"Mild" threat posture, or just hovering legs?

[goldenpumpkin]

So to give y'all some background information, my tarantula's personality is very docile, and he doesn't kick hairs, slap the ground, bite, etc when startled, but rather he responds to getting startled by either flinching, hiding under his legs, or at most a small bolt. Well, as @Arachnoclown suggested, I have been making sure to keep his favorite corner nice and moist (because he's a mature male). Unfortunately in order to do this, I have to coax him out of the corner with a makeup brush (can't exactly wet the corner with him in the way!), which I assume he doesn't appreciate. Well, today he showed me this behavior, with his two frontmost legs raised somewhat, and as the title states, I need to know whether or not it is a mild threat posture so I know how to handle it if it happens again. My second question is, is it worth it to be disturbing him like this every time I need to wet his corner?? I just feel so bad for bothering him but if it's for his own good, then I guess I shouldn't feel bad. Also you might not be able to see it in this pic but one of his pedipalps is all small and underdeveloped and for some reason I just feel the need to bring that to y'all's attention, in case it's of any importance. Thank you ^^

 

[WolfSpider]

Doesn't look like a threat pose to me. I wouldn't worry about the small palp. Just like human males, one sex organ is enough to do the job. Personally, I WOULD wet the corner. He might not like it, but he will move if it bothers him.

Get that boy a girlfriend, he is quite handsome!

 

[goldenpumpkin]

Doesn't look like a threat pose to me. I wouldn't worry about the small palp. Just like human males, one sex organ is enough to do the job. Personally, I WOULD wet the corner. He might not like it, but he will move if it bothers him.

Get that boy a girlfriend, he is quite handsome!

That's good to hear, tysm!! And I agree, he's very handsome. In regards to getting him a girlfriend, I do not know whether he is the true form curly or the hobby form curly, and I know it's frowned upon to "muddy" the bloodline so to speak... Do you have any thoughts on that?

 

[Tarantulafeets]

Wouldn't worry about the leg raising, but aren't there 3 other corners you can moisten? And for males I would just overflow the waterdish from time to time.

 

[goldenpumpkin]

Wouldn't worry about the leg raising, but aren't there 3 other corners you can moisten? And for males I would just overflow the waterdish from time to time.

No, @Arachnoclown specifically said to moisten the corner he spends all his time in

 

[WolfSpider]

That's good to hear, tysm!! And I agree, he's very handsome. In regards to getting him a girlfriend, I do not know whether he is the true form curly or the hobby form curly, and I know it's frowned upon to "muddy" the bloodline so to speak... Do you have any thoughts on that?

He is hobby form. He could breed with either, but purists would want a Honduran female.

 

[goldenpumpkin]

He is hobby form. He could breed with either, but purists would want a Honduran female.

Ah, many thanks for confirming that for me

 

[Tarantulafeets]

No, @Arachnoclown specifically said to moisten the corner he spends all his time in

Doesn't hurt to try

 

[VaporRyder]

The pose might be “Easy dude”, rather than a full blown “Whoa! Step the heck back!”. One of my pokies does a kind of half-hearted leg lift sometimes when I raise the lid.

 

[Arachnoclown]

Here's some threat postures for fun...

 

[VaporRyder]

That top one looks like me when England score in a soccer match!

 

[WolfSpider]

Love the OBT with the fang flexing!

 

[goldenpumpkin]

The pose might be “Easy dude”, rather than a full blown “Whoa! Step the heck back!”. One of my pokies does a kind of half-hearted leg lift sometimes when I raise the lid.

Oh ok, so it still is defensive behavior then?

 

[goldenpumpkin]

Here's some threat postures for fun...View attachment 59408View attachment 59414View attachment 59409View attachment 59410View attachment 59411View attachment 59412View attachment 59413

Haha thanks for sharing!! Yeah those are some hardcore threat poses compared to mine

 

[x_raphael_xx]

I’ve got one of these water bottles.
You can direct the stream a little easier so the T doesn’t get stressed with a sudden face full of water from a spray bottle.

Got it off Amazon

 

[octanejunkie]

I’ve got one of these water bottles.
You can direct the stream a little easier so the T doesn’t get stressed with a sudden face full of water from a spray bottle.
View attachment 59416
Got it off Amazon

I took a heat gun to one of those bottles I bought off of Amazon and made the spout point down towards the ground

@goldenpumpkin that is nowhere near a threat posture. You'll know when you get one

 

[goldenpumpkin]

I’ve got one of these water bottles.
You can direct the stream a little easier so the T doesn’t get stressed with a sudden face full of water from a spray bottle.
View attachment 59416
Got it off Amazon

Looks handy, thanks for sharing!

 

[goldenpumpkin]

I took a heat gun to one of those bottles I bought off of Amazon and made the spout point down towards the ground

@goldenpumpkin that is nowhere near a threat posture. You'll know when you get one

Okay, good to know.

 

[JACEY]

Funny how their timing might be off from human timing. I nudge my Avic out of the way when I have time to change water dish. Haha she kindly moves with the nudges. If behaves resistant I let her be and do my business later or another day.

Love the that posture pics!! They are serious like ssssssssss. Lol

 

[Aracnoenthusiast]

Here's some threat postures for fun...View attachment 59408View attachment 59414View attachment 59409View attachment 59410View attachment 59411View attachment 59412View attachment 59413

Some of them are about to tip over backwards! So angry