People that handle their hot T's

[TomM]

But your story's changing a little - so now you do handle them. But with a "pinch grab" ?!?!?

I suggest that you use the "cupping" method when you rehouse. No danger to the T and no danger to you.

I have never changed my story. I have never handled a "hot" tarantula. If you've actually read my comment I only stated that when I am unable to safely coax my tarantula into the cup*, I will carefully use my fingers to lift my A. hentzi (the absolute opposite of a "hot") and transfer it to it's new contanier during rehousing. And as everyone knows, it takes a long time for an A. hentzi to outgrow its enclosure, so I have only had to do this 2 times in 2 years. If you have never heard of a "pinch grab" then you haven't watched many handling videos on YouTube that you claim to love so much. I have nothing against a responsible person, very carefully handling a "safer" (more docile NW species) tarantula from a safe height off the floor. If you read my first comment, the very last sentence reads: "There is no positive side to handling "hot" pets. (Again, just my opinion.)" I am refer to "hot" pets. I also never claim that its bad to handle any tarantula, I am just stating that the tarantula gets nothing from the interaction and only harm can happen.

*Refering to your cupping method: This is the exact method that I use. I completely agree with you that it is best method (at least for me that is). I do also state: "I don't handle them, unless I need to (i.e. - rehousing my A. hentzi, when a paintbrush or forceps don't move it, I'll do a pinch grab to carefully move it to the new home." I only use a careful, and I mean careful, pinch grab only if the careful prodding from a paintbrush doesn't motivate her to move.

I don't want to offend you or anything, but don't put words in my mouth. Actually read the comments before quoting them, if you had done this you would also have seen that it is only my opinion, nothing more.

 

[ZergFront]

And Fran think tebs need Hulk smash!

--Dan

You read my mind. Probably thought that after the confusion of seeing obese and body building in the same sentence.

Whatever floats people's boat. I just wouldn't want to see tarantula bites being put on television. Organizations are just looking for reasons to ban exotics.

---------- Post added at 06:09 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:55 PM ----------

Where is the "Nature Boy" when you need him!

Yeah, where is that crazy SOB anyway? He finally find a lady to stick to?

 

[Fran]

Aaaaaaaay .....(Macarena)

 

[King Leonidas]

You read my mind. Probably thought that after the confusion of seeing obese and body building in the same sentence.

Whatever floats people's boat. I just wouldn't want to see tarantula bites being put on television. Organizations are just looking for reasons to ban exotics.

---------- Post added at 06:09 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:55 PM ----------



Yeah, where is that crazy SOB anyway? He finally find a lady to stick to?

I never thought I'd see the day when Nature Boy settles down.
But then again, anything's possible!

 

[TomM]

You are right that lifting weights and playing sports gets you in shape, but there are other much less dangerous ways to get in shape. Just like there may be other ways to get enjoyment out of life besides handling tarantulas, but people tend to the things that give them the most enjoyment.

Yes, I will agree that those that handle tarantulas just to show how brave they are should not be doing it. But, for those of us that enjoy doing it regardless if there is anyone watching or not, leave us alone as we are not hurting you.

Art

To the first part: I completely agree. All I'm saying is, if we are using the sports analogy, holding a G. pulchra (a typically docile NW for example) would be like batting in baseball with a helmet while handling an S. cal would be more like batting without the helmet. Both ways you are playing baseball, and hopefully getting enjoyment from it, and there is still a chance of being injured in both situations, but playing without the helmet gives opportunity to more severe injury. Not saying that it will happen, only that the possibility is there.

To the second part: I also agree with this. What you do in the privacy of your own home is your business, and only yours. It's the people who broadcast their lack of knowledge and "ePenis" over the internet by making handling videos of the more potent and potentially harmful (but obviously not deadly) species, in an unsafe manner.

Let me state this again so "killy" can read this before commenting:
This is merely my personal opinion. If you do not agree, I'm not surprised, you're not me. You are entitled to your own opinion, but if you want to comment on my opinion, make sure you've actually read what I have written, and not what you think I have written.

I never thought I'd have to post that disclaimer, but apparently I do.

 

[micheldied]

And what if you do display, in your video, that you are handling a more "potent" species safely(in regards to the T)?

