question on handling

[kaz]

so I'm not all out wanting to handle my ts. Now and again perhaps and being able to transfer them when cleaning etc would be easier. I've just got a Brazilian black which is at a decent size and was wondering wether to start handling it sooner rather than later or leave it awhile. I'm aware they probably don't become tame more a tolerance I guess towards it or just plain used to it. I have a sub adult t which allowed handling when I first got it but as soon as anything goes near it now it goes all out defensive without even being touched, wondered more if this is because its afraid due to lack of human bothering!! Any thoughts on this subject,

 

[spidey noob]

Handleing is a touchy subject some do & others don't agree, I personally don't agree with it but it's your choice at the end of the day !!!

 

[Deemar]

I handle based on the individual personality. Any time I go near the cages, remove tops or stick my hand in to remove something, the tarantulas hardly even move, they don't even hide. I can tell my particular spiders aren't bothered by human intervention so I handle them regularly when cleaning the tanks, I even let my Pink Toe ride around on me while I'm washing his cage.

There was a short period where it was very dry here and all of my spiders were kicking hair because they were very stressed out and during this period I wouldn't go near them with my hands, I knew they would likely bite. Once that passed, I started handling again and it was fine.

 

[Enn49]

If you do handle them just remember that they are wild creatures and therefore unpredictable plus there is the danger of them falling which can be fatal so if you are handling do it over a soft surface and low down so it doesn't have far to fall.

 

[kaz]

cool I get the jist of checking temperament first or each individual being different was curious whether handling early on would make them comfortable with it compared to a t that hasn't had much interference. I would like my little black one to grow up friendly or comfortable around me should I say.

 

[Deemar]

cool I get the jist of checking temperament first or each individual being different was curious whether handling early on would make them comfortable with it compared to a t that hasn't had much interference. I would like my little black one to grow up friendly or comfortable around me should I say.

It doesn't make a difference how many times you handle it, they don't learn like that. Each time is like the first time.
Also if you exhale towards it, it will jump to get away from the rush of air. I tell all my friends that want to hold my spiders to not laugh nor talk towards the spider while holding it. I prefer if they even keep their mouths closed, just so it doesn't jump to its death.

 

[kaz]

well I get that, which is why I I'm curious are they a species that have capability to learn somewhat. Like most creatures are capable of learning to some degree in an aspect of what's dangerous and what's not. If they don't see u as a danger then there less likely to act in defense. Call me stupid or naive but hey its an interesting concept and you can say there wild etc but so are my cichlids which appear in front of the glass when they want feeding or thrash at the surface of the water when I forgot to feed them on time.

 

[Enn49]

Ts can't smell and they have poor eyesight so they have no way of recognising you as a friend so every time you invade their space they see you as a threat. Some will run and hide, others turn and flick hairs, then there are those that go into a threat pose and I guess some just freeze on the spot and hope you don't see them.

 

[kaz]

surely there's a difference in one that's been handled frequently to one in the wild. I'm going on the basis that my teacher at college was quite happy to let us handle the Ts considering they where always calm as the poor buggers where probably handled frequently. Anyways ill apologize in advance I knew this subject would be up for debate

 

[Deemar]

There is no difference, you're confusing nature with nurture.

 

[kaz]

not really to be fair. I was asking more along the lines as yes nature is as it is. but wether theres that small grey area for nurture or learning if u will or want to put it into that context. Hey I'm learning which is why I ask

 

[HungryGhost]

My thoughts are don't handle. There is no upside to doing it, only downside.

 

[Ghost]

You've already had some good advice on why you shouldn't handle your T's so I won't add to that.
But I will add something that has not be mentioned yet and that is if your going to handle them you should really learn their scientific names as common names just cause confusion and if you ever get bitten and have to take a trip to the Emergency room the staff there wont know that a Brazillian black=G.pulchra or a OBT=P.murinus...

 

[kaz]

yea thanks was aware of the scientific name. My auto constantly changes it so I found it easier writing it by the common name.

 

[Therasoid]

You've already had some good advice on why you shouldn't handle your T's so I won't add to that.
But I will add something that has not be mentioned yet and that is if your going to handle them you should really learn their scientific names as common names just cause confusion and if you ever get bitten and have to take a trip to the Emergency room the staff there wont know that a Brazillian black=G.pulchra or a OBT=P.murinus...

+1 Ghost.
I'm anti-handling for many reasons, and agree with others against handling. Too many are saying its OK, "mine like being handled", til it bites or falls to its death or serious injury. Then its their post about how its never acted like that before. [emoji33]
Going to the ER and state it was a tarantula that bit me, only gives animal rights activists more justification to help in banning private ownership or outright banning imports all together. [emoji35]

These delicate creatures are hard wired from birth knowing all that's required to live. They don't have the capacity to learn, especially being handled, an intruder is flight or fight. They are not and cannot be domesticated.
Pet and handle a tarantula the same as you would a piranha.
{ My venting has ended!! } [emoji13]

 

[Ghost]

+1 Ghost.
I'm anti-handling for many reasons, and agree with others against handling. Too many are saying its OK, "mine like being handled", til it bites or falls to its death or serious injury. Then its their post about how its never acted like that before. [emoji33]
Going to the ER and state it was a tarantula that bit me, only gives animal rights activists more justification to help in banning private ownership or outright banning imports all together. [emoji35]

These delicate creatures are hard wired from birth knowing all that's required to live. They don't have the capacity to learn, especially being handled, an intruder is flight or fight. They are not and cannot be domesticated.
Pet and handle a tarantula the same as you would a piranha.
{ My venting has ended!! } [emoji13]

I 100% agree with you on this Threasoid one of the reasons that im anti-handling is not to give the animal rights activists anymore ammunition when it comes to getting the keeping of exotics banned.
Here in the UK we already have a thing called the Dangerous Wild Animal Licence(DWAL) which was introduced to stop just anyone from owning animals that were considerd life threatening without keeping them in proper enclosures and not being a public liability,now over the years alot of species have been added that puts alot of exotics out of the reach of quite a few hobbyist due to the cost of the licence and public liability insurance.
Now there are currently no Tarantulas on the list of DWAL species but there is a huge list of Scorpions on it and alot of them don't have anymore powerful venom than say S.calceatum or H.macs do so it wouldn't take too many people to get bit by one of them and have to vist the ER for them to get added to the DWAL list.
This is something that people should consider when they talk about handling that it could end up putting the whole hobby at risk just for the sake of them wanting to hold a big hairy spider....

 

[Enn49]

I 100% agree with you on this Threasoid one of the reasons that im anti-handling is not to give the animal rights activists anymore ammunition when it comes to getting the keeping of exotics banned.
Here in the UK we already have a thing called the Dangerous Wild Animal Licence(DWAL) which was introduced to stop just anyone from owning animals that were considerd life threatening without keeping them in proper enclosures and not being a public liability,now over the years alot of species have been added that puts alot of exotics out of the reach of quite a few hobbyist due to the cost of the licence and public liability insurance.
Now there are currently no Tarantulas on the list of DWAL species but there is a huge list of Scorpions on it and alot of them don't have anymore powerful venom than say S.calceatum or H.macs do so it wouldn't take too many people to get bit by one of them and have to vist the ER for them to get added to the DWAL list.
This is something that people should consider when they talk about handling that it could end up putting the whole hobby at risk just for the sake of them wanting to hold a big hairy spider....

The RSPCA have now joined up with the APA in their endeavour to ban the keeping of all exotic pets in the UK. This could mean the end of people being able to keep any snakes, Ts, scorpions and any other animal that is not native to the UK and will possibly end up including hamsters, Guinea pigs, even some cats and dogs.

 

[Ghost]

The RSPCA have now joined up with the APA in their endeavour to ban the keeping of all exotic pets in the UK. This could mean the end of people being able to keep any snakes, Ts, scorpions and any other animal that is not native to the UK and will possibly end up including hamsters, Guinea pigs, even some cats and dogs.

Well if that ever happens that's me pretty much screwed as the only animals I keep are exotics well apart from my dog but she's a Japanese Akita so I suppose she'd get banned as well....

 

[DVirginiana]

They recently added a lot of species to the Lacey Act here in America (bans import and interstate transport among other things). It's ridiculous, and I keep expecting T's to show up on it.

 

[Chubbs]

Lots of hazards and not really any benefits at all to the tarantula. Handling OWs is just idiotic (same goes for some NWs like Psalmos, Tappies, Ephebopus, and some Avics), but even with more docile NWs, I just see no reason for it.