Aggressiveness

[ChazJ]

So my sister texted me today & asked me if I was comfortable enough to do some pictures (she wants to pursue a career as a photographer & has a page on FB w/ over 500 likes) w/ "Gohma", my juvie B. Smithi. I told her I would love to b/c she has exquisite color, but I think she's a bit more aggressive than most B. Smithis.

I know they're not an aggressive species, but I'm not too sure she is aggressive b/c she's my first tarantula & not sure how to tell if she is aggressive or not. Any pointers?

Thank you! =D

 

[Sabeth]

I think the difference between aggressive Ts and those that are just skittish, are that the aggressive Ts will actually try to attack you (as in biting). Where a skittish T might just try to run away from the disturbance, flick hairs or shoot feces, an aggressive T will target the disturbance and launch some sort of attack.

I also have a B. smithi juvie and she is very docile, but she did kick hairs at me one time; and since her recent molt she has been a little more excitable. Bites from B. smithi are extremely rare and are usually dry (no venom injected) when they do occur. If your smithi is nervous and/or flicks hairs, I wouldn't call her aggressive, just skittish and defensive. If she were ever to bite it would probably just be a warning, not all-out aggression.

 

[Nada]

There's no such thing as an "aggressive T , just defensive Ts. In effect you can pretty much figure out how receptive they are based on body language. If she kicks, runs or lunges when you touch her with a pair of forceps then it's best that you leave her be.

 

[BigTGirl93]

I agree with Kenny and Sabeth, no T is aggressive unless you give them a reason to be. Its similar to pit bulls having a bad rap sheet because they say there "fighting dogs", the dog wasn't born to fight, someone brought it up that way. Same thing with a T it wont bite unless you give him/her a reason too. My Pink Toe is like a huge wimp, he has never once flicked a hair, reared, tapped, or bit me. Most of the time when I open him enclosure I use a soft small paint brush and lightly brush his legs or abdomen and every time he just walks right on up to me, almost like he knows me. Its cute.

 

[Kurt Nelson]

I've yet to see an aggressive t. An aggressive t would be one that attacked you and would keep attacking you. A defensive t will lunge or bite at you, maybe throw up a threat posture, shoot poop, flick hairs but wouldn't chase you down.

 

[laura916]

I've yet to see an aggressive t. An aggressive t would be one that attacked you and would keep attacking you. A defensive t will lunge or bite at you, maybe throw up a threat posture, shoot poop, flick hairs but wouldn't chase you down.

That "wont chase you down" part is good to know, lol

 

[ChazJ]

AHHHH! Ok, thanks for clearing everything up guys! Every time I post on here, I feel like I'm expanding my knowledge on tarantulas! I seriously appreciate all the comments!