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Hi guys.
I believe I can add something of substance to this discussion, as I'm an ex-paramedic with 12 years of EMS experience in South Florida . . . which includes a great many animals that bite and sting.
Standard doctrine is that almost all pet tarantulas are not capable of killing and/or seriously injuring a human from a bite.
There are many tarantulas from the New World that are capable of causing partial or total blindness from flicking urticaring hairs, which are like tiny porkypine quills.
These irritating hairs contain foreign proteins and other substances that cause a release of histamine . . . and these hairs often contain backward-pointing barbs that cause them to get lodged in the skin and mucous membranes.
As for the actual bite . . . venom is not the only concern.
Any puncture wound is more likely to develop an infection, and tarantulas eat cockroaches, scavenging beetles, and other vermin . . . so I believe that a dirty puncture wound from a tarantula's fang does carry a significant risk of infection. It does seem prudent that any tarantula enthusiast stays up to date on anti-tetanus injections. A Goliath birdeater can have fangs longer than 1/2 inch, which seem capable of causing considerable mechanical damage . . . depending upon where you're bitten.
Old World tarantulas have avreputation for potent venom, but I feel that the danger is over-estimated. It certainly is possible that a person can have a fatal allergic reaction to a tarantula bite . . . like some people can have with ant bites or bee stings, but I've never heard of this happening, and I don't know anyone who has treated a dangerous allergic reaction to a tarantula bite.
Treatment would involve an injection of epinephrine, and follow-up treatment with steroids and other meds from the emergency department in a hospital.
There are myglamorph spiders in Australia, Tasmania, and Papua New Guinea that are quite dangerous (they are in the Atrax family, like the Sydney Funnel-Web spider), but they are rarely-if ever-encountered outside of Australia, as Australia has very strict regulations about exporting wildlife.
Atrax spiders are related to the tarantulas, but they are small, drab, and uninteresting unless one gets a thrill from keeping something simply because it's dangerous.
In Atrax, the males are between 5 and 6 times more toxic than the females. Most tarantula keepers like female specimens because they tend to live much longer . . . unless there is a breeding project going on, so Atrax spiders--especially males--are usually of little interest to collectors.
The arboreal tarantulas in India and Southeast Asia have a reputation for being especially toxic . . . but again, I feel the danger is overestimated . . . but a person bitten by such a spider should seek medical attention if there is a medical history of diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and/or sickle-cell anemia.
I would also imagine that anyone taking certain medications may have a serious issue with an Asian tarantula bite.
MAOI drugs, opiates, and a category of meds called ACE inhibitors may make a tarantula bite more serious.
For first aid, immobilize the arm or leg that was bitten, use a wide, elastic bandage to apply moderate compression over the wound (note: not a tourniquet). One finger should fit under the bandage after it's wrapped.
Wash the site with soap and water before applying the bandage, keep the extremity elevated above the level of the heart, and do not give the patient anything to eat or drink. Do not put ice over the bite.
Keep them warm and comfortable, keep them calm, and don't let them drink alcohol or take any meds and/or nonprescription drugs.
If the patient goes into shock (which is highly unlikely), elevate the legs sightly by about a foot or so, and monitor the airway.
Symptoms if shock include cool, sweaty skin, anxiety, changes in a person's mental status, nausea, rapid heart rate, and a low blood pressure.
I hope this helps.
I believe I can add something of substance to this discussion, as I'm an ex-paramedic with 12 years of EMS experience in South Florida . . . which includes a great many animals that bite and sting.
Standard doctrine is that almost all pet tarantulas are not capable of killing and/or seriously injuring a human from a bite.
There are many tarantulas from the New World that are capable of causing partial or total blindness from flicking urticaring hairs, which are like tiny porkypine quills.
These irritating hairs contain foreign proteins and other substances that cause a release of histamine . . . and these hairs often contain backward-pointing barbs that cause them to get lodged in the skin and mucous membranes.
As for the actual bite . . . venom is not the only concern.
Any puncture wound is more likely to develop an infection, and tarantulas eat cockroaches, scavenging beetles, and other vermin . . . so I believe that a dirty puncture wound from a tarantula's fang does carry a significant risk of infection. It does seem prudent that any tarantula enthusiast stays up to date on anti-tetanus injections. A Goliath birdeater can have fangs longer than 1/2 inch, which seem capable of causing considerable mechanical damage . . . depending upon where you're bitten.
Old World tarantulas have avreputation for potent venom, but I feel that the danger is over-estimated. It certainly is possible that a person can have a fatal allergic reaction to a tarantula bite . . . like some people can have with ant bites or bee stings, but I've never heard of this happening, and I don't know anyone who has treated a dangerous allergic reaction to a tarantula bite.
Treatment would involve an injection of epinephrine, and follow-up treatment with steroids and other meds from the emergency department in a hospital.
There are myglamorph spiders in Australia, Tasmania, and Papua New Guinea that are quite dangerous (they are in the Atrax family, like the Sydney Funnel-Web spider), but they are rarely-if ever-encountered outside of Australia, as Australia has very strict regulations about exporting wildlife.
Atrax spiders are related to the tarantulas, but they are small, drab, and uninteresting unless one gets a thrill from keeping something simply because it's dangerous.
In Atrax, the males are between 5 and 6 times more toxic than the females. Most tarantula keepers like female specimens because they tend to live much longer . . . unless there is a breeding project going on, so Atrax spiders--especially males--are usually of little interest to collectors.
The arboreal tarantulas in India and Southeast Asia have a reputation for being especially toxic . . . but again, I feel the danger is overestimated . . . but a person bitten by such a spider should seek medical attention if there is a medical history of diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and/or sickle-cell anemia.
I would also imagine that anyone taking certain medications may have a serious issue with an Asian tarantula bite.
MAOI drugs, opiates, and a category of meds called ACE inhibitors may make a tarantula bite more serious.
For first aid, immobilize the arm or leg that was bitten, use a wide, elastic bandage to apply moderate compression over the wound (note: not a tourniquet). One finger should fit under the bandage after it's wrapped.
Wash the site with soap and water before applying the bandage, keep the extremity elevated above the level of the heart, and do not give the patient anything to eat or drink. Do not put ice over the bite.
Keep them warm and comfortable, keep them calm, and don't let them drink alcohol or take any meds and/or nonprescription drugs.
If the patient goes into shock (which is highly unlikely), elevate the legs sightly by about a foot or so, and monitor the airway.
Symptoms if shock include cool, sweaty skin, anxiety, changes in a person's mental status, nausea, rapid heart rate, and a low blood pressure.
I hope this helps.
