so I have a 4 year old chilean rose female. Have had her for about a month or so now. Loves being handled and coming out. Until recently. Since Saturday she has decided out of no where to just kick out her urticating hairs randomly. She will be walking on my hands and be doing it for a bit then bang just stops mid step lets some hairs out and right back to walking. This is now the second time this has happened. Any ideas/suggestions
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Urticating hairs
- Thread starter est4life
- Start date
- Messages
- 639
- Location
- Cortland, NY
No T loves being handled, some just tolerate it more than others. Their brains are not complex enough to "enjoy" things. Kicking hairs is most NW tarantulas first line of defense. Its her trying to get you to stop picking her up.
- Messages
- 106
I suggest you stop handling your t it stresses them out, that's why she's flicking hairs, like Matthew says no t loves being handled
- Messages
- 1,082
Agree. Like handling your fish 
- Messages
- 1,091
- Location
- New Mexico
Urticating hairs are a defnse mechanism, be it active like fending off a predator, or passive like linning the burrow entrance.to prevent intruders. When urts fail the next action is either run for cover or bite. if you are going to handle, just be prepared. You dont want to have a panicked reaction to a bite and fling her across the room.
- Messages
- 162
- Location
- Massachusetts
I wouldn't pick up ANY of my hair-kickers! You're brave. I hate the burn of urticating hairs. I've felt my t.stirmi's so far, that felt like fiberglass burn, and one of my l.parahybana's, and THAT felt like I put a torch to my skin.
- Messages
- 1,679
As has been said none of them "Love" being handled. The hair-kicking is a defense mechanism. Most (but not all) NW species tend to be less defensive and have a less up front way of telling potential predators (like you) to get lost.
