Tarantula Behavior Study

[VictorSantoro]

Hello Guys. As you can see I am new in this forum. Gonna explain to you really quick.

My Name is Antonio, I am from Argentina and I am student of 3rd year of biology. I am currently doing a career research project about tarantula behavior in captivity along with 2 more friends.

A year ago each of us acquired 1 GBB Sling, which we thought would be the perfect species for study because of their varied behavior and very fast grow rate in captivity, Now two of them are mature males and mine is a mature female.

one of the specific objectives of the study is to see if the tarantulas that have more interaction with us, humans,throughout their development from slings to adults will result in a more docile and less skittish T.

now a year later, the two males that we tried to handle once a week at most, for a year, seem to be more calm and tolerant to interaction with us, while my female, which we practically did not touch is a very nervous and even with a small noise, abrupt movement or simply with the sound of the television runs like lightning, but she has never tried to bite, just a couple of deffensive postures from time to time.

I know there is alot of controversy about this topic in the hobby of having ts, and I just wanted to share this info with you because I think is actually really interesting. I would also want to know what you think about.

PD: I am not encouraging to handle any tarantula, it is only stressful for them, and I am also not saying that the ts like to be handle, for me the only conclusion is that they can be more tolerant and they are amazing animals that have the ability to learn at some level, which make them even more interesting.

 

[NewTdaddy]

I'm getting my first (opting for an adult) very soon. I've decided not to handle it at all, if I can help it. My reasoning? I'm a coward! I'm not afraid of handling a tarantula but am afraid I would harm it accidentally. I won't be taking the risk. However, your study is fascinating. I'd be interested to see what happens going forward!

 

[boina]

You did a study with an n of 3? That's not a study, that's an anecdote.

 

[VictorSantoro]

You did a study with an n of 3? That's not a study, that's an anecdote.

Maybe is just that. Just wanted to share

 

[14pokies]

I agree with Boina your study is pretty anecdotal at this point..In my experience my males are more skittish once they mature. I chock up the change in behavior to the fact that they are much more likely to be become a snack while they are out searching for a mate.

I think you would need a broader number of specimens and a more structured set of experiments to possibly come to a conclussion..

 

[checkmate]

You handled the two males but not the female? I believe the conditions should be the identical other than the characteristic you're studying to rule out all other causes. And like others have said, more specimens would be ideal. Keep us updated on your findings either way.

Good luck

 

[ediblepain]

Hello Guys. As you can see I am new in this forum. Gonna explain to you really quick.

My Name is Antonio, I am from Argentina and I am student of 3rd year of biology. I am currently doing a career research project about tarantula behavior in captivity along with 2 more friends.

A year ago each of us acquired 1 GBB Sling, which we thought would be the perfect species for study because of their varied behavior and very fast grow rate in captivity, Now two of them are mature males and mine is a mature female.

one of the specific objectives of the study is to see if the tarantulas that have more interaction with us, humans,throughout their development from slings to adults will result in a more docile and less skittish T.

now a year later, the two males that we tried to handle once a week at most, for a year, seem to be more calm and tolerant to interaction with us, while my female, which we practically did not touch is a very nervous and even with a small noise, abrupt movement or simply with the sound of the television runs like lightning, but she has never tried to bite, just a couple of deffensive postures from time to time.

I know there is alot of controversy about this topic in the hobby of having ts, and I just wanted to share this info with you because I think is actually really interesting. I would also want to know what you think about.

PD: I am not encouraging to handle any tarantula, it is only stressful for them, and I am also not saying that the ts like to be handle, for me the only conclusion is that they can be more tolerant and they are amazing animals that have the ability to learn at some level, which make them even more interesting.

Another conclusion you could jump to with such a small experiment pool is that males are less skittish. Honestly, its too soon and too little testing to really come to a conclusion

 

[Anoplogaster]

Well, other than the obvious confounding factor of sex and the small sample size, there are so many other things to consider.

What are your data points? Are you noting responses to particular stimuli as statistical observations, or are you just generalizing? Did you construct an ethogram in this study?

Behavioral studies are notoriously difficult, mostly because behavior is difficult to quantify and explain. And yet, so many people gravitate toward doing them. I’d suggest you set up a more specific protocol of data collection. Since you now have 3 supposed “conditioned” individuals, maybe develop a plan of collecting data about responses to particular stimuli as replicated experiments. You still have very low representation, so you’ll have to do a ton of arm-waving when you present your project. Would’ve been better if you conditioned at least one male and the female the same way.

 

[Nightstalker47]

Hello Guys. As you can see I am new in this forum. Gonna explain to you really quick.

My Name is Antonio, I am from Argentina and I am student of 3rd year of biology. I am currently doing a career research project about tarantula behavior in captivity along with 2 more friends.

A year ago each of us acquired 1 GBB Sling, which we thought would be the perfect species for study because of their varied behavior and very fast grow rate in captivity, Now two of them are mature males and mine is a mature female.

one of the specific objectives of the study is to see if the tarantulas that have more interaction with us, humans,throughout their development from slings to adults will result in a more docile and less skittish T.

now a year later, the two males that we tried to handle once a week at most, for a year, seem to be more calm and tolerant to interaction with us, while my female, which we practically did not touch is a very nervous and even with a small noise, abrupt movement or simply with the sound of the television runs like lightning, but she has never tried to bite, just a couple of deffensive postures from time to time.

I know there is alot of controversy about this topic in the hobby of having ts, and I just wanted to share this info with you because I think is actually really interesting. I would also want to know what you think about.

PD: I am not encouraging to handle any tarantula, it is only stressful for them, and I am also not saying that the ts like to be handle, for me the only conclusion is that they can be more tolerant and they are amazing animals that have the ability to learn at some level, which make them even more interesting.

I've noticed quite a few discrepancies regarding your claim about this "study".

You started another thread today about your first tarantula, asking for advice regarding cooler temperatures. In this same thread you say you acquired your C.cyaneopubescens some days ago... and that it is your first spider.

OP is clearly trolling. Here's the other thread.

http://arachnoboards.com/threads/tarantula-question-from-a-noob.299948/

 

[efmp1987]

Didn't you just purchase that sling last week? Or maybe it's something else.

 

[Venom1080]

Whats that about? @VictorSantoro

 

[efmp1987]

I've noticed quite a few discrepancies regarding your claim about this "study".

You started another thread today about your first tarantula, asking for advice regarding cooler temperatures. In this same thread you say you acquired your C.cyaneopubescens some days ago... and that it is your first spider.

OP is clearly trolling. Here's the other thread.

http://arachnoboards.com/threads/tarantula-question-from-a-noob.299948/

Beat me to it! I hate you forever

 

[efmp1987]

Whats that about? @VictorSantoro

I sense tarantula addiction gone awry Someone needs a rehab

 

[grumpycow3]

he's a con artist prob using the study as a reason to get funding but take all the money for himself lol

 

[mack1855]

If you are being legitimate on your "study", it's already been done over and over....by every T keeper that has every been here on AB.And elsewhere.

And posted, written about,joked about, talked about and yelled about.
OLD story.And worn out.

 

[viper69]

Hello Guys. As you can see I am new in this forum. Gonna explain to you really quick.

My Name is Antonio, I am from Argentina and I am student of 3rd year of biology. I am currently doing a career research project about tarantula behavior in captivity along with 2 more friends.

A year ago each of us acquired 1 GBB Sling, which we thought would be the perfect species for study because of their varied behavior and very fast grow rate in captivity, Now two of them are mature males and mine is a mature female.

one of the specific objectives of the study is to see if the tarantulas that have more interaction with us, humans,throughout their development from slings to adults will result in a more docile and less skittish T.

now a year later, the two males that we tried to handle once a week at most, for a year, seem to be more calm and tolerant to interaction with us, while my female, which we practically did not touch is a very nervous and even with a small noise, abrupt movement or simply with the sound of the television runs like lightning, but she has never tried to bite, just a couple of deffensive postures from time to time.

I know there is alot of controversy about this topic in the hobby of having ts, and I just wanted to share this info with you because I think is actually really interesting. I would also want to know what you think about.

PD: I am not encouraging to handle any tarantula, it is only stressful for them, and I am also not saying that the ts like to be handle, for me the only conclusion is that they can be more tolerant and they are amazing animals that have the ability to learn at some level, which make them even more interesting.

Your behavioral "research" failed to take into account the gender. You did not run any appropriate controls for your "research". Thus your information is not reliable.

Plus, you did not have a large enough sample size either.

 

[VictorSantoro]

Didn't you just purchase that sling last week? Or maybe it's something else.

I did, i got the 3 I told you before, I got in the hobby because i am actually afraid of spiders and one of my friends living in spain is a t owner, so he told me to get my first t as this worked for him before. I was in love with gbbs so I contacted him and he told me it was a good option. if you read forums in spanish about Ts you will see handling and T owning Is more relaxed, more chilled. if youre up to it, you just do it once in a while. My spider still a baby, but yes I would like to handle my t to get rid of this fear one day when he or she matures... I told my friend that maybe I did wrong by bying my slings and I asked him if I could send him my little sling an my future 2 slings... he told me that english forums about ts are really really precaciuos and is more like a taboo, and that if I do the handling in the right way there should not be a problem because the only one that can hurt in this situation would be myself, not the deffenseless t. but is better if i get used to my t, and then I just leave she alone as much as i can.

