Hey guys!

[Jordylol]

I've been wanting a t for awhile and I finally got a rose hair.

I set her up in a 10 gal with everything she needs. I went to go handle her for the first time (I won't lie, I'm a little nervous) and when I put my hand in front of her she struck at me right away

what do I do? I hope I didn't get a mean spider.

 

[Christell Erasmus]

Hi
When did you get your rosehair? She may be still settling in. Try testing her mood by gently touching her abdomen with a paintbrush. If she run for cover or strike at the brush she is not in the mood for handling, but if she just walk away slowly you can try handling her. I prefer not to handle my tarantulas since it may cause stress to the tarantula. Good luck.

 

[HungryGhost]

Did you get your T from a chain pet store? If so it may have been wild caught and it certainly was mistreated. These factors could make for a more defensive T. That being said, some T's just don't take to handling but that doesn't make them mean.

 

[2G33K4U]

I use the paintbrush tech before i hold any T if they are in defensive mood they end up biting bristles not a wooden stick. Like Christell pointed out it may still be getting settled. has it set up shop ? webbed up an area for a hide? is it climbing the walls a lot? hows the substrate is it damp? Many things can lead to a stressed T. This species prefers dry. Also 10g seems a bit large for this species is this a full grown adult? if not it may be stressed do to size of the enclosure.

 

[Tomoran]

Unfortunately, rosies have a reputation for being very docile and good with handling, but that's not always the case. When I acquired mine years ago, I quickly learned that I would not be putting my hand anywhere near it. Like any species, some are very "chill" and will permit handling; others are more high-strung and defensive. It can vary from individual from individual, and attitudes have been know to change as the T matures.

Let her settle in a bit, and she might be okay. If she's not, she won't be a mean spider, but one you might have to admire without handling.

 

[Jordylol]

I just got her yesterday. She's been climbing the walls over her tank and checking out her surroundings. Now she's just chilling in the corner. I have nice soft sand in there, it's dry. & yeah I did get her from a pet store I hope she wasn't mistreated. I was kind of really hoping for a spider I could handle. She hasn't webbed up an area yet though.

 

[Jordylol]

this is her.

 

[MatthewM1]

I've been wanting a t for awhile and I finally got a rose hair.

I set her up in a 10 gal with everything she needs. I went to go handle her for the first time (I won't lie, I'm a little nervous) and when I put my hand in front of her she struck at me right away

what do I do? I hope I didn't get a mean spider.

That's most likely a feeding response. It's best practice to never go hands in a cage, no matter how docile. They have very poor vision, they can feel air movements and vibrations and react on those. If you want to handle her I recommend getting her out of her enclosure with a catch cup then from the catch cup onto your hand. For example both of my B. vagans would surely tag me as soon as my hand got anywhere near, but if I take them out with the method I mentioned before they are as calm and laid back as can be once out of the enclosure.

 

[Jordylol]

It couldn't have been a feeding response because I just dropped a cricket in there today and she's ignoring it. I did put my hand inside right in front of her when she struck at me though lol.

 

[Jordylol]

Ok, here's an update. I did the paintbrush trick with a colored pencil. I softly stroked her leg with it to show her I meant no harm and she didn't mind it at all!! she let me softly stoke her for a moment. No aggressive reaction at all. What's this mean?

 

[2G33K4U]

she is probably in a mood to be handled

 

[2G33K4U]

If it didn't spin around to strike the brush or run for the hide you should be good
place hand flat in front of T then use other hand to little touch belly it should walk onto your hand.

 

[Jordylol]

I want to so bad 2G but I'm a little scared since she struck at me at first.. I hate to be a little nervous. I want so badly to hold her. but she reacted very nicely today with me just softly stroking her leg. Should I just go for it?

 

[2G33K4U]

Nothing wrong with not holding them. It is better for the T anyways. Most the T's I have are strictly to admire and not to hold. I rarely hold my T's but when I do i do the brush test and it hasn't failed me yet.

 

[csshepherdgirl]

With the fact that she ignored a prey item, and that her abdomen looks huge, maybe she's premolt. I brought home a rosie in (unknown to me) almost in premolt. She went into premolt a couple of weeks after I brought her home and she molted almost two months later. Premolt made her very moody. Just an idea?

 

[2G33K4U]

Very possible indeed

 

[bestco]

Hi jordylol just seen your pic, are you using sand as substrate???

 

[2G33K4U]

I Was going to ask that wondering if that would have an effect on T like the book lungs and if they molt will it stick to them. I do not have experience with sand and T's so i said nothing.

 

[bestco]

It would definitely affect any t using sand, it's worrying that someone told her to use sand, so jordylol I would recommend you to remove the sand, and get coco fibre and completely dry it out for your substrate

 

[2G33K4U]

I Concur

this stuff or something similar Eco Earth