To hold, or not to hold?

[Morph]

I'm curious as to what the people of such a website think when it comes to the idea of handling their tarantulas?

I've had just a single tarantula for over a year now, but I've never handled it. I've always moved it using a container when I had to, and choose to not get it out to handle.

My reasons are I believe tarantulas are an observatory species, as oppose to a pet. My partner doesn't feel the same and she handled the T on a number of occasions. Each to their own I suppose!

I ask because the last person I told that I didn't handle my tarantulas gave me a bizzare response, as though I was lesser than those who do handle them? He doesn't own a tarantula of his own, so I'm of the opinion that those who know less, think or believe the idea of handling is a given "yes" idea.

What are your thoughts? Do you not handle your T's, if not, why? If you do, why do you choose to?

 

[crawltech]

I dont go into the spider room jus to say "hey,im gunna handle a couple of these guys today"......the only handleing i do, is during rehousing, or for inspection reasons.

 

[chris_vegas]

the only one of my T's I ever handle is my G. rosea, and even then it's only once in a blue moon (rehousing etc) as she's one of the rare evil ones...

I had someone who doesn't keep T's berate me once too for not wanting to handle mine...so I opened my evil rosies cage and told him to knock himself out....let's just say he found out what utricating hairs are the hard way a change of underwear followed forthwith

 

[Scoolman]

I do handle mine for educational out reach purposes. I use them to unteach common misconceptions among students. Sadly, I have many students who have asked to handle them and I have to say no, for liability reasons.

 

[Mvskokee]

I never handle. I have to many bitey Ts plus I think its the best for both parties involved.

 

[Cowin8579]

Depends on the species, and maybe don't force it on the animal? Allow it to crawl on your hand, enjoy, then say goodbye? I've never experienced a bite or a flicked hair.. but didn't work with the more aggressive species that teleport and then bite.

 

[Scoolman]

I had someone who doesn't keep T's berate me once too for not wanting to handle mine...so I opened my evil rosies cage and told him to knock himself out....let's just say he found out what utricating hairs are the hard way a change of underwear followed forthwith

Sounds just like something I would have done. I must say I agree with the OP, but just can't resist the draw and beauty myself.

 

[Draychen]

I Handle!

I used to have upwards of 25 Ts until I was forced to give some away (now with a P. Pederseni community and the beginnings of a P. Murinus community, my numbers are getting back up there... using less room!).. The Ts I keep range from G. Rosea and Avics up to Poeclitheria and P. Murinus. I've handled nearly every single one of them on multiple occasions, except for what used to be my male H. Lividium. I handle my Female P. Murinus almost daily and she has only ever given me a threat posture when I first unpacked her and once or twice while opening her enclosure to get her out.. when that happens I do one of two things:

1) I close it up and walk away..
or
2) I reach in regardless from behind and getly stroke her abdomen. If she turns toward my hand quickly, I yank it away and leave her be. If she slaps at the direction she's threatening, I leave her be. If she turns slowly, I pick her up. I have not yet been bitten by her and again, I handle her for hours at a time. She may be a fluke in the species, but as of the time I've started collecting my Ts, I've seemed to have a LOT of flukes. I had her and the male out once and they mated on my forearm.

Holding a T is completely up to the owner. Unless handled correctly and with a cool head, it can be dangerous for both the T and the owner. People also claim it stresses the T.. I can't entirely disagree with that statement, but, I will say this: The more I handled Pterrah (Adult Female P. Murinus ~4") she seemed to become more accustomed to it. I've also noticed since handling her so often, she does not remain secluded in her web tunnel all the time, but will instead come out and hang around the doors to her cage. This is just one of MANY examples from my T collection.

With my Brachys, I'll only take them out if they're pressing their bodies against the glass of the cage, when they do this, they spread their legs wide.. almost looks like they're trying to hug the glass. The little brachys will climb to the top of their cage and 'hang' there.. I take them out, play with them for awhile then put them back in and they don't seem to do that for awhile.
The G. Rosea I'll just reach in and take out when she's walking around her enclosure and I generally just allow her to wander the room as she wishes. Same with my Pokies, though the only place I allow them to wander around is in the bathtub with the door closed and a towel under it with me trapped inside with them. They're too fast to trust in a room with many hiding spots.

