Scolopendra Russian roulette.

[basin79]

It seems handling Scolopendra has become more and more popular. Now I absolutely LOVE Scolopendra. They're beautiful, graceful and mesmerising.

However I've absolutely no idea why some choose to handle them?. A jumping spider they are not.

I understand that owners try and condition them and over time some seem to calm down. But why risk an injury to the pede? If a pede was to bite and envemonate there's a chance you'd react and shake, pull away, panic causing it to fall, be flung etcetera.

Obviously there'd be a lot pain (serious if the pede was Asian) for the human too but I'm not bothered about them.

So, why play Scolopendra Russian roulette?

 

[Staehilomyces]

Alright, I'll add my 2 cents...

First, understand that I'm not the most experienced of pede handlers - I had great success with S. morsitans and various Cormocephalus spp, but I've so far met my match with E. rubripes. Nevertheless, I understand the concepts, and risk associated with it.

Working with pedes properly is more than "put-it-on-your-hand-and-hope-for-the-best". For the more aggressive pedes *cough cough Azog*, I spend weeks just petting them in their enclosures, not even letting them walk onto my hand, until they calm down. As such, when they're at their most aggressive, there's no real danger of the pede being flung or dropped, as it's not even being handled.
Then of course, there's the fact that they're much less likely to be injured while being handled than tarantulas. They can shrug off significant falls, and have a very strong grip that makes them hard to drop in the first place.
Also, I know what pedes I'm working with. Some, such as S. morsitans and Cormocephalus spp, I've been able to handle off the bat without any issue. E. rubripes on the other hand requires much gentle interaction before they're safe to handle.

As for the "what if?" factor, I'm afraid it is just a choice some make. I accept what may happen if I get envenomated, but will take my work slowly and carefully to minimize the possibility.

That's just an insight into the mind of an amateur handler.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

Personally I think that, in the case of a pure and finest 'handling, bite, and fall' scenario, 'pedes (adults in particular) are more hardy than Theraphosidae in general.

I viewed (sadly) a couple of tourist-trap videos coming from Asia, where there's always a scared Western 'douche' with a 'pede crawling on his hands/arms, not always 'controlled' (supervised by an 'expert', I mean).
Well, obviously it's only a matter of time before the 'pede lands on the floor, but I always saw a 'pede crawling (fast) away, like nothing happened.
Ok, maybe this isn't enough for say that they are 'hardy' but, nonetheless, this is also something a huge, chubby, hairy Theraphosidae wouldn't do at all in general... a nothing, and the opisthosoma is done.

Still today however I think that 'pedes are more hardy than people think (altough this isn't a valid reason at all for such a pratice).

This, for a (IMO) kinda detail part on that, because when it comes for the mere handling of venomous inverts (and not, but venomous in particular) frankly I don't know what to say aside that, in some people, the libido for that always prevail.

 

[basin79]

Another thing with handling these magnificent Myriapoda. It's purely selfish. The pedes get absolutely nothing from it.

Granted you could type keeping any pet is selfish. But I believe captive inverts on the whole are much better off than their wild counterparts. No predators, shelter, food, water etcetera.

Is it "just" an ego thing then? The only one who gets anything out of the handling is the human after all.

 

[Staehilomyces]

As I said, pedes get used to handling. They become very docile. It makes maintenance a lot easier, and allows one to show their softer side. As such, both the individual pede benefits, as does their reputation as a whole.

You can't just project the arguments against tarantula handling onto centipedes.

 

[NYAN]

Their pointy legs feel cool when they walk on you.

 

[basin79]

As I said, pedes get used to handling. They become very docile. It makes maintenance a lot easier, and allows one to show their softer side. As such, both the individual pede benefits, as does their reputation as a whole.

You can't just project the arguments against tarantula handling onto centipedes.

I still don't understand where the pede benefits that's all.

Maintenance is extremely easy no matter what. A happy pede will hide away during the day. If they're hungry and out a feed will keep them busy whilst any maintenance needs to be done.

There's absolutely NO benefit to handling pedes for the pede themselves.

 

[Staehilomyces]

I would say that them feeling safer around you would be a benefit to them. It's like saying that taming reptiles doesn't benefit them.

 

[Salmonsaladsandwich]

Handling harmless inverts like millipedes has nothing to do with ego, and people do that all the time... most keep inverts for the purpose of observing and admiring them, and there's more to observing something than just looking at it in an enclosure. Feeling the animal's texture, its weight, they way it moves, seeing it up close from angles you normally couldn't... being able to handle an animal greatly increases the enjoyment of keeping it for many if not most people. There's certainly an added allure to handling something dangerous and 'forbidden' but I greatly doubt that's the reason anyone handles an animal in the first place.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

As I said, pedes get used to handling. They become very docile. It makes maintenance a lot easier, and allows one to show their softer side. As such, both the individual pede benefits, as does their reputation as a whole.

