Can you handle tarantulas

Check out my list of the best pet tarantulas. There are a few notable methods for handling tarantulas, including pinching, cupping, and free-hand. The action is done swiftly from above to prevent the tarantula from spinning around to bite in defense.

I then swiftly turn the tarantula upside down and generally there is no struggle at all. Free-handling tarantulas This is my favorite method for handling tarantulas. Basically, you gently coax the tarantula onto your outstretched, flat hand.

Open the enclosure and observe the tarantula—does it seem relaxed? If so, I proceed. Carefully coax the spider towards my flat, outstretched hand by using my other hand to lightly disturb the substrate behind it.

Allow the tarantula to crawl onto my steady hand. Gently lift the tarantula and allow it to walk from hand to hand, always keeping one hand in front of it see below picture.

Do not suspend the tarantula more than inches from the surface below it—I prefer handling over a table. The risk is that the abdomen splits open. Many new keepers feel that holding a tarantula for the first time is a major accomplishment and a benchmark in the hobby. Seasoned keepers often enjoy handling their calmer animals and sometimes, the not so calm ones as a way to feel more bonded to these amazing creatