Tarantula Likes Booty Pets?

[EnderBender]

Does anyone else have any experience with a T enjoying gentle petting on the booty? My Avicularia Avicularia likes to get her butt rubbed slightly and will even move to adjust herself at times to get me to rub her butt. She has never gotten aggressive with me or reacted any other way other than what appears to be her enjoying the petting. She is still a juvenile. I'm not sure if she will continue to enjoy them, but for now it seems as if she welcomes the affection.
And it isn't just me, I had my wife try to pet her butt and she did the same. Went right into the pets and didn't try to move away or anything. She's a really strange spider. I'm just curious if anyone else has any experiences like this?
In all other instances, if she doesn't want to be bothered she will move away. She also likes to climb onto me, which is odd. She will sometimes even hop onto my shirt or arm/hand while I'm messing with her enclosure. Never in aggression. She just wants to use me to climb on? I've never had a T behave like her before, but I've also never had an Avic Avic before. Is this normal for them?


Let me edit: she's not hairing me. I'm allergic to urticating hairs. I get hives from them. Bad. She will move herself to get butt pets. She only likes it if it's our fingers, she does not react the same to a paint brush or tongs. If she doesn't like something she moves away, like a typical T. But what she's doing isn't leaving hairs. She's not rubbing on me. If I pet her and stop, she will move herself into my fingers so I do it again. Like I said, it's ODD and I've never had a T behave like this before.

She was a pet store rescue and was not at all ok when I first got her. My wife and I had to really work to keep her alive and nursed her back to health. We thought she was going to die until more recently when we finally got her to actually eat on her own without us having to tong feed her predead insects. She made a web and actually hunted for the first time last week. I'm wondering if because we had to work with her so much if that's why she's acting like this. In the beginning I would always just gently pet the side of her butt to let her know I was there when we'd have to check on her and work with her. I'm wondering if maybe that is it? I'm not sure, but she has never haired me from doing this. I have gotten haired by her in the past when we first rescued her.

 

[cold blood]

? My Avicularia Avicularia likes to get her butt rubbed slightly

No....she doesn't

and will even move to adjust herself at times to get me to rub her butt.

Yeah, cause that is how an avic utilizes its urticating hairs, they press or rub them onto things they consider a threat.

She has never gotten aggressive with me or reacted any other way other than what appears to be her enjoying the petting.

What you see as "enjoyment", is actually a defensive act by the t.

but for now it seems as if she welcomes the affection.

She doesn't, she's hairing you.

I had my wife try to pet her butt and she did the same.

She's the same threat, so she will get the same defensive behavior.

In all other instances, if she doesn't want to be bothered she will move away

Yeah, they do that when they can.

. She also likes to climb onto me, which is odd.

They're arboreal, its their natural instinct to climb.

Never in aggression.

Ts arent aggressive, theyre defensive.....I will change my mind when i see one chasing someone down the block....lol...but most avics tend to be quite docile

Is this normal for them?

pretty much

 

[Cmac2111]

Does anyone else have any experience with a T enjoying gentle petting on the booty? My Avicularia Avicularia likes to get her butt rubbed slightly and will even move to adjust herself at times to get me to rub her butt

Hate to break it to you, but if you're talking about your T rubbing up on you... well that's not it wanting a petting session, that's it trying to defend itself by releasing its urticating hairs. Avicularia species can spread their hairs by rubbing it directly onto a perceived threat rather than kicking them off like many other new world tarantulas.

You should avoid directly interacting with her (touching or 'petting') as much as possible (preferably you should avoid it entirely as direct interactions such as these can place the spider in jeopardy... they are fragile creatures in comparison to us, and one mistake on our part could be fatal to them), and please don't think that she is capable of processing 'affection' as you might see it, because she can't. These spiders can't perceive our intentions towards them, they act solely on instinct. Its best to just leave them be and admire them carrying out their natural behaviors within an appropriately set up enclosure.

 

[EnderBender]

No....she doesn't

Yeah, cause that is how an avic utilizes its urticating hairs, they press or rub them onto things they consider a threat.


What you see as "enjoyment", is actually a defensive act by the t.

She doesn't, she's hairing you.

That's what I thought at first as well but she's not hairing me at all. I'm allergic to urticating hairs and I break out in hives from them. I'm not getting haired at all. That's why I thought it was strange. I thought she was trying to hair me but she's not rubbing on me or leaving hairs at all. She will literally move herself to be pet on her butt if we stop. She's actually moving back to our fingers to be touched. I've never had a T behave like her before. None of my other spoods behave like her either.

I'm just wondering if anyone else has had a T that seemed more interested in interaction like this. If she was just hairing me I wouldn't be asking. I'm not new to this. I got this T as a pet store rescue. I'm wondering if because I had to get her back to health and had to handle her and interact with her more than normal if that's why she's more interested in interacting? I'm not really sure. Like I said, she's strange, and doesn't behave like any other T I have.

 

[cold blood]

. If she was just hairing me I wouldn't be asking

she most certainly is. Avics tend to not give most people a strong reaction, and it takes a lot of exposure generally for avic hairs to be an issue....most avics owners will never get to that point as most dont handle, so the exposure to their hairs will be basically zero.

I had to get her back to health and had to handle her and interact with her more than normal

There is literally never an instance where you have to handle a t.

if that's why she's more interested in interacting?

She's not....she lacks the brain for such interest...ts have a nerve cluster, called a ganglion....that's their "brain". They dont have emotions and aren't capable of a relationship, or interaction for that matter.

I'm not really sure

no offense, but I am....lol.

 

[EnderBender]

she most certainly is. Avics tend to not give most people a strong reaction, and it takes a lot of exposure generally for avic hairs to be an issue....most avics owners will never get to that point as most dont handle, so the exposure to their hairs will be basically zero.
There is literally never an instance where you have to handle a t.
She's not....she lacks the brain for such interest...ts have a nerve cluster, called a ganglion....that's their "brain". They dont have emotions and aren't capable of a relationship, or interaction for that matter.

no offense, but I am....lol.

Yes. I know all this. And I've been haired by her. I don't think you understand IM ALLERGIC TO URTICATING HAIRS all urticating hairs. I have the same reaction to all urticating hairs. Hers are no different. I got her hair on my face which then broke out in hives. Like usual. Which requires me to take my prescription allergy meds because I keep Ts and am allergic to their hair and their venom. Idk how many ways to say this, I'm not being haired by her. I'd definitely have a reaction. Like always.

I know they do not have brains. I know she's not showing ME affection. I am showing HER affection.

I operate a rescue. We work with reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. This is not my first T. I have over 20 years of experience in dealing with animals, including invertebrates. I am not a breeder or seller. I work with rescues.

And I did have to handle her to work with her. I had to dropper feed her water. Had to check her progress daily. Had to check her weight, had to check her movement. Had to pull her out and make sure she was still capable of movement and walking because of how bad her condition was when we got her. I'm not sure how breeders and sellers deal with their animals, I've never done that before. But as a rescue, we have to do things differently I guess. Anyways, she is still a bit zonky when climbing anything smooth, she falls. So her whole enclosure has to be covered in moss or fake moss and substrate to allow her to feel secure in climbing. But she hunted in her very first web, a live dubia, for the first time ever last week. So we are all very proud of her progress.

 

[cold blood]

And I did have to handle her to work with her. I had to dropper feed her water. Had to check her progress daily. Had to check her weight, had to check her movement. Had to pull her out and make sure she was still capable of movement and walking because of how bad her condition was when we got her.

None of what you described would actually require any handling though.

I'm not sure how breeders and sellers deal with their animals, I've never done that before. But as a rescue, we have to do things differently, I guess.

You most certainly don't have to do things differently; you are choosing to do them differently.....just sayin'

Every breeder and most long time keepers have had to nurse ts back to health. Check the forums and you will find endless examples that may give you a better idea of other ways to do things that you may have not previously considered.

So we are all very proud of her progress.

Glad she recovered for you.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

Yes. I know all this. And I've been haired by her. I don't think you understand IM ALLERGIC TO URTICATING HAIRS all urticating hairs. I have the same reaction to all urticating hairs. Hers are no different. I got her hair on my face which then broke out in hives. Like usual. Which requires me to take my prescription allergy meds because I keep Ts and am allergic to their hair and their venom. Idk how many ways to say this, I'm not being haired by her. I'd definitely have a reaction. Like always.

I know they do not have brains. I know she's not showing ME affection. I am showing HER affection.

I operate a rescue. We work with reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. This is not my first T. I have over 20 years of experience in dealing with animals, including invertebrates. I am not a breeder or seller. I work with rescues.

And I did have to handle her to work with her. I had to dropper feed her water. Had to check her progress daily. Had to check her weight, had to check her movement. Had to pull her out and make sure she was still capable of movement and walking because of how bad her condition was when we got her. I'm not sure how breeders and sellers deal with their animals, I've never done that before. But as a rescue, we have to do things differently I guess. Anyways, she is still a bit zonky when climbing anything smooth, she falls. So her whole enclosure has to be covered in moss or fake moss and substrate to allow her to feel secure in climbing. But she hunted in her very first web, a live dubia, for the first time ever last week. So we are all very proud of her progress.

Any pics of this spider ? If your allergic to hairs you should break out from The avic .. If not now it’s only a matter of time and you will be . Props for saving it , I wouldn’t buy my local pet store avic they want $50 for it !

Does anyone else have any experience with a T enjoying gentle petting on the booty? My Avicularia Avicularia likes to get her butt rubbed slightly and will even move to adjust herself at times to get me to rub her butt. She has never gotten aggressive with me or reacted any other way other than what appears to be her enjoying the petting. She is still a juvenile. I'm not sure if she will continue to enjoy them, but for now it seems as if she welcomes the affection.
And it isn't just me, I had my wife try to pet her butt and she did the same. Went right into the pets and didn't try to move away or anything. She's a really strange spider. I'm just curious if anyone else has any experiences like this?
In all other instances, if she doesn't want to be bothered she will move away. She also likes to climb onto me, which is odd. She will sometimes even hop onto my shirt or arm/hand while I'm messing with her enclosure. Never in aggression. She just wants to use me to climb on? I've never had a T behave like her before, but I've also never had an Avic Avic before. Is this normal for them?


Let me edit: she's not hairing me. I'm allergic to urticating hairs. I get hives from them. Bad. She will move herself to get butt pets. She only likes it if it's our fingers, she does not react the same to a paint brush or tongs. If she doesn't like something she moves away, like a typical T. But what she's doing isn't leaving hairs. She's not rubbing on me. If I pet her and stop, she will move herself into my fingers so I do it again. Like I said, it's ODD and I've never had a T behave like this before.

She was a pet store rescue and was not at all ok when I first got her. My wife and I had to really work to keep her alive and nursed her back to health. We thought she was going to die until more recently when we finally got her to actually eat on her own without us having to tong feed her predead insects. She made a web and actually hunted for the first time last week. I'm wondering if because we had to work with her so much if that's why she's acting like this. In the beginning I would always just gently pet the side of her butt to let her know I was there when we'd have to check on her and work with her. I'm wondering if maybe that is it? I'm not sure, but she has never haired me from doing this. I have gotten haired by her in the past when we first rescued her.

It’s this strange behavior from avic that got me to research them and no longer handle spiders . Petting it ? Why it’s not a dog ? It’s trying to hair you or poop at you lol
Pet a mammal pet like of any kind or cat , I’d suggest reptiles but I don’t know much about those if they’re smart enough to be handled .

 

[CrazyOrnithoctonineGuy]

I’d suggest reptiles but I don’t know much about those if they’re smart enough to be handled .

Depends on the reptile TBH: a surprising number of reptiles (especially the larger ones) are trainable, but most aren't that affectionate.

 

[nervousspider]

Even if you aren't getting haired from her rubbing against you, the behavior is still her trying to do that.

This is not my first T. I have over 20 years of experience in dealing with animals, including invertebrates

As someone who claims to have over 20 years of experience with invertebrates, I'm guessing you've had quite a few Ts. If you have that much experience and claim to work with rescues, wouldn't you know that handing your T typically has no benefits and can only harm it if something goes wrong? I understand you may have felt you had to, but if you look at other people rehabilitating Ts you would see that almost none of them handle them in the process. If you have that much experience wouldn't you also know that it's unnecessary?

I'm very glad you got her to recover.

 

[Moakmeister]

Man this really goes to show how ineffective the Avic’s hairs are, if a person can actively pet the abdomen while getting haired and not even realize it’s happening.

 

[klawfran3]

Man this really goes to show how ineffective the Avic’s hairs are, if a person can actively pet the abdomen while getting haired and not even realize it’s happening.

I mean, they'd be pretty effective if youre trying to eat it and get a mouthful of hairs or sniff it and get a noseful. Humans are weird in that we use our limbs to interact with stuff at a safe distance. Most other mammals in the animal kingdom use their faces and noses.

Also at OP, it seems like you're transferring a lot of reptile behaviors and methods to a tarantula. These guys are totally different from herps and need to be interacted with and cared for differently. I've never heard of anyone "weighing" a T because they don't grow and lose weight like reptiles do. You also don't need to be removing them from the cage to test if they walk properly, again it disturbs them. Just touch it with a paintbrush and see the reaction.

A lot of people come to this hobby from the reptile hobby and also seem to think that their care and methods are the same as reptiles and can be treated as such. They're not at all similar. They also don't see you as a "friend" or build a relationship like reptiles do. It's hard for people to understand and we get posts like this constantly, people thinking their spider loves them or something. It's a bit absurd but I get where people come from when they're reptile people who are used to animals that bond with us but don't show emotion like other vertebrates do.

 

[Cmac2111]

she's not hairing me. I'm allergic to urticating hairs. I get hives from them. Bad. She will move herself to get butt pets. She only likes it if it's our fingers, she does not react the same to a paint brush or tongs. If she doesn't like something she moves away, like a typical T. But what she's doing isn't leaving hairs. She's not rubbing on me. If I pet her and stop, she will move herself into my fingers so I do it again. Like I said, it's ODD and I've never had a T behave like this before.

She was a pet store rescue and was not at all ok when I first got her. My wife and I had to really work to keep her alive and nursed her back to health. We thought she was going to die until more recently when we finally got her to actually eat on her own without us having to tong feed her predead insects. She made a web and actually hunted for the first time last week. I'm wondering if because we had to work with her so much if that's why she's acting like this. In the beginning I would always just gently pet the side of her butt to let her know I was there when we'd have to check on her and work with her. I'm wondering if maybe that is it? I'm not sure, but she has never haired me from doing this. I have gotten haired by her in the past when we first rescued her.

Without seeing the action its impossible to truly know what you're describing, so the best I or anyone else can do is to make well-grounded assumptions based on what we know about tarantulas & their behaviors, and then comment/advise in a way that we know will benefit the spider (I.E reccomending that you don't handle). With that being said, I agree with @nervousspider that, whilst she might or might not be not hairing you successfully, I believe she's trying to... that's what I'm taking from your description. In any case, what I and others have said regarding her 'desire to be pet' still stands, its just not something she's capable of... she acts on instinct as all T's do. FWIW, I'm also happy that you've managed to bring her to a healthier sate, and that you can enjoy her in full health without the need for unnecessary interaction henceforth.