Weird Behavior? Can't explain

[Greenbottle Blue]

Hello,

I work at a zoo and one of my favorite animals to handle and teach people about is our Chilean rose-hair. Today while handling her, she did something which I had never seen before. While on my hand, she stretched her fangs apart sideways, like doing the splits, and poked me a little with them while walking.

Naturally, I got a little nervous because anything sharp and venom-filled poking you will do that. She did not bite me or penetrate the skin in any way.

I am wondering what this behavior was. Stretching, maybe? If you have any experience please let me know, because I'm really curious!

 

[HungryGhost]

The only weird behavior in this situation is you handling the tarantula. Tarantulas shouldn't be handled. They can and will bite you at any given moment. Handling also stresses them out, and they could be injured or killed from being dropped.

 

[Greenbottle Blue]

I've been working in zoos and nature centers and handling the tarantulas there for six years. It's part of the job. They've always been rose-hairs and I have never been bitten. Always important to be extremely gentle, mindful, and they are docile in return.

It is unlikely that I will stop, but thank you for the input.

Should also be mentioned that I have never dropped nor injured one while handling. The last rosie I worked with lived 16 years.

 

[tcrave]

Hello,

I work at a zoo and one of my favorite animals to handle and teach people about is our Chilean rose-hair. Today while handling her, she did something which I had never seen before. While on my hand, she stretched her fangs apart sideways, like doing the splits, and poked me a little with them while walking.

Naturally, I got a little nervous because anything sharp and venom-filled poking you will do that. She did not bite me or penetrate the skin in any way.

I am wondering what this behavior was. Stretching, maybe? If you have any experience please let me know, because I'm really curious!

It could be a number of things, she may be stretching as tarantulas do even there fangs. just be careful and try not to feel nervous tarantulas can feel the different vibrations your body gives off, nervousness causes heart rate to go up and gives more of and open opportunity to strike, no matter how long you been handling even the most experienced can get bit
handling its everyone's different opinion some love to hold them and some just don't.

 

[spidey noob]

might of been testing to see if your food LoL

 

[Roosterbomb]

I've seen Ts do this in videos a couple of times but it was like they were hanging on with them

 

[Poec54]

I've been working in zoos and nature centers and handling the tarantulas there for six years. It's part of the job. They've always been rose-hairs and I have never been bitten.

It is unlikely that I will stop, but thank you for the input.

Should also be mentioned that I have never dropped nor injured one while handling. The last rosie I worked with lived 16 years.

Well, I've been collecting tarantulas for over 40 years and never handle any of mine (I have 100 species). Roseas are notorious for mood swings and it's common for docile ones to turn defensive without warning and stay that way for years; not really a good beginner species. Just because you haven't dropped one yet, doesn't mean it won't happen in the future (same thing with getting in a car accident). They're only popular because w/c roseas are the cheapest adult spider there is, and pet stores have a much easier time selling adults than slings.

Handling gives a lot of wrong impressions to the public. It also does some damage to the hobby. People walk away from it thinking these are like hamsters and that they can handle any tarantula, so you get individuals handling Poecilotheria and other OW's. They saw you do it, it must be okay; they don't remember the details. They put them on their faces (terrible idea: hairs can get in their eyes; bites in the head and neck are much more serious). Tarantulas are simple-minded invertebrates with over-sized fangs; they're solitary and cannibalistic, and have no desire to be friends with any other animal. They should be treated like tropical fish: look but don't touch.

Saying that: 'Always important to be extremely gentle, mindful, and they are docile in return' shows you don't have an understanding of tarantula behavior. They can and will bite intruders, even roseas. Doesn't matter how gentle you are, or benign your intentions. You are an intruder and potential threat, just as any large animal in the wild is. Don't expect a warm welcome. They make no distinction, nor is their brain capable of that. This is part of the "Weird behavior" you don't understand. Most bites occur during handling, and that's what may eventually get them banned. 30 years ago, there was no possibility of outright bans; that's changed in todays political and legal climate, along with pressure from anti-exotic pet groups with some clout. Handling is a risk to the future of the hobby, especially in public or on video where hundreds or thousands of people can be mislead.

 

[novakdesigns]

Come on guys, we all know everyone has their own opinion on handling but the question wasnt about that

 

[HungryGhost]

Come on guys, we all know everyone has their own opinion on handling but the question wasnt about that

It's not opinion. Handling is not good for the tarantula, the owner, or the hobby. If your tarantula is exhibiting strange behavior while handling it, the solution to the "problem" is pretty clear.

 

[Poec54]

Come on guys, we all know everyone has their own opinion on handling but the question wasnt about that

Handling is a risk to spiders, from falls, or from being flung if they happen to bite. Most bites are due to handling. The hobby's progressing beyond: 'Everyone look at me! There's a big hairy spider on me.' It's an old school stunt that needs to go away. These are not playthings.

 

[foritxxar]

HungryGhost, Poec, you've stated your opinion. Please return this thread to it's original topic. I'm curious about the answer.

 

[Matts]

+2. Whatever your stance is on handling, it's his job. Take it up with the zoo if you have a problem with the policy. A four paragraph soliloquy on why your method is the best and only method doesn't particularly get us any closer to finding out the root of some peculiar behavior which may or may not be caused by outside stimulus.

I'm also curious as to what this could be, if anything.

 

[Martin Oosthuysen]

Okay here it goes,even though I don't agree on handling tarantulas that being said you're weren't asked views on handling but behaviour so please stick to the topic and private message the person your views also repetitive comments won't better anything.

 

[Martin Oosthuysen]

Hello,

I work at a zoo and one of my favorite animals to handle and teach people about is our Chilean rose-hair. Today while handling her, she did something which I had never seen before. While on my hand, she stretched her fangs apart sideways, like doing the splits, and poked me a little with them while walking.

Naturally, I got a little nervous because anything sharp and venom-filled poking you will do that. She did not bite me or penetrate the skin in any way.

I am wondering what this behavior was. Stretching, maybe? If you have any experience please let me know, because I'm really curious!

Hello
In my opinion the specimen seems to be using its fangs for leverage,I've seen this on videos etc. Since if it was going to bite,it would no two ways about that.