You can't just project the arguments against tarantula handling onto centipedes.

Yes, they are indeed different animals so a proper, 100% speaking comparison, can't be made with T's and 'pedes when it comes to handling.

I also think that they are more... let's say 'evoluted' than T's (I don't want to undermine T's now at all, obviously) still, what you claim (a thing backed by others 'pede-handlers, btw) that those 'get used', is debatable and not (technically) a fact.

But, aside this, sorry... (quoting you) 'It makes maintenance a lot easier'? I don't follow you... I've never handled my S.subspinipes (nor I plan to) but her maintenance IMO is pretty easy, including when she's out, and not hiding somewhere. They aren't the 'aggressive' monsters always depicted (and you know this) so I don't understand how 'pede-maintenance could be hard or else, honestly.

 

[Staehilomyces]

When I maintenance, perhaps I should've said it just makes it less intimidating. It certainly makes photography and filming easier. It would've been hard to get these shots with a non-socialised pede:

Azog (Ethmostigmus rubripes)

• Staehilomyces
• Dec 19, 2017
• 5

A couple of shots of my big tiger form E. rubripes taken on a white tabletop.

Another thing is, it does not happen at the pede's expense, as with handling tarantulas. You can still say there's no benefit to handling them, but in the end, if done properly, there's no real risk of harming them from it either.

 

[basin79]

Handling harmless inverts like millipedes has nothing to do with ego, and people do that all the time... most keep inverts for the purpose of observing and admiring them, and there's more to observing something than just looking at it in an enclosure. Feeling the animal's texture, its weight, they way it moves, seeing it up close from angles you normally couldn't... being able to handle an animal greatly increases the enjoyment of keeping it for many if not most people. There's certainly an added allure to handling something dangerous and 'forbidden' but I greatly doubt that's the reason anyone handles an animal in the first place.

So you agree it's entirely a selfish act then?

 

[basin79]

I would say that them feeling safer around you would be a benefit to them. It's like saying that taming reptiles doesn't benefit them.

There's absolutely no coloration with reptiles and pedes. A lot of replies don't need handling. Those that do tends to be for the safety of the handler.

 

[Staehilomyces]

I'd also like to add that's it's a little insulting to say it's all about ego.
I enjoy it, the pede is at no risk of harm, and does not get stressed out. Others seem to enjoy watching it, and I'm sure it will help me educate others about them in future, which will benefit all centipedes, and inverts in general.

 

[basin79]

When I maintenance, perhaps I should've said it just makes it less intimidating. It certainly makes photography and filming easier. It would've been hard to get these shots with a non-socialised pede:

Azog (Ethmostigmus rubripes)

• Staehilomyces
• Dec 19, 2017
• 5

A couple of shots of my big tiger form E. rubripes taken on a white tabletop.

Another thing is, it does not happen at the pede's expense, as with handling tarantulas. You can still say there's no benefit to handling them, but in the end, if done properly, there's no real risk of harming them from it either.

I photograph my pedes whilst they're feeding in their enclosures.

Whilst I'll fully admit those pics do look great I don't see them as any better than a pede feeding in it's enclosure.

 

[NYAN]

For me, I do not handle something like a dehanni. I agree that they may not benefit from being handled, however there isn’t necessary any harm done. Centipedes are such fascinating predators and being able to calm them down where you can handle them is something special. They also do feel cool when they walk on you. Sure there is a possibility of being bitten but if you reppect them and understand their behaviors it is slimmer. Also, when I do handle them I do it over the enclosure or while I am sitting on the ground. Another thing, if something happens where you may need to handle them such as a bad molt, sexing etc. There is less of a chance they will bite you I beleive.

 

[Staehilomyces]

What I also meant I say is that not all reptiles need handling. My old Stimson's python could've lived without it. But they get used to it, and it's always fun to handle them then. The same applies to pedes.

 

[basin79]

What I also meant I say is that not all reptiles need handling. My old Stimson's python could've lived without it. But they get used to it, and it's always fun to handle them then. The same applies to pedes.

But that fun is just for you.

 

[basin79]

I'll also happily type I only keep Scolopendra because they're phenomenal predators. If they looked EXACTLY the same but where herbivores I wouldn't keep them.

 

[Staehilomyces]

And doesn't harm the animal. I'd only call something selfish if it puts the animal at very imminent risk of death for the owner's benefit. There's many threads about tarantulas being killed while handled. There are none that say the same for centipedes.