In closing I would like to state: There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with a T collector that will not handle a T. My roomate has many Ts and refuses to handle any of them except his B. Emilia.. so I handle all his for him. It is completely up to the owner, their desire to hold them (be it for pleasure or educational purposes), understanding of the dangers inherit, and comfort level with the critters.

PS: Before anyone says anything about being bitten -

I have been snagged twice. One was by a MM Avic Metallica who thought he was falling (though my other hand was right below him, and below that was my bed), his fangs slid down my hand and gripped into me, not even drawing blood. When my other hand touched him, he released and crawled aboard. Two small spots on the meat between my thumb and pointed finger.

2nd 'snag' I had brought a P. Lugardi home from the LPS (thought he was a H. Mac at the time as he was labeled). He was sluggish from the cold I guess, so we began warming him up. I was petting him and after a min or so when my roomate grabbed the camera, he bolted across my bed and was airborn! I managed to stop him with the lid of a large critter keeper by placing it in front of his flight path (He can jump far off my bed, I was suprised! Friggin super T!). He then proceeded to run up my arm, at which point I screamed like a little girl and kind of flung my arm towards the bed. He slid down to my hand and between the knuckles of my pointer and middle finger, his fangs inserted. He flipped over, released and fell atop of the bed. He broke to the thrid layer of flesh and a few hours later I began to feel ill. It passed in ~24 hours. I don't think he bit me, he just tried to hang on, which worked out well for him and ill for me ;P I've handled him since: He and one of the Pokies in my community are the only ones that frighten me now..

And Ts have uriticating hairs.....? (I know most NW do! I've just NEVER been hit by them, and have only seen my babies flick less than a handful of times.. and it's mostly at the misting bottle!)

 

[Morph]

I had someone who doesn't keep T's berate me once too for not wanting to handle mine...so I opened my evil rosies cage and told him to knock himself out....let's just say he found out what utricating hairs are the hard way a change of underwear followed forthwith

Haha! Not sure why but that didn't enter my mind, it's a nice thought, will have to try it out!

Depends on the species, and maybe don't force it on the animal? Allow it to crawl on your hand, enjoy, then say goodbye? I've never experienced a bite or a flicked hair.. but didn't work with the more aggressive species that teleport and then bite.

If I were to handle my T's, I'd go the gentle way as you described there. Only for me, I don't see any sort of appeal from holding them personally. I prefer to leave them be in an environment I create for them, that's where I get the enjoyment.

Sounds just like something I would have done. I must say I agree with the OP, but just can't resist the draw and beauty myself.

hehe, I think my partner has that same mentaility, she would pick up the G. rosea, but now she's seen my latest purchase (H. Minax or H. Lipipes I think, can't be sure just yet) she has decided to stay well clear. Which I'm happy about really, I'd rather people didn't mess with my T's

I handle her for hours at a time. She may be a fluke in the species, but as of the time I've started collecting my Ts, I've seemed to have a LOT of flukes. I had her and the male out once and they mated on my forearm.

Holding a T is completely up to the owner. Unless handled correctly and with a cool head, it can be dangerous for both the T and the owner. People also claim it stresses the T.. I can't entirely disagree with that statement, but, I will say this: The more I handled Pterrah (Adult Female P. Murinus ~4") she seemed to become more accustomed to it.

Have to say, to have tarantulas mating on your arm has to be quite an experience I'm sure not many people could say has happened to them. Quite incredible.

The stressing argument. I will say I'm of the opinion that yeah, it probably doesn't stress them out IF handling is done in the best way, much like how you said you did yourself.

I can give you an example of handling = stress. My partners mother bought a T not so long ago. I went to go see it (Mexican red knee) and a couple of hours later she said she'd get her out.

The T was in the corner of the tank and she got a piece of paper behind it, and was trying to guide it up. The spider of course couldn't move so it flicked an insane amount of hairs towards the paper.

I can only see it as needless stress, which I'm sure many in experienced T owners will commit. Though as you say, if done correctly, stress wouldn't occur so much.

 

[mOtOjUnKiE]

Depends on the species, and maybe don't force it on the animal? Allow it to crawl on your hand, enjoy, then say goodbye? I've never experienced a bite or a flicked hair.. but didn't work with the more aggressive species that teleport and then bite.

I feel the same way..I think it depends on your personal comfort level handling your T's, and also the individual T's personality/mood at the time.

If my T's don't want to walk onto my hand or they crouch down into the "don't hurt me" position...I don't force them. I'm not trying to see how much harassment they will put up with until they bite me! hehe

 

[Altair]

I had someone who doesn't keep T's berate me once too for not wanting to handle mine...so I opened my evil rosies cage and told him to knock himself out....let's just say he found out what utricating hairs are the hard way a change of underwear followed forthwith

My roommate told me owning T's was a dumb idea because I couldn't pet them, and "they aren't a pet if you cant pet them". But after I mentioned that I can't pet my fish either, she left me alone.

I would say that handling depends on the person. Personally I'm scared to death of handling my T's, and the one time I did handle a tarantula was after staring at all the pictures of people on AB handling their T's (they make it look so entertaining!). It was a 5-second walk across the palm of my hand and then I used a cup and put it back in its enclosure.

 

[pwilson5]

yay the hold/not hold discussion!

i agree with dreychen in that handling can seem to change the attitude of the spider some.. i used to handle my old Rosie all the time, he would climb up my arm and then sit on my shoulder while i was on the comp.. and then i went to college and my sister looked after it for 2 years (didnt hold it).. what i got back was a crazy T that would flick hair and threat display whenever you got close to it...

i hold my versi sling now.... i think its awesome watching him walk around waving his front legs...
and i think ill hold all my Ts in the future.. except my H. Incei colony

 

[mOtOjUnKiE]

i agree with dreychen in that handling can seem to change the attitude of the spider some.. i used to handle my old Rosie all the time, he would climb up my arm and then sit on my shoulder while i was on the comp.. and then i went to college and my sister looked after it for 2 years (didnt hold it).. what i got back was a crazy T that would flick hair and threat display whenever you got close to it...

I noticed the same with with my Rose as well...the more I handle her, the more calm she is. I seriously think some spiders can be socialized!! When I see YouTube vids of people handling OBT's & other more aggressive OW species, I always kinda wonder if they started handling them as slings so they're used to it now as adults...

 

[barabootom]

I don't handle most of my T's. I do handle a few on occasion. I don't see anything wrong with simply enjoying your T's in their enclosure. They are fascinating creatures. I agree that handling T's is a personal choice and any T keeper who insists you have to handle them is out of line.

 

[Kathy]

I like to let my chaco walk around on my hand but I don't force it. I just put my hand in the enclosure next to her and if she wants to walk on me she can. Just a gentle touch. The versi's I only let walk on me when I change the enclosure. My h. mac, I don't go anywhere near that thing......

 

[Bill S]

I tend not to handle my tarantulas. I say "tend" because there are exceptions. I don't handle for entertainment, though. About the only time I handle one is if it becomes necessary as part of the process of rehousing, recapturing, etc. When this happens I never grab the tarantula, but allow it/guide it toward crawling up onto my and. More often, though, I'll simply place a cup over it and move it more safely.

Tarantulas do not "like" to be handled, are not interested in interacting with people, and do not benefit in any way from being handled. So... out of respect for the animal, I don't pretend it's a puppy or kitten, and don't handle it.

 

[gromgrom]

i only hold my avic avic, because its never threatening and loves wandering around.

 

[Fran]

I tend not to handle my tarantulas. I say "tend" because there are exceptions. I don't handle for entertainment, though. About the only time I handle one is if it becomes necessary as part of the process of rehousing, recapturing, etc. When this happens I never grab the tarantula, but allow it/guide it toward crawling up onto my and. More often, though, I'll simply place a cup over it and move it more safely.

Tarantulas do not "like" to be handled, are not interested in interacting with people, and do not benefit in any way from being handled. So... out of respect for the animal, I don't pretend it's a puppy or kitten, and don't handle it.

AMEN.

:worship: