Advice on dealing with bad urticating hairs?

[Gizalba]

Hi,

I am thinking about getting a Theraphosa apophysis (Pink foot goliath) but I have heard these have amongst the worst urticating hairs. I already have an Acanthoscurria geniculata so I would like some advice on this for when she gets older too. She is about 5cm so I haven't experienced the itchy hairs yet.

My biggest concern is regarding the safety of other pets e.g. cats. I can imagine if the hairs are kicked up in a cloud it would be hard to know where they have all gone to get them tidied up. Is it best to hoover all around the area surrounding the enclosure after maintenance/rehousing, or is there a better way of getting them all collected?

Also, for protection of myself (I have very sensitive skin), would you recommend wearing rubber gloves for maintenance? And then how do you make sure the gloves are cleaned of all hair afterwards?

 

[Poppy2020]

Hi,

I am thinking about getting a Theraphosa apophysis (Pink foot goliath) but I have heard these have amongst the worst urticating hairs. I already have an Acanthoscurria geniculata so I would like some advice on this for when she gets older too. She is about 5cm so I haven't experienced the itchy hairs yet.

My biggest concern is regarding the safety of other pets e.g. cats. I can imagine if the hairs are kicked up in a cloud it would be hard to know where they have all gone to get them tidied up. Is it best to hoover all around the area surrounding the enclosure after maintenance/rehousing, or is there a better way of getting them all collected?

Also, for protection of myself (I have very sensitive skin), would you recommend wearing rubber gloves for maintenance? And then how do you make sure the gloves are cleaned of all hair afterwards?

I use nitrile gloves—you can find them on Amazon and just dispose them when done. I also will use a face mask and goggles for any rehousing. I have a small air purifier too. Never had any issues—

 

[Arachnoclown]

I have become extremely sensitive to their urticating Bristols over the years. Breeding these beasts probably doesn't help either. Honestly if you have sensitive skin already your probably making a bad decision if not already done so. With geneticulata your going to find out is horrible in the near future. I find that just feeding and watering mine i break out. Adding another extremely horrible bristle flicker (apophysis) is going to be a challenge for you. Theraphosa distribute the urticating hairs around their environment. Not because they were bothered, to ward off all intruders. Little to any breeze or movement kicks them up off the floor of the enclosure. Theres nothing you can do to catch all the urticating hairs. Lots of vacuuming with a good filter will help outside the enclosure but I find that the vacuum causes them to flick more while I'm using it. Gloves help but its just above the gloves that seam I always break out at. Wearing long sleeve shirts dont really work...either they travel through it or I get contaminated somewhere else removing them afterwards. My wife has also got haired just doing the laundry. Your sniffing dogs/cats are susceptible to taking them in the nose or face. I try to keep my dogs away from them as much as possible...especially if I see them sniffing around. Plan on itching for up to a week after contact with the bristles. I try to spray down the enclosure to keep the hairs down but I think it doesn't really work too well since tarantulas are pretty much waterproof. Many people with sensitive skin end up getting rid of there Theraphosa after a while. Not trying to detour you just letting you know that the hairs are no joke. Ive been keeping Theraphosa since 1982.

 

[Gizalba]

I have become extremely sensitive to their urticating Bristols over the years. Breeding these beasts probably doesn't help either. Honestly if you have sensitive skin already your probably making a bad decision if not already done so. With geneticulata your going to find out is horrible in the near future. I find that just feeding and watering mine i break out. Adding another extremely horrible bristle flicker (apophysis) is going to be a challenge for you. Theraphosa distribute the urticating hairs around their environment. Not because they were bothered, to ward off all intruders. Little to any breeze or movement kicks them up off the floor of the enclosure. Theres nothing you can do to catch all the urticating hairs. Lots of vacuuming with a good filter will help outside the enclosure but I find that the vacuum causes them to flick more while I'm using it. Gloves help but its just above the gloves that seam I always break out at. Wearing long sleeve shirts dont really work...either they travel through it or I get contaminated somewhere else removing them afterwards. My wife has also got haired just doing the laundry. Your sniffing dogs/cats are susceptible to taking them in the nose or face. I try to keep my dogs away from them as much as possible...especially if I see them sniffing around. Plan on itching for up to a week after contact with the bristles. I try to spray down the enclosure to keep the hairs down but I think it doesn't really work too well since tarantulas are pretty much waterproof. Many people with sensitive skin end up getting rid of there Theraphosa after a while. Not trying to detour you just letting you know that the hairs are no joke. Ive been keeping Theraphosa since 1982.


View attachment 54708

Thanks very much for all that info! The whole hoover blowing it around even more is worth knowing thanks, will be very careful with my A. geniculata. Will defo give the Theraphosa a re-think. I think what attracts me to them is their size. I hear the Lasiodora parahyana also gets pretty large - are their hairs any better do you know?

 

[Gizalba]

I use nitrile gloves—you can find them on Amazon and just dispose them when done. I also will use a face mask and goggles for any rehousing. I have a small air purifier too. Never had any issues—

Thanks very much! Have just looked up those gloves, will invest in some and wear face protection for my A. geniculata rehousing.

 

[Poppy2020]

I have become extremely sensitive to their urticating Bristols over the years. Breeding these beasts probably doesn't help either. Honestly if you have sensitive skin already your probably making a bad decision if not already done so. With geneticulata your going to find out is horrible in the near future. I find that just feeding and watering mine i break out. Adding another extremely horrible bristle flicker (apophysis) is going to be a challenge for you. Theraphosa distribute the urticating hairs around their environment. Not because they were bothered, to ward off all intruders. Little to any breeze or movement kicks them up off the floor of the enclosure. Theres nothing you can do to catch all the urticating hairs. Lots of vacuuming with a good filter will help outside the enclosure but I find that the vacuum causes them to flick more while I'm using it. Gloves help but its just above the gloves that seam I always break out at. Wearing long sleeve shirts dont really work...either they travel through it or I get contaminated somewhere else removing them afterwards. My wife has also got haired just doing the laundry. Your sniffing dogs/cats are susceptible to taking them in the nose or face. I try to keep my dogs away from them as much as possible...especially if I see them sniffing around. Plan on itching for up to a week after contact with the bristles. I try to spray down the enclosure to keep the hairs down but I think it doesn't really work too well since tarantulas are pretty much waterproof. Many people with sensitive skin end up getting rid of there Theraphosa after a while. Not trying to detour you just letting you know that the hairs are no joke. Ive been keeping Theraphosa since 1982.


View attachment 54708

Ugh....just watching your video clip makes me itchy! I’m curious to hear what other folks experience has been. I have very sensitive skin and have a A. geniculata and a L. parahybana. I’ve also kept my B.emilia ( notorious hair/bristle kicker!) and T. vagans in my bedroom for years and never had any issues. I wouldn’t keep Theraphosa!

 

[Arachnoclown]

Thanks very much for all that info! The whole hoover blowing it around even more is worth knowing thanks, will be very careful with my A. geniculata. Will defo give the Theraphosa a re-think. I think what attracts me to them is their size. I hear the Lasiodora parahyana also gets pretty large - are their hairs any better do you know?

Thats a Lasiodora parahybana in the video rubbing off its urticating hairs. They're pretty bad but not like a Theraphosa. If your into big spiders get a Poecilotheria rufilata or ornata. They both get well over 10" and no urticating hairs. Hot venom though.

 

[octanejunkie]

If your into big spiders get a Poecilotheria rufilata or ornata. They both get well over 10" and no urticating hairs. Hot venom though.

What's the scoville rating that venom?

 

[Arachnoclown]

What's the scoville rating that venom?

I'm not sure but I'd rather eat a Carolina reaper I'll tell you that.

