Urticating hairs...

Arachnophobphile

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i think its better to take a breath and keep it smooth. My brachypelmas, slings, are super kicky. They have adult colors but are far from the calm adults we see.

here is a trick: put a paper towel over the top of enclosure. Moisten it. When you open top, if tarantula kicks, the hairs will end up sticking to the moist towel and instead of flowing out.

it creates a shield. You can easily create mini shields like this, with wet paper towels and small hand made frames. Its pure logic.

the paper towel can then be disposed of. It reduces the amount of UrS free flowing in enclosure because they stick to the paper.

and no, it wont create mold because its not permanent. I use this method with my nhandu color even if shes in a smooth phase. I use it with my hamoriis as well.

ecofriendly people could use towels. but i wouldnt do that because that would mean putting UrS in my washing machine. A few paper towels here and there doesnt bother me.
Not a bad idea

I've had my T's kick a lot at me in the past but didn't get any on me.

My vagans was the worse. The trick with her years ago during a rehouse was turning her enclosure on it's side. Had to do that to dig her out from the bottom of her burrow where she retreated. She kicked every UrS at me off her abdomen but it was all contained in the enclosure vs the other way.

With rehouses I'm very protected from UrS. Outside cleaning out used enclosures wearing protection is mandatory. I had a wind come out of nowhere on a bright sunny day blow the used sub full of UrS on me. Had I not been protected I'd be covered with them. I did get some on the back of my neck which caused some itching later on but a shower helped.
 

TheraMygale

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Not a bad idea

I've had my T's kick a lot at me in the past but didn't get any on me.

My vagans was the worse. The trick with her years ago during a rehouse was turning her enclosure on it's side. Had to do that to dig her out from the bottom of her burrow where she retreated. She kicked every UrS at me off her abdomen but it was all contained in the enclosure vs the other way.

With rehouses I'm very protected from UrS. Outside cleaning out used enclosures wearing protection is mandatory. I had a wind come out of nowhere on a bright sunny day blow the used sub full of UrS on me. Had I not been protected I'd be covered with them. I did get some on the back of my neck which caused some itching later on but a shower helped.
then it seems like there is nothing to worry about. Keep it safe and you shouldnt have any issues.
 

Arachnophobphile

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then it seems like there is nothing to worry about. Keep it safe and you shouldnt have any issues.
I put the S in Safe when dealing with NW's. People would laugh if they see what I wear when rehousing. I've read enough horror stories of people getting UrS in their eyes and that is the worse case scenario.

I look like I'm working in a metal or wood shop with protection covering my entire face from flying particles.
 

TheraMygale

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I put the S in Safe when dealing with NW's. People would laugh if they see what I wear when rehousing. I've read enough horror stories of people getting UrS in their eyes and that is the worse case scenario.

I look like I'm working in a metal or wood shop with protection covering my entire face from flying particles.
i think thats intelligence. Its better to be super safe then lazy. Thats when bad things happens and people regret not taking more precautions. Sometimes we are in a hurry and grab the enclosure without gloves…

im super senstive, and when i do that, i pay the price.
 

Arachnophobphile

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i think thats intelligence. Its better to be super safe then lazy. Thats when bad things happens and people regret not taking more precautions. Sometimes we are in a hurry and grab the enclosure without gloves…

im super senstive, and when i do that, i pay the price.
I do that when pulling their enclosures off the shelf for maintenance and feeding. Never had an issue but then I'm very careful handling their enclosure.

I've used a system that is less intrusive to my tarantulas which I do not get kicking even from my vagans. Nor do I stir the ground up.

I've had some kicking but nothing serious. There is a difference in kicking strength of T's. There is slight kicking in which the UrS do not travel far. Then there is the strong kicking when they are at the most threaten level. Those UrS are kicked to travel farther which I experienced with the vagans years ago.

If you want to see the air covered with UrS floating everywhere watch the old movie "Kingdom of The Spiders" with William Shatner. Yes it's ridiculous but there is a scene in a basement level building where the filming crew were dumping a lot of tarantulas through the window. They were trying to make it appear the spiders were rushing in droves to get them. Floating in the air you can see millions of UrS.
 
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