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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Cody-Myles" data-source="post: 150710" data-attributes="member: 27027">There is a always a line drawn between the for and against of touching/ handling tarantulas.... each to their own.I don't ever interrupt any of mine unless its for feeding or maintenance/ rehousing, they're purely display animals (properly cared for of course).As far as I understand it, they lack the emotional capacity to associate touch with affection, they're programmed purely to feed, mate and stay alive.I only have 7 T's atm (until the expo tomorrow <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite8" alt=":D" title="Big Grin    :D" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":D" />), and there is only 1 I could easily handle if I ever decided to but I still don't because she would have absolutely no idea what's going on. I have a red rump and curly hair but they're kickers at the slightest breeze so I avoid at all costs (docile species my a**e <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite7" alt=":p" title="Stick Out Tongue    :p" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":p" />).But yeah, I don't think they particularly enjoy being touched, based purely on the idea that they lack the emotional capacity. A bit like dogs lacking the capacity to associate reprimand with a wrong-doing, to them, it's just unprovoked aggression.</blockquote>

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