 

[WolfSpider]

I have become extremely sensitive to their urticating Bristols over the years. Breeding these beasts probably doesn't help either. Honestly if you have sensitive skin already your probably making a bad decision if not already done so. With geneticulata your going to find out is horrible in the near future. I find that just feeding and watering mine i break out. Adding another extremely horrible bristle flicker (apophysis) is going to be a challenge for you. Theraphosa distribute the urticating hairs around their environment. Not because they were bothered, to ward off all intruders. Little to any breeze or movement kicks them up off the floor of the enclosure. Theres nothing you can do to catch all the urticating hairs. Lots of vacuuming with a good filter will help outside the enclosure but I find that the vacuum causes them to flick more while I'm using it. Gloves help but its just above the gloves that seam I always break out at. Wearing long sleeve shirts dont really work...either they travel through it or I get contaminated somewhere else removing them afterwards. My wife has also got haired just doing the laundry. Your sniffing dogs/cats are susceptible to taking them in the nose or face. I try to keep my dogs away from them as much as possible...especially if I see them sniffing around. Plan on itching for up to a week after contact with the bristles. I try to spray down the enclosure to keep the hairs down but I think it doesn't really work too well since tarantulas are pretty much waterproof. Many people with sensitive skin end up getting rid of there Theraphosa after a while. Not trying to detour you just letting you know that the hairs are no joke. Ive been keeping Theraphosa since 1982.


View attachment 54708

Great advice. The Theraposae are clearly the itch-you-to-death kings. Personally, I will never own another one.
Yes, the P. ornata have medically potent venom--and since they get so large, they can administer alot of it, but a keeper can avoid getting bitten. It is impossible to avoid Theraposa hairs.

 

[Phobik1]

Wow. Lots of good info. Looks like i wont be getting any Geniculata. Sericopelma it is.

 

[Gizalba]

Thats a Lasiodora parahybana in the video rubbing off its urticating hairs. They're pretty bad but not like a Theraphosa. If your into big spiders get a Poecilotheria rufilata or ornata. They both get well over 10" and no urticating hairs. Hot venom though. View attachment 54710

Thanks! The Ornata has now gone on my wish list I think I am going to get a sub-adult P. cambridgei to give me more experience with large fast moving arboreals to warm me up for a pokie. I have quite a few Psalmopoeus however they are still quite small/young.

I did wonder though - does anyone know how bad the urticating hairs (okay, bristles Stan ) are on Phormictopus species?

 

[octanejunkie]

If you can manage keeping P irminia you can probably keep pokies, they are larger, and a bit more spastic when disturbed/startled, but the same basic care and housing requirements.

 

[WolfSpider]

Thanks! The Ornata has now gone on my wish list I think I am going to get a sub-adult P. cambridgei to give me more experience with large fast moving arboreals to warm me up for a pokie. I have quite a few Psalmopoeus however they are still quite small/young.

I did wonder though - does anyone know how bad the urticating hairs (okay, bristles Stan ) are on Phormictopus species?

My phormictopus hairs have never bothered me.

 

[Oursapoil]

Someone recently said on this forum that a picture was worth a thousand words....
So here is my best advice on how to deal with urticating hairs, I got those just for when I deal with our T. blondi

 

[ArachnoHorn]

Wear long gloves like the one in the picture @Oursapoil sent. Wear googles and wear this.

Amazon.com: 10 Pack Safety Face Shield Reusable, Protective Transparent Face Cover Shield for Men Women Eyes and Face All-Round Protection with Lightweight Clear Anti-Fog Lens – 10 PCS

Amazon.com: 10 Pack Safety Face Shield Reusable, Protective Transparent Face Cover Shield for Men Women Eyes and Face All-Round Protection with Lightweight Clear Anti-Fog Lens – 10 PCS

www.amazon.com

if it starts to itch, apply Antihistamine cream. Hope this helps.

 

[Poppy2020]

Someone recently said on this forum that a picture was worth a thousand words....
So here is my best advice on how to deal with urticating hairs, I got those just for when I deal with our T. blondi
View attachment 54763

Nice helmets —

 

[Oursapoil]

Nice helmets —

Thank you

 

[WolfSpider]

Man, you guys must really love your Theraposae!!

 

[Oursapoil]

Man, you guys must really love your Theraposae!!

She is Enzo’s favorite
It is a parent’s duty to suffer (or in this case to itch) for his kids