HANDLING TARANTULAS

[Stan Schultz]

I'm starting this thread in an effort to foment a discussion on handling tarantulas. No, I've not taken the time to do a global search on the topic. At 80 years old, I can't afford to waste that much time. Even then, I'd do it anyway, just to keep our current state of knowledge and opinions up to date.

The attached photo is of "yours truly" at the October 2023, "Tarantula Night" at Preuss Pets in Lansing, Michigan, on the Sunday afternoon just before Halloween. (There is an intentional time/date disjunct here. Did you catch it?) After you admire the Hawaiian shirt, look carefully at what I'm holding so casually in my left hand. I can't remember what kind it was, but it was probably one of either a curlyhair (Tliltocatl albopilosus), a juvenile Brazilian Salmon (Lasiodora parahybana), or a Chilean rose tarantula (Grammostola rosea). (These tarantulas were graciously loaned to me by Bryan Hidy. Many thanks, Bro!)

How casual can you get? An Hawaiian shirt, dozens and dozens of great friends and guests, and a large, fuzzy spider nestled comfortably, upside down in the palm of your hand!

(And no, this is not a brazen act of self aggrandizement. This is probably the only photo of myself that I've posted on the Internet since the 'Net was created!)

Okay, now let's hear your comments and see your photos about handling tarantulas. Let the games begin!

 

[Enn49]

Other than when slings have chosen to run onto me during rehousing I have only ever once intentionally handled a tarantula.
That occasion was a rescue mission as my cat had pulled its tank off the dresser and it smashed, tarantula ran across the floor with cat in pursuit, I pushed cat away with one hand and grabbed the tarantula with the other. All was good, no harm to the tarantula which was soon rehoused and then I sat back and thought about what I'd done, I picked up my Poecilotheria metallica and got away without a bite.

 

[AndrewClayton]

Going to get some hate for this one,

I don't deliberately take a Tarantula out of its home specifically to handle, but yes I do handle my Tarantulas even old worlds. This is only during a rehouse though, Definitely don't recommend doing it as some can be very bolty.

 

[Casey K.]

I handle some of mine, often. No shame in my game.

(Disclaimer: they love my cuddles)

 

[Tarantula Trooper]

When I kept in the early nineties I handled my T's. Now it's just look only! Most of my T's are old world sooooooo. I do have some, like Carabina Versicolor, I would, but I think it's just a bit of stress on the T it could do without. Next re-house maybe I'll let her/him off the chain and go for a walk about and I might have to save her...wink,wink...lol

 

[Casey K.]

When I kept in the early nineties I handled my T's. Now it's just look only! Most of my T's are old world sooooooo. I do have some, like Carabina Versicolor, I would, but I think it's just a bit of stress on the T it could do without. Next re-house maybe I'll let her/him off the chain and go for a walk about and I might have to save her...wink,wink...lol

If I could put mine on a leash and walk them, I would, lol...

 

[Tarantula Trooper]

If I could put mine on a leash and walk them, I would, lol...

If I could put mine on a leash and walk them, I would, lol...

Lol, I would like to to see that! Getting a leash on a Cyriopagopous, I would think, would be a challenge though! Better stick to Grammastola and Aphonapelma and always obey local leash laws ..lol

 

[AndrewClayton]

H. Gigas sling

A. Avicularia

P. Sp mascara sling

A. Chalcodes

P. Regalis

And my display Pic is H. Pulchripes. Only photos I have, not big on getting photos with them.

 

[Ratmosphere]

Just handled last night lol.

 

[AndrewClayton]

Just handled last night lol.

What was it?

 

[m0lsx]

Ours do not get handled as a norm. But a couple of ours do insist, sometimes, of come out during feeding. One being our 9 inch female LP. A couple of ours have also been handled by people who have a spider phobia.

 

[m0lsx]

H. Gigas sling
View attachment 74775

If you ever want to handle my larger H gigas just say This is what she thought of me gently persuading her into a new enclosure with a paint brush. She took it out of my hand & then firmly held it hostage for 30 minutes. And yes I used loooong tweezers to retrieve the brush.

 

[Casey K.]

If you ever want to handle my larger H gigas just say This is what she thought of me gently persuading her into a new enclosure with a paint brush. She took it out of my hand & then firmly held it hostage for 30 minutes. And yes I used loooong tweezers to retrieve the brush.
View attachment 74789

She probably thought a new home meant renovations and that included some painting to be done. Hahaha

 

[Tarantula Trooper]

If you ever want to handle my larger H gigas just say This is what she thought of me gently persuading her into a new enclosure with a paint brush. She took it out of my hand & then firmly held it hostage for 30 minutes. And yes I used loooong tweezers to retrieve the brush.
View attachment 74789

Alright H. Gigas!!!.Lol

 

[Tarantula Trooper]

Had a male Cyriopagopous Schmidti I would have loved to seen somebody try to handle...lol. Can you say " bite report"! Probably the craziest, meanest T overall I have owned so far! Bolty, bitey and hell to work with! Though my Psalmopeous Ecclesiasticus would give him a run for his money! She just straight up tries to bite. No fleeing!

 

[AndrewClayton]

If you ever want to handle my larger H gigas just say This is what she thought of me gently persuading her into a new enclosure with a paint brush. She took it out of my hand & then firmly held it hostage for 30 minutes. And yes I used loooong tweezers to retrieve the brush.
View attachment 74789

I did handle it around the size of yous just never got a photo, some are pretty bolty and near impossible for me to get a photo of as I do all my rehouse in a closed room by myself. To handle the old worlds you need to get them out there enclosure 1st with a brush or something be crazy sticking you're hand in them.

 

[AndrewClayton]

Had a male Cyriopagopous Schmidti I would have loved to seen somebody try to handle...lol. Can you say " bite report"! Probably the craziest, meanest T overall I have owned so far! Bolty, bitey and hell to work with! Though my Psalmopeous Ecclesiasticus would give him a run for his money! She just straight up tries to bite. No fleeing!

The only T that I was genuinely a bit worried of holding was my A Genic, the old worlds when you get them out there enclosure they basically just want to bolt even an OBT the Genic would stand it's ground even outside it's enclosure turning are attacking the brush.

 

[AndrewClayton]

Ours do not get handled as a norm. But a couple of ours do insist, sometimes, of come out during feeding. One being our 9 inch female LP. A couple of ours have also been handled by people who have a spider phobia.


View attachment 74788

My Aphonopelma Chalcodes does this, when you open the lid it just starts slowly walking out the enclosure, so just stick you're hand down and it walks straight on.

 

[AndrewClayton]

Not a T but got this photo last night when rehoming.

Cupiennius Salei 9cm

 

[Tarantula Trooper]

Bet that spood is quicker than prunes through the geriatric ward!