Robc bitten by a P.regalis.

[billy28]

that all scares me really bad. im only 13 and I hand feed my 6 1/2+ p. pederseni

 

[T_DORKUS]

that all scares me really bad. im only 13 and I hand feed my 6 1/2+ p. pederseni

Well u should be! Handfeeding T's is a really good way to get bitten.

 

[Venom]

If you're 13, you probably shouldn't have Poecilotheria spp. in the first place!!!!

 

[SRirish]

If you're 13, you probably shouldn't have Poecilotheria spp. in the first place!!!!

Well I'm sure if he has hand fed it without getting bitten that he knows what he's doing.

 

[T_DORKUS]

Well I'm sure if he has hand fed it without getting bitten that he knows what he's doing.

Are you saying it is ok to continue to handfeed his pokie?

 

[billy28]

If you're 13, you probably shouldn't have Poecilotheria spp. in the first place!!!!

yah i know pretty well what im doing

 

[SRirish]

No. I'm not condoning the hand feeding, just saying if he can do it to a pokie then he's not nervouse around it. So he's calm enough to actually do stuff in it's cage and such. Sorry if it came off in the wrong way

 

[robc]

Well u should be! Handfeeding T's is a really good way to get bitten.

When I stated hand feeding, I mean with tongs....I never would handfeed a adult pokie....I dfid hand feed a 1" P.Regalis, I would put the cricket on the side of the container and he would only be able to grab the cricket......I am not saying this was a good idea and I should have stated that.....please do not do it.....it is not worth the risks!!!

 

[the nature boy]

If you're 13, you probably shouldn't have Poecilotheria spp. in the first place!!!!

Please! Hand feeding might not be the smartest thing in the world to do with a pokie, but why shouldn't he own one? He could be out trying every drug on the planet, risking catching a social disease or getting someone pregnant...keeping a pokies is a good activity. Plus, the fact that he's here indicates that he's learning how to keep them (assuming he already doesn't have a handle on that).

--the nature boy

 

[BamaZ71]

I don't even hand feed my rosea... but I have this idea that handfeeding leads to the T associating your hand with food and then that may lead to it trying to eat fingers when you do other things. But then again my rosea is more aggressive than my T Blondi

 

[robc]

Please! Hand feeding might not be the smartest thing in the world to do with a pokie, but why shouldn't he own one? He could be out trying every drug on the planet, risking catching a social disease or getting someone pregnant...keeping a pokies is a good activity. Plus, the fact that he's here indicates that he's learning how to keep them (assuming he already doesn't have a handle on that).

--the nature boy

Very good point Matt, I agree!!!

 

[robc]

I don't even hand feed my rosea... but I have this idea that handfeeding leads to the T associating your hand with food and then that may lead to it trying to eat fingers when you do other things. But then again my rosea is more aggressive than my T Blondi

I have to agree with that, I believe 2 of the bites I have recieved were partly associated with them thinking my hand was food!!!

 

[Venom]

Please! Hand feeding might not be the smartest thing in the world to do with a pokie, but why shouldn't he own one? He could be out trying every drug on the planet, risking catching a social disease or getting someone pregnant...keeping a pokies is a good activity. Plus, the fact that he's here indicates that he's learning how to keep them (assuming he already doesn't have a handle on that).

--the nature boy

Please, read the bite report again, and tell me you want to see what happens with a 13 year-old. I'm glad he's doing well with it, which is impressive for his age, but still, I wouldn't make a habit of recommending Poec's to children, and I don't think that requires explanation.

 

[robc]

Please, read the bite report again, and tell me you want to see what happens with a 13 year-old. I'm glad he's doing well with it, which is impressive for his age, but still, I wouldn't make a habit of recommending Poec's to children, and I don't think that requires explanation.

I can see what you are saying and you do have a very good point...13 may be a little young for pokies....but there is no age limit on hand feeding any pokies. Just too risky!! Rob

 

[T_DORKUS]

I'm gonna side with venom on this one. I don't think a 13 yr old should be taking care of a pokie. Not because he is not responsible but because I have no idea what the effects of pokie venom will do to a 13 yr old. We've seen many experienced keepers here get bit already. No matter how careful a person is, people are prone to making mistakes. With that in mind, we've heard grown men suffering side effects for years after a bite- how will the venom affect a child? Will there be permanent damage done to a child for the rest of his life? Who knows. I'd rather err on the side of caution. A child can still learn all the good things this hobby has to offer by keeping something like an avic.

 

[robc]

Please, read the bite report again, and tell me you want to see what happens with a 13 year-old. I'm glad he's doing well with it, which is impressive for his age, but still, I wouldn't make a habit of recommending Poec's to children, and I don't think that requires explanation.

I can see what you are saying and you do have a very good point...13 may be a little young for pokies....but there is no age limit on hand feeding any pokies. Just too risky!! Rob

 

[Venom]

there is no age limit on hand feeding any pokies. Just too risky!! Rob

Agreed! Especially when one considers the venom yield difference between a defensive bite, and a feeding bite...

 

[Radamanthys]

I can see what you are saying and you do have a very good point...13 may be a little young for pokies....but there is no age limit on hand feeding any pokies. Just too risky!! Rob

I personaly think that age is not excuse or indicator for anything (as long as you are not 5). I know 14 year olds that drive better than 35 year old people, and my 11 year old goddaughter is far more responsible than some 40 year old people i know. So if he is confident doing that, and know what he is doing, know the risks and everything, i don't see why argue about it. Every time you do something, you assume the resposability of what you are doing

read my signature for more information lol

 

[the nature boy]

I'm gonna side with venom on this one. I don't think a 13 yr old should be taking care of a pokie. Not because he is not responsible but because I have no idea what the effects of pokie venom will do to a 13 yr old. We've seen many experienced keepers here get bit already. No matter how careful a person is, people are prone to making mistakes. With that in mind, we've heard grown men suffering side effects for years after a bite- how will the venom affect a child? Will there be permanent damage done to a child for the rest of his life? Who knows. I'd rather err on the side of caution. A child can still learn all the good things this hobby has to offer by keeping something like an avic.

First, I doubt he'd appreciate being referred to as a child. Legally he may be, but a 13 year old is no "kid". Second, why should we assume that effects of pokie venom would be more severe on him than a 45 year old? A 45 year old Vietnamese man might weigh less than him. He may be in better shape than many adults and his system better equipped to combat the effects of the venom. My point is that there are quite a few variables in play here--a universal dictate that someone his age shouldn't keep pokies is unwarranted. And, we know that while pokie venom is very nasty stuff, there is no record of anyone ever dying from a bite. A bite from the family cat could lead to an infection that could do more harm. He could hunt with a rifle and risk a deadly accident. If he is mature and responsible and has a healthy respect for the animal I don't see why he shouldn't be allowed to keep one.

--the nature boy

 

[T_DORKUS]

First, I doubt he'd appreciate being referred to as a child. Legally he may be, but a 13 year old is no "kid". Second, why should we assume that effects of pokie venom would be more severe on him than a 45 year old? A 45 year old Vietnamese man might weigh less than him. He may be in better shape than many adults and his system better equipped to combat the effects of the venom. My point is that there are quite a few variables in play here--a universal dictate that someone his age shouldn't keep pokies is unwarranted. And, we know that while pokie venom is very nasty stuff, there is no record of anyone ever dying from a bite. A bite from the family cat could lead to an infection that could do more harm. He could hunt with a rifle and risk a deadly accident. If he is mature and responsible and has a healthy respect for the animal I don't see why he shouldn't be allowed to keep one.

--the nature boy

First, I am speaking of 13 yr olds in general and not referring to billy28 specifically.
Second, 13 yr olds are considered children and therefore can appropriately be referred to as a child. My apologies to billy28 if he does not like it- no insult intended.
Third, I'm sure you will be able to find many adults that weigh less than some 13 yr olds but those are exceptions.
Fourth, if an adult does something stupid and is injured- he has only himself to blame. When a kid gets hurt, his parents will have to share the blame and any adult that gives him bad advice could also be liable.
Finally, do you know FOR SURE that a normal/average 13 year old will handle pokie venom as well as a full grown adult? I don't! Therefore I cannot, in good conscience, recommend it. Like I mentioned earlier- I prefer to err on the side of caution. This is not about whether a 13 yr old is mature enough or responsible enough. And just because no one has ever died from a tarantula bite; it does not mean no one ever will.