ok so I did it...

[Crotalus]

I did something I´m against - but I did it in the name of "science". I freehandled a adult female Poecilotheria formosa - to show they are no speeddemons-from-hell-spiders.
And there are no secret behind it like some claims (I heard the most bizarre stories of be "in contact" with the spider...etc)

The rep of pokes are overly exaggreted BUT they do bite if you grab them.

Once again - I dont condone freehandling. I did it to show that they are not quite as "bad" as their rep.

The movie is 6,5 mb
http://hem.spray.se/minax/temp/freehandling.m1v

/Lelle

 

[Jakob]

I totally agree with you...they have a rather bad reputation, but most aren't nearly as bad as described. This video is very good proof of this. I'm hoping a lot of people watch it!

Later,

Jake

 

[vulpina]

Very cool video. I also think their reputation is worse than they actually are.

Andy

 

[Telson]

Personally, I'd never let one within striking range of my bare flesh, but not because I believe their hyped up rep for aggression... Only because I know that should I do something that spooks it, I'm going to be in BIG trouble over the effects of their venom.

I agree that they have an over-hyped rep, but I also think likewise of ANY tarantula with a rep for being aggressive. I don't believe any tarantula or scorpion is capable of the higher brain function it requires to "go on the attack" without direct provocation. As long as their instincts for self preservation (defense or feeding) are not triggered, there is simply no reason to bite. Every bite report I've ever read has been due to the T having its hunting insticts triggered by someone reaching in to the enclosure where the T normally gets a meal out of lunging at movement, or has been due to self defensive behavior, such as someone trying to pick it up by the caripace or similar percieved threat by the T.

 

[Dafne]

Very nice video Although personally, I would never dare to do anything like this... I do not even have any of the pokies in my collection till now.
Anyway, thanks for sharing

 

[Vampire]

ooh, scarey!


Yikes! Cool video! You're my hero!

 

[Crotalus]

Originally posted by Telson

I agree that they have an over-hyped rep, but I also think likewise of ANY tarantula with a rep for being aggressive. I don't believe any tarantula or scorpion is capable of the higher brain function it requires to "go on the attack" without direct provocation. As long as their instincts for self preservation (defense or feeding) are not triggered, there is simply no reason to bite. Every bite report I've ever read has been due to the T having its hunting insticts triggered by someone reaching in to the enclosure where the T normally gets a meal out of lunging at movement, or has been due to self defensive behavior, such as someone trying to pick it up by the caripace or similar percieved threat by the T.

Agree that they dont unprovoced attack you but many says they fear pokes dart out of just as you open the cage. Not my experience at all with pokes. Most of the ones I had have been more prone to hide when I have disturbed them.

/Lelle

 

[dennis]

Re: ooh, scarey!

Originally posted by Joni Pote

Yikes! Cool video! You're my hero!

So you're a hero when you let a T with somewhat more potent venom walk across your arm ... Well, there's nothing heroic about that, it's just about having the balls and self-confidence, and confidence in the spider, to let it walk on you...

Dennis

 

[Immortal_sin]

mine either hide, or if they are hungry, they will actually come to the top of the container, and hang their front legs over the top. THey are waiting for me to drop a roach down for them, and then they will catch it in midair! All except the formosa, who is a complete spaz, and runs around in a panic, then tries to bury himself in the substrate!