What's the Most Friendly-LOOKING Tarantula

[ZenRooster]

There are a bazillion Youtube videos on the friendliest / most docile tarantulas for handling, and there are a bazillion Youtube videos on the most beautiful / impressive tarantulas. However, I'm interested in the most friendly- / nonthreatening-LOOKING tarantulas.

For example, let's say you have a friend who is terrified of spiders. Many enthusiasts suggest that you let them hold a docile species to help them get over those fears. But as docile as a Brazilian Black may be, it's a giant and ominously BLACK spider. In my opinion, it doesn't exactly scream "SAFE" or "FRIENDLY." On the other hand, I can easily see the Chilean Rose Hair (NCF) as being extremely peaceful looking with its soft, rose-colored carapace.

What other tarantulas might be the most friendly-LOOKING for the spider terrified? (I'm looking at you, step-daughter.)

Thanks in advance for your opinions.

Regards,
Chris

PS: Since we love pics, here's one I snapped yesterday of my 6" B. boehmei female. Not exactly "freindly-looking" with the blood red legs on pitch black body. But hey, she's pretty. LOL

 

[corydalis]

If not friend, why friend shaped? They just need a hug.. (we all do, sometimes).

Let me eat your face real quick..

 

[Spifdar]

Aphonopelma chalcodes, imo. There's something endearing about a fluffy, golden-tan spider that moves very slowly. They're a bit big, ofc, but I don't think they seem intimidating at all. They seem soft!

Eupalaestrus campestratus too imo. That is the sling I ended up getting and the adults are smaller than A. chalcodes, I think, while still being fluffy and light brownish.

 

[Ratmosphere]

Aphonopelma chalcodes.

 

[Andrew Clayton]

There are a bazillion Youtube videos on the friendliest / most docile tarantulas for handling, and there are a bazillion Youtube videos on the most beautiful / impressive tarantulas. However, I'm interested in the most friendly- / nonthreatening-LOOKING tarantulas.

For example, let's say you have a friend who is terrified of spiders. Many enthusiasts suggest that you let them hold a docile species to help them get over those fears. But as docile as a Brazilian Black may be, it's a giant and ominously BLACK spider. In my opinion, it doesn't exactly scream "SAFE" or "FRIENDLY." On the other hand, I can easily see the Chilean Rose Hair (NCF) as being extremely peaceful looking with its soft, rose-colored carapace.

What other tarantulas might be the most friendly-LOOKING for the spider terrified? (I'm looking at you, step-daughter.)

Thanks in advance for your opinions.

Regards,
Chris

PS: Since we love pics, here's one I snapped yesterday of my 6" B. boehmei female. Not exactly "freindly-looking" with the blood red legs on pitch black body. But hey, she's pretty. LOL

So this is all just gawna come down to how people see things I think a B Boehmei looks pretty friendly. But I'd have to say Avics and such look friendly also something fluffy like T Albopilosus

 

[ZenRooster]

I agree with @Spifdar. Something in the tan / beige / taupe color range feels a bit more relaxing (as far as giant spiders go) than pitch black or fiery red. This is interesting to me. I've studied the psychological effect that different colors create with regard to marketing (logo, branding, websites, packaging), but I never thought about how color psychology applies to tarantulas. Thanks for the insights, everyone.

Regards,
Chris

 

[fcat]

I would say Caribena versicolor...they are very colorful and intriguing. Every time I've shown a non-T someone a picture the first thing they say is, "That's a tarantula?"

 

[spideyspinneret78]

Hmmmm I'm going to say A. chalcodes, T. albopilosus, or G. rosea.

 

[AphonopelmaTX]

For example, let's say you have a friend who is terrified of spiders. Many enthusiasts suggest that you let them hold a docile species to help them get over those fears. But as docile as a Brazilian Black may be, it's a giant and ominously BLACK spider. In my opinion, it doesn't exactly scream "SAFE" or "FRIENDLY." On the other hand, I can easily see the Chilean Rose Hair (NCF) as being extremely peaceful looking with its soft, rose-colored carapace.

Then I would give my spider-terrified friend a link to this site's Tarantula Pictures forum or image galleries and ask which one s/he finds the least frightening. Simple solution to that problem.

 

[goofyGoober99]

I think any of the fluffier one's look friendlier (and cuter) so T Albopilosus, G rosea, and avics are pretty high on the list.
I would rank the Brackypelmas pretty high as well tbh. The stripes on my B emilia's legs just look like fuzzy leg warmers to me .

If you're looking to help someone with arachnophobia, I've had the most luck starting with pictures of my jumpers.

 

[IntermittentSygnal]

First, I gotta state, you aren’t going to find many here that advocate handling tarantulas at all. They get nothing from it and it is dangerously for them as they are more fragile than non spider folk realize.
My ambassador:

 

[viper69]

They all have the same body morphology

 

[spideyspinneret78]

I show people pictures of Primrose ( G. rosea) because she's smaller, pink, and fluffy. However I would be cautious actually showing her to an arachnophobe because even though she's cute, she does NOT have a nice temperament. In fact some days she borders on homicidal.

 

[TheraMygale]

With what i have seen and experienced…

C versiclor seems to be on the top of the list. If its not a crazy one.

same would go for a g rosea…

i dont think there is a right answer for your specific question. You would have to ask whoever is scared, what it is that scares them most about spiders.

g pulchripes are pretty awesome. Unless they are hungry.

 

[Arachnophobphile]

I can only compare in regards with the ones I have and previously had

My two top most docile and cute friendly looking were my A. chalcodes and C. versicolor.

 

[ladyratri]

.... If I were going to hand someone scared of spiders a spider to hold, tbh I'd probably start with a jumper not a full-grown tarantula of any species?

 

[LucN]

I'd say T. albopilosus, because of it's floofy looks. And I wouldn't bother handling it, I'd just suggest the spider-phobic person to look through the glass/plastic.

 

[ZenRooster]

To be clear, I'm not really talking about asking an arachnophobe to HOLD the spider, but to view it thru the clear acrylic enclosure / agree to be in the same room. That's the first step. The second step is them thinking, "aww, it's kinda cute / cool." At least, that's my game plan.

Regards,
Chris

 

[ladyratri]

To be clear, I'm not really talking about asking an arachnophobe to HOLD the spider, but to view it thru the clear acrylic enclosure / agree to be in the same room. That's the first step. The second step is them thinking, "aww, it's kinda cute / cool." At least, that's my game plan.

Regards,
Chris

As someone who got into this hobby as part of doing bug-phobia exposure therapy with my kid... We started with feeder crickets before working up to me catching a random house spider in a plastic takeout pint container.

You might start with a juvi, or dwarf species, and something either particularly fluffy or particularly colorful. Bonus points if it happens to be your arachnophobe's favorite color.

That said, jumping spiders are also criminally adorable and less potentially intimidating than a full-grown tarantula... Might still start there depending on the level of phobia.

Also strongly recommend some level of education about exposure therapy if this person is really at a place where they have trouble being in a room with a (known) spider. The first step is them wanting to work on it and having a basic understanding of how our anxiety, fight-flight-freeze etc systems work...... Then they can start thinking about putting themselves in a situation that prompts a reaction. Being in a room with a spider might be like, step four or five... Seriously. It's actually really hard.

 

[Nitroxide]

I'd say maybe the n.coloratovillosus or most of the brachypelma/tliltocatl species. I want to say the boehmei would be included but mine has a bit of a 'tude so I can't look past it I also think personality wise, avics can look "cute", they almost give off a clumsy aura.