Are you a Tarantula hobbyist? If so, we invite you to join our community! Once you join you'll be able to post messages, upload pictures of your pets and enclosures and chat with other Tarantula enthusiasts. Sign up today!

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Poec54" data-source="post: 40759" data-attributes="member: 3524">Rosea's frustrate many keepers, with their long fast and mood swings.  They really aren't a very good beginner species, but w/c adults are cheap, so people buy them.  Brachypelma are a much better choice.  Albopilosum and vagans grow at a moderate rate and aren't as expensive.  They're hardy, and actually eat on a regular basis (unlike roseas).  No tarantulas are aggressive or hostile.  They defend themselves from intruders.  NW's usually kick barbed hairs to drive intruders away.  OW's have evolved different strategies: running extremely fast, standing in a defensive pose with fangs extended (some stridulate), and stronger venoms.  Regardless, their cage is their territory, not yours.  In the wild their life revolves around it.  Don't expect them to be thrilled about seeing Godzilla's hand in there.Handling is an old school stunt that is gradually going away.  Instead, people are learning to treat them with more respect, and letting them live like they do in the wild.  It is not natural for giant animals to pick them up, unless they want to eat them.  Tarantulas in your hand can get startled and fall (with injuries and death); they can panic and run up you arm, even on your back.  They sometimes will bite the person they're standing on.What do you do if one bites you?  Instinctively many people will shake their hand and accidently fling the spider across the room.  Sometimes when tarantulas bite, they will hang on and try to do as much mechanical damage as possible, and inject as much venom as possible.  After all, you are an intruder in it's territory.  They don't understand the concept of benevolent humans.  They're simple-minded invertebrates with oversized fangs who are solitary and cannibalistic.  They cannot bond with humans.  They're just not good pets to hold; there's far better choices for that.</blockquote>

Verification