 

[TomM]

And what if you do display, in your video, that you are handling a more "potent" species safely(in regards to the T)?

That would be the best option if you "had" to hold it. If the person explains how they are holding it, and why they do it like that, then that would hopefully make more "safe" handling videos. I'm still not for it (especially "hots"), since the interaction gives nothing back to the tarantula and can still put it it harm's way (if you were to be bitten, not everyone will remain calm, there's still a possibility of a tarantula being flung across the room). Again, to restate my opinion, it's not "bad" to handle your tarantulas, it just creates more possibilities for disaster or injury. (key word = possibilities) That's why I choose not to unless it's needed.

 

[micheldied]

That would be the best option if you "had" to hold it. If the person explains how they are holding it, and why they do it like that, then that would hopefully make more "safe" handling videos. I'm still not for it (especially "hots"), since the interaction gives nothing back to the tarantula and can still put it it harm's way (if you were to be bitten, not everyone will remain calm, there's still a possibility of a tarantula being flung across the room). Again, to restate my opinion, it's not "bad" to handle your tarantulas, it just creates more possibilities for disaster or injury. (key word = possibilities) That's why I choose not to unless it's needed.

I wholeheartedly agree, thank you.

 

[TomM]

I wholeheartedly agree, thank you.

You're quite welcome, good sir!

 

[phoenixxavierre]

Phoenixavierre:

You are the one manipulating here. When did I say that YOU did WHAT?

You are welcome to your opinion. You are suggesting that my handling of t's, and others handling their t's, is dangerous, stupid, etc., etc. There are risks in just about everything in life. Treating people like they're stupid for handling their tarantulas is detrimental to the hobby. Why not just say that YOU would feel stupid if you handled your t and got bit, and that is why youdon't handle? Why resort to saying that people who do so are being risky or stupid?

The only thing im saying is that some of us consider those actions like very stupid and unnecessary risks. Besides that, if you play soccer with your spiders, I couldnt care less.

Hmm, playing soccer with my t would seem far more dangerous to the t than would handling it.

And you know me? hahaha

Better than you realize.

And sorry but... Maybe here getting drunk is as risky as handling a "hot" animal... I mean :? When I did have some drinks with my friends, we all have a great time as funny and goofy as we could be. Nobody ever went balistic on someone , or jump into a car to drive home. Its quite a diff culture.

And that is why there are so many alcohol related deaths and injuries?

Wait...hahaha to keep what real? Listen, lets do this openly. Since you know me so well, and you know about steroids,lets " keep it real" and bet a few grand. Pay for a reliable lab work, ill take the tests and we will put the results in the open. Hows that? Lets pm about it.

Must be nice to HAVE a few grand to bet. Besides, we both know that there are steroids which take only a few days to get out of one's system. It's comparable to a crack/cocaine/methamphetamine/pill addict saying something similar.

---------- Post added at 11:26 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:19 AM ----------

Londonlegs and Killy, very well put, you said the things I didn't, but feel the same way.

---------- Post added at 11:29 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:26 AM ----------

The only thing that you can get from handling a tarantula is either a bite or an injured (or dead) tarantula. Even if you've handled it "properly" and got it back into its enclosure, what does it get from it? It isn't socialized; it didn't learn your "smell"; why risk being envenomated or dropping your tarantula?

Sorry, but this is simply NOT TRUE, and obviously so.

On top of that tarantulas have been scientifically proven to recognize chemical signatures (the "smell" of an individuals hand has a chemical signature). Not to mention there are theories on the ability of tarantulas to detect sound waves with their hairs, amongst other things.

---------- Post added at 11:44 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:29 AM ----------

+1

And I'dd add that prolly 80% of the times people handling T's does it just to impress others or even worse to film it and get it on the net.. I pity them if they need to do something like this to boost their self-esteem / e-penis

What the heck is this nonsense? Tarantulas are incredible creatures, for the most part docile, and of which we know very little in comparison to what we do know. You are making sweeping generalizations about individuals in the hobby, causing division and shaming and condemning those who choose to handle their tarantulas. Can't you see the harm such an attitude brings to individuals and to the hobby?