To be sure he told me to create other account posting a thread saying i am a person with all kind of prep, that like to handle his inoffensive ts once in a while just to experience such a great animal, and then I would be able to see that all comments, or at least the bast majority will be against or sarcastic, because I ll say what he exactly said "americans are perfeccionist and sometimes that can be way too boring", i dont think the same btw.

So the admins realized i had "mutiple accounts" and annexed the extra account, to this one only. they also gave me a warning

everything i have posted in this account, is 1000 real.

however, I just can say I am sorry and I will never bother anyone else in this forum, this is my last post.

is because of some people here I got my first t, so i can only be grateful. now i dont feel afraid of spiders, i jsut feel admiration. i cant wait until my babies mature.
thanks for all the advice given to me

good bye

 

[VictorSantoro]

Whats that about? @VictorSantoro

I did, i got the 3 I told you before, I got in the hobby because i am actually afraid of spiders and one of my friends living in spain is a t owner, so he told me to get my first t as this worked for him before. I was in love with gbbs so I contacted him and he told me it was a good option. if you read forums in spanish about Ts you will see handling and T owning Is more relaxed, more chilled. if youre up to it, you just do it once in a while. My spider still a baby, but yes I would like to handle my t to get rid of this fear one day when he or she matures... I told my friend that maybe I did wrong by bying my slings and I asked him if I could send him my little sling an my future 2 slings... he told me that english forums about ts are really really precaciuos and is more like a taboo, and that if I do the handling in the right way there should not be a problem because the only one that can hurt in this situation would be myself, not the deffenseless t. but is better if i get used to my t, and then I just leave she alone as much as i can.

To be sure he told me to create other account posting a thread saying i am a person with all kind of prep, that like to handle his inoffensive ts once in a while just to experience such a great animal, and then I would be able to see that all comments, or at least the bast majority will be against or sarcastic, because I ll say what he exactly said "americans are perfeccionist and sometimes that can be way too boring", i dont think the same btw.

So the admins realized i had "mutiple accounts" and annexed the extra account, to this one only. they also gave me a warning

everything i have posted in this account, is 1000 real.

however, I just can say I am sorry and I will never bother anyone else in this forum, this is my last post.

is because of some people here I got my first t, so i can only be grateful. now i dont feel afraid of spiders, i jsut feel admiration. i cant wait until my babies mature.
thanks for all the advice given to me

good bye

 

[VictorSantoro]

I've noticed quite a few discrepancies regarding your claim about this "study".

You started another thread today about your first tarantula, asking for advice regarding cooler temperatures. In this same thread you say you acquired your C.cyaneopubescens some days ago... and that it is your first spider.

OP is clearly trolling. Here's the other thread.

http://arachnoboards.com/threads/tarantula-question-from-a-noob.299948/

I did, i got the 3 I told you before, I got in the hobby because i am actually afraid of spiders and one of my friends living in spain is a t owner, so he told me to get my first t as this worked for him before. I was in love with gbbs so I contacted him and he told me it was a good option. if you read forums in spanish about Ts you will see handling and T owning Is more relaxed, more chilled. if youre up to it, you just do it once in a while. My spider still a baby, but yes I would like to handle my t to get rid of this fear one day when he or she matures... I told my friend that maybe I did wrong by bying my slings and I asked him if I could send him my little sling an my future 2 slings... he told me that english forums about ts are really really precaciuos and is more like a taboo, and that if I do the handling in the right way there should not be a problem because the only one that can hurt in this situation would be myself, not the deffenseless t. but is better if i get used to my t, and then I just leave she alone as much as i can.

To be sure he told me to create other account posting a thread saying i am a person with all kind of prep, that like to handle his inoffensive ts once in a while just to experience such a great animal, and then I would be able to see that all comments, or at least the bast majority will be against or sarcastic, because I ll say what he exactly said "americans are perfeccionist and sometimes that can be way too boring", i dont think the same btw.

So the admins realized i had "mutiple accounts" and annexed the extra account, to this one only. they also gave me a warning

everything i have posted in this account, is 1000 real.

however, I just can say I am sorry and I will never bother anyone else in this forum, this is my last post.

is because of some people here I got my first t, so i can only be grateful. now i dont feel afraid of spiders, i jsut feel admiration. i cant wait until my babies mature.
thanks for all the advice given to me

good bye

 

[Venom1080]

Lol.. looks like we're boring cause we're more careful with our animals. That's a compliment.

Feel free to stick around.