I've been waiting for this! Though we can't have scientifically valid claims on this issue (Due to lack of evidence on the subject, no premises can be held as true, just assumed), we can have philosophically sound arguments. Well done sir!I understand that it's already unnatural for T's to be in cages and fed on a schedule by people who select their prey, but it's another matter to add something new to the mix. External forces may or may not be beneficial to a T, but the fact that it's unknown and not studied gives me good reason not to test it out on my pets before evidence is provided.
The best I can do is make a sad attempt to replicate the basics that exist and occur in their natural environment (minus the parasites, predators, etc.). If there's one thing I know, it's that T's are not being mysteriously abducted and held by large beings in their natural settings. They have existed this way and have survived this way.
There's also the behavior of the T to consider and that may vary by individual, species, and environment. A T that does well isolated will probably not appreciate any extra attention by any other animal other than its prey and the occasional mating partner. In addition, a "docile" T is not a good indicator of a "non-stressed" T or a T that is not being negatively or positively affected by certain stimuli. I can only hope to replicate or produce conditions that are advantageous or favorable to the vitality of my specimen.
Thats the worst thing you can do if you want to learn.I decided I'll just send PM's to my fellow handlers or people who are in between and not mention it to the others. [/FONT]
With respect Fran I haven't seen any evidence of this.How much the handling stress affects them? We dont know.
That stress afect them? Yes, thats a fact. Any animal under stress do poorly.
Handling is a non necessary stress? Yes, it is. Taking the T out of her habitat to handle her around your hands, or lap , or bed, or wherever you like, that is stress.
Therefore, will they do worse with regular handling that with none at all? Yes, they will.
Actually, tarantulas in captivity live longer (well, they have a larger life span) than tarantulas in the wild. Being caged has some benefits like the absence of predators (I'm not saying I would like to get caged, LOL) and others.It doesn't benefit it to be in caged or ogled at either.
Not I, nor you nor ohter people know if they became more docile (I highly doubt that) or being under constant stress provoque a disminution in their natural irritability. If they were mammals, I would know for sure they get used to handling (they can see me, and know who I am), but being T's...I also noted a lot of people are mentioning that their Ts became more docile with handling. But that's the thing...mine was never kicking hairs or threatening.
See it this way. If you handle a tarantula that, like most T's I know, get scared when it feels an enourmous hand approaching, it will run, try to hide, etc.This is different from physical stress, which I think we can agree we're not subjecting a Tarantula to when we're handling it.
"Get scared" is a psychological response, something we don't see in crabs, lobsters, ticks, tarantulas, etc. They have more or less hard wired responses to various stimuli, including threats. I can pull a crab out of the water, play with it for a while, fling it back into my reef tank where it lands and continues to graze the rocks in the tank. Does that sound like a stressed animal? Not only did I handle it, I took out of the water! A stressed animal doesn't continue to eat, and hides, it turns pale, it behaves in an abnormal fashion. Just like a fish would if I subjected it to the same treatment.See it this way. If you handle a tarantula that, like most T's I know, get scared when it feels an enourmous hand approaching, they run, try to hide themselves, etc.
OK, they don't get scared, their natural irritability (insctinct) "makes" them run, hide, etc."Get scared" is a psychological response, something we don't see in crabs, lobsters, ticks, tarantulas, etc. They have more or less hard wired responses to various stimuli, including threats. I can pull a crab out of the water, play with it for a while, fling it back into my reef tank where it lands and continues to graze the rocks in the tank. Does that sound like a stressed animal? Not only did I handle it, I took out of the water! A stressed animal doesn't continue to eat, and hides, it turns pale, it behaves in an abnormal fashion. Just like a fish would if I subjected it to the same treatment.
You also can drive a car, get a checking account, buy a Justin Biebor CD and use a computer. I'm obviously using the term "animal" to describe other genera.And, BTW, I'm an animal, I'm stressed and I still eat, I'm not pale, etc. Maybe you mean animals under extreme stress conditions.
I'll start browsing the bite reports...When you have proof, I will gladly stop holding my T. Until then, please stop.