I suppose since fish aren't cuddly and fuzzy, and dislike being held, that it is "stupid" to stick your hand in their tank and allow them to nibble at your fingers! Animals of all species are incredible creatures capable of adaptation to their environment, including being handled. Heck, most of the tarantulas we have that are captive bred, from captive bred parents, etc., on back down the line, may even have genetic predispositions toward handling. Who knows?

When one moves the tarantulas container around, one is handling as well. And what about shipping? How cruel is that?? Shipping jars a tarantula around far more than any handling ever would.

I mean, come on, is this about the tarantula? or about the hobbyist? And if both, then why are people getting all bent out of shape about handling what has been handled by humans for thousands of years? These aren't alien creatures that have suddenly appeared on the planet 50 years ago. People have been interacting with tarantulas for literally thousands of years. The study of tarantula behavior prior to the technology and science of our modern age has been emulated into various folklore throughout their range.

They are small, we are capable of handling them, so why blacklist those who choose to do it? Those who do it know the risk involved, so since when did taking a risk violate the law? That's how it's being made to sound like here, as if these poor tarantulas were being molested! Everyone is, of course, entitled to their opinions. But keep it up on the negativity toward handling and the next thing you know we'll have some ridiculous legislation being written outlawing our "dangerous" and "risky" hobby!

 

[Fran]

Must be nice to HAVE a few grand to bet. Besides, we both know that there are steroids which take only a few days to get out of one's system. It's comparable to a crack/cocaine/methamphetamine/pill addict saying something similar.

Ok now its official. You have NO IDEA whatsoever of what and how anabolic steroids work.
Next time watch out with certain acusations, specially if you truly dont know anything about it.

 

[TomM]

Sorry, but this is simply NOT TRUE, and obviously so.

On top of that tarantulas have been scientifically proven to recognize chemical signatures (the "smell" of an individuals hand has a chemical signature). Not to mention there are theories on the ability of tarantulas to detect sound waves with their hairs, amongst other things.

If you wash your hands extremely thorough, with the same kind of soap, every time you hold your tarantula, then you'll have the same chemical signature. If you are handling other tarantulas, roaches, or even everyday objects like your toothbrush or the t.v. remote, you're chemical signature will not be the same. I completely agree with you that tarantulas are able to "recognize" your chemical signature with their chemoreceptors, but will your chemical signature be the same every time? No, and obviously so.

As for the sound waves theory, I have no idea what you are trying to prove. That sort of came out of left field.

I'm not sure why you think you have to be right about everything. I can see that you have plenty of free time to pick apart every comment that does not match your own opinion, though, so I wish you the best of luck in your future pessimistic contributions.

 

[Chris_Skeleton]

Wow... How much more ignorant can you get than assuming someone who bodybuilds is automatically on steroids? :wall:

 

[TomM]

Wow... How much more ignorant can you get than assuming someone who bodybuilds is automatically on steroids? :wall:

Phoenix knows everything, didn't you know? He knows Fran better than Fran knows Fran.

I just don't see how his personal attacks are contributing to the "handling hot Ts" discussion. PMing has already been mentioned, but then again, I don't know Phoenix's reading comprehension level.

 

[Aschamne]

To the first part: I completely agree. All I'm saying is, if we are using the sports analogy, holding a G. pulchra (a typically docile NW for example) would be like batting in baseball with a helmet while handling an S. cal would be more like batting without the helmet. Both ways you are playing baseball, and hopefully getting enjoyment from it, and there is still a chance of being injured in both situations, but playing without the helmet gives opportunity to more severe injury. Not saying that it will happen, only that the possibility is there.

To the second part: I also agree with this. What you do in the privacy of your own home is your business, and only yours. It's the people who broadcast their lack of knowledge and "ePenis" over the internet by making handling videos of the more potent and potentially harmful (but obviously not deadly) species, in an unsafe manner.

Handling a S. calceatum is nowhere near as dangerous as batting without a helmet. The most you are going to get from a bite from a tarantula is a few week of discomfort. Getting hit in the head with a baseball can result in death. A better comparison would be handling a G. pulchra is like low impact aerobics where handling the S. calceatum is like high impact aerobics.

And, I have already stated that people handling just to show off should not be doing it.

Art

 

[TomM]

Handling a S. calceatum is nowhere near as dangerous as batting without a helmet. The most you are going to get from a bite from a tarantula is a few week of discomfort. Getting hit in the head with a baseball can result in death. A better comparison would be handling a G. pulchra is like low impact aerobics where handling the S. calceatum is like high impact aerobics.

And, I have already stated that people handling just to show off should not be doing it.

Art

I don't know why we're arguing, I agree with you. As for the baseball analogy, I'm not comparing the tarantula handling to playing baseball, in respects to danger, I'm using the analogy to say: "holding a 'docile' tarantula is less dangerous than holding a 'hot' tarantula" is similar to "batting with a helmet is less dangerous than batting without one". While I use both tarantulas and baseball in the analogy, I am only directly comparing tarantulas to tarantulas and baseball to baseball. Your example analogy is directly comparing tarantulas to baseball. I'm not sure if I'm explaining it correctly or if I'm just confusing now. Either way, I do agree with you, Art, my wording might just be off.

 

[Lolita]

Okay i'll probably get flamed but, i do handle my t's i do it very infrequently maybe once a month or so if that and when i do it i do it low to the ground with soft carpet in an area where if they escape they can be caught back very easily (no hide spots) and knowing my reaction to pain (getting bit by a grumpy rescue burmese python without really moving too much) i know i wouldn't fling a tarantula if i got bit i've been doing it this way for over a year and havent gotten bit. Granted thats not to say i wont or anything like that but i havent as of yet and no t's have been harmed. They may or may not get something out of being handled i'm not a tarantula i wouldn't know, but i as a owner do and i always do it as safely as possible for both myself and my tarantula.

For my reason that i like handling/my mom is allergic to arachnid venom i choose to only keep new world species i wouldn't handle a old world species because they intimidate me, as well as the possibility of a reaction since my mothers allergy. Now i understand that people have their handling preferences and that there are cons and pros to each side but the sweeping generalizations on both sides of this argument are a little much, do we really need to bicker and argue and disrespect others for their choices? i would like to imagine that since society thinks arachnid keeping is such a taboo that we'd be at least open minded to others opinions. But maybe i'm naive.

I'd like to do the can't we all just get along thing, but it's kinda obvious thats not gonna happen at this point. So we've all stated our opinions so let the thread die already and quit arguing over something a simple as preference as i believe ther OP was more asking about the handling of "hot" T's and not T's in general, i think this thread has become slightly derailed. As for the anti-handling people, i respect your opinions on the matter and understand them completely, however i am not stupid for handling my T's nor am i a thrill seeker (i'm actually quite the opposite of a adrenaline junkie) nor am i a show off seeing as the only people who have ever actually seen me handle a T happen to live with me and only saw because they happened to enter a room when i was handling which is something i typically do alone in a controlled envoirment.

So hopefully this will bring some peace or at least respect to this thread.

 

[TomM]

For my reason that i like handling/my mom is allergic to arachnid venom i choose to only keep new world species i wouldn't handle a old world species

I see what what you are saying with your entire comment, but as you see right in your quote, you state that you don't handle "hots". Although, the way that you've described how you hold your NW's is definitely the best way to do it if you are going to, but like the thread title states: "hot T's".

 

[Lolita]

I see what what you are saying with your entire comment, but as you see right in your quote, you state that you don't handle "hots". The way that you've described how you hold your NW's is definitely the best way to do it if you are going to, but like the thread title states: "hot T's".

yes thats true but it's obviously become much more than a handling hot t's thread now it seems to have become more of a handling t's in general debate at least thats what i've gathered from the last few pages

 

[TomM]

yes thats true but it's obviously become much more than a handling hot t's thread now it seems to have become more of a handling t's in general debate at least thats what i've gathered from the last few pages

I agree, but the people who have been posting off-topic responses should stick to the thread subject: "People that handle their hot T's". There are already a bunch of "handling" threads, this one is supposed to be specifically "hots". And I'm not directing this at you, it is to all the people posting off-topic. Your posts are at least about handling, we have others who are insisting that board members are taking steroids (what that has to do with handling, or even tarantulas, is beyond me).