King Baboon Handling
- Thread starter mikie
- Start date
- Joined
- Sep 19, 2005
- Messages
- 1,402
That guy is a moron, trying to force a stressed T onto your hand is how they get dropped and injured. Its a good thing he was low to the ground when she took her leap.
- Joined
- Aug 12, 2006
- Messages
- 1,596
Perhaps he's on to something...? Maybe we'll give that a shot at the next LATE meeting? (minus the somersault routine!) 
- Joined
- Aug 12, 2006
- Messages
- 1,596
leap? I didn't see any leap. :?
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2008
- Messages
- 884
although he brings up a valid argument as to what his theory is, there's no way to truly say "ive figured out why they strike" becuz its a mystery to us humans why animals and lower life forms do ANYTHING they do. most of the time we just make assumptions of things and then scientifically figure out if it makes sense. i know what it looks like when my T's feel threatened or may perhaps strike, but i have no idea half the time as to why they do. yes large objects over head do frighten them but to say that they wont mistake our hand for food when its under them is less predictable. finally if i may say... he who says he knows how to not get bit ends up in pain lol.
- Joined
- Apr 11, 2007
- Messages
- 5,438
I don't see anything so bad about the vid. The guy was trying to learn about handling and a T's reactions to it. It was done in as safe a setting as possible (3" off a carpeted floor seems safe to me) and with proper attention and care. I think his theories about how and why a T acts defensively were a little simplified but the T didn't look to be in danger.
The "objects higher than your head" theory probably holds water but IMO that is certainly not the only factor that will trigger defensive behavior.
The "objects higher than your head" theory probably holds water but IMO that is certainly not the only factor that will trigger defensive behavior.
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2003
- Messages
- 741
He's got it all figured out doesn't he?
I wish that I did..... Nice looking T though.
I wish that I did..... Nice looking T though.
- Joined
- Aug 12, 2006
- Messages
- 1,596
Yup to Ethan and Russ. :clap:
No science comes to light without risk to handlers and T's. I agree this was done is as safe a setting as possible. After watching it three times...I still don't see any leap.
No science comes to light without risk to handlers and T's. I agree this was done is as safe a setting as possible. After watching it three times...I still don't see any leap.
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2003
- Messages
- 741
I think it was the somersault at the end of the video. Not a leap but a tumble I guess?
- Joined
- Jan 17, 2009
- Messages
- 433
Right near the end, she walked off the end of his hand and flipped completely upsidedown into his other hand. More of a tumble, but not really a leap.
- Joined
- Aug 12, 2006
- Messages
- 1,596
Yup. I see this 'tumble' every time I feed one of the collective. Most times we call it the spider-rodeo.
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2008
- Messages
- 884
there are other videos of this guy handling...is he a member on the boards or just someone doing it for the love of the game? i like his ideas but as stated its not science its just speculation and theory...which is all most of us rely on so to say his ideas are incorrect would be incorrect in itself...but more studies and tests of this nature SHOULD be done for our own sake of education.
too add my own 2 cents to this, it was a tumble. her big bulky body was in full forward momentum and there wasnt a hand close enuff to walk onto....so end over end she went... had his hand been up flesh with the other she woulda been fine...but she by no means "took a leap". it was a small and meaningless handlers mistake...ive personally done and seen MUCH worse.
too add my own 2 cents to this, it was a tumble. her big bulky body was in full forward momentum and there wasnt a hand close enuff to walk onto....so end over end she went... had his hand been up flesh with the other she woulda been fine...but she by no means "took a leap". it was a small and meaningless handlers mistake...ive personally done and seen MUCH worse.
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2005
- Messages
- 1,187
I think this video is a pretty good demonstration of an amature trying to show off. This video also has a little bit of educational value IMO as well.
Handling was a dumb idea but, it also proved to me that this particular tarantula was exhibiting defensive behavior and not aggression. It simply was just trying to get away and it happened to crawl on the guy's hands in the process and IMO in fear took a jump off of the guys hands.
He was on the ground when doing this so, the tarantula IMO seemed pretty safe. It was stressed out but, not in any physical danger IMO. The "cartwheel" was a result in a poor choice of judgement by the owner but, seemed to not harm the tarantula.
Handling was a dumb idea but, it also proved to me that this particular tarantula was exhibiting defensive behavior and not aggression. It simply was just trying to get away and it happened to crawl on the guy's hands in the process and IMO in fear took a jump off of the guys hands.
He was on the ground when doing this so, the tarantula IMO seemed pretty safe. It was stressed out but, not in any physical danger IMO. The "cartwheel" was a result in a poor choice of judgement by the owner but, seemed to not harm the tarantula.
Only if you're brain dead. Animals are perhaps one of the easiest of life forms to decipher. If an animal eats it needs nourishment. That is the answer. It is that simple. Animals strike when threatened. Animals mistake humans hands with food when humans move their hands around or give the perception of a meal when the animal seeks nourishment. Very, very predictable. Arachnids are probably some of the most predictable animals in the world.TBH
Speculation and theory is part of science. These are not just theories he was speaking, he put these ideas to the test and succeeded!
TBH
Had to comment...there are entire professional journals dedicated to things like Animal Behavior, Insect Behavior, etc. Please don't sell our knowledge of life around us short. Also, just because it isn't human or a cute mammal dosen't make it 'lower'.
Also not true. Conducting good research in animal behavior is particularly difficult, and although we've figured out a lot, we have a LONG way to go. This goes especially for tarantulas, on which not much real work has been done. Sure, they might appear predictable in captivity, but captivity and the wild are two very different places. Just the fact that they can adapt to and breed in a captive lifestyle is pretty amazing. There's still a ton of field work to be done though.
Here's one example. Did you know some frogs co-habitate with tarantulas, even here in North America? These tarantulas are known to eat frogs, but they don't eat these. It's not known why this relationship occurs, though people speculate the frogs eat ants that might otherwise endanger the spider, and of course the tiny frog is well defended from its usual predators thanks to the spider. But that's only speculation, it still needs to be tested. These creatures are not as predictable and easy to decipher as you might think.
As for the video, I think this guy is totally off. Why? Because he's attributing tarantulas perception of the world to mainly visual cues, when it is clearly based off of vibration and chemoreception. Also, "Damn girl, what the hell?", sounds like more research is needed.
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2008
- Messages
- 884
well im glad Dr. doolittle has the answer to the mysteries of arachnids and animals, but i dont buy it. they are VERY complex creatures that we write off as dumb or "less evolved" becuz they dont talk or show emotions. just becuz they are more simple than we are doesnt mean they are easy to figure out. and not to dive into a completely different topic all together whos to say that T's dont exhibit emotions and have thought process...we just dont understand them that well. i feel theres much much more to learn about all of the worlds creatures big and small...and to say they are easily figured out is a bit of a bold statement.
TBH
yes...and so as my statement isn't under minded, what i meant was we need to do more research into this "theory" to make it more than "speculation" and perhaps have some sort of "scientific proof" that this young man is correct.
good work to the guy who made the video...it is alot more complicated than originally said but i say lets figure out if theres something more to this than we see.
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2008
- Messages
- 884
you are right i will say this much. to use the term lower is a bit off but i was stating this in a close minded fashion as we as humans (not all but a lot) generally assume that animals are lower forms of life and that bugs are WAY down on the evo-latter. ive just recently began studying and learning the magnificent things about the animal kingdom and i too and slightly closed mined to the idea that they are highly intelligent and sophisticated creatures...but im just a dumb human who has thrown away most of my primitive skills and abilities for computers and fast food. :wall:
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2008
- Messages
- 364
No I think he really nailed the king baboon's mentality.
The part where he said:
"I guess anything thats higher than them, where their eyes are of course above their carapace, apparently they feel that thats a threat to them."
So literally, he said: If the king baboon can see it, it must be destroyed.
I too have noticed this behavior. Thank you captain obvious.
The part where he said:
"I guess anything thats higher than them, where their eyes are of course above their carapace, apparently they feel that thats a threat to them."
So literally, he said: If the king baboon can see it, it must be destroyed.
I too have noticed this behavior. Thank you captain obvious.
Tarantulas are fairly simple mental capacity animals, not a terrible amount of psychoanalysis to be done in terms of defensiveness.
TBH