula threat threat pose threat posture

Answering the important questions.

My B. hamorii is still defective.

• The Grym Reaper
• Jul 23, 2017
• 8
• brachypelma brachypelma hamorii brachypelma smithi hamorii mexican redknee tarantula threat threat pose threat posture

She still thinks she's a P. cancerides.

LOL, my OW's aren't that defensive, that hamorii has some issues!

 

[The Grym Reaper]

LOL, my OW's aren't that defensive, that hamorii has some issues!

The only tarantulas I have that are nastier than her are all Asians

 

[viper69]

Seasoned hobbyists, (2 years or more in the hobby)

2 yrs-- NOT seasoned at all. I wouldn't call a student fresh from medical school a "seasoned" surgeon, would you?

Good post otherwise.

 

[MetalMan2004]

2 yrs-- NOT seasoned at all. I wouldn't call a student fresh from medical school a "seasoned" surgeon, would you?

Good post otherwise.

This isn’t surgery either... Either they’re arboreal, terrestrial or fossorial. They’re either arid or humid loving. You have to either watch for their urticaria game hairs or their lightning fast bite or flight. I love keeping tarantulas, but it isn’t that complicated.

 

[viper69]

This isn’t surgery either... Either they’re arboreal, terrestrial or fossorial. They’re either arid or humid loving. You have to either watch for their urticaria game hairs or their lightning fast bite or flight. I love keeping tarantulas, but it isn’t that complicated.

What's your point? 2 yrs isn't seasoned in my opinion, whether you're a surgeon, fire fighter, chef, garbage man or a teacher...you disagree? That's fine too.

 

[MetalMan2004]

What's your point? 2 yrs isn't seasoned in my opinion, whether you're a surgeon, fire fighter, chef, garbage man or a teacher...you disagree? That's fine too.

My point is that some things take longer to learn than others, and surgery is complicated and takes lots of time to learn. Keeping tarantulas is not that complicated.

 

[viper69]

My point is that some things take longer to learn than others, and surgery is complicated and takes lots of time to learn. Keeping tarantulas is not that complicated.

Agreed... 2 yrs NOT seasoned

 

[antinous]

my reply didn't make much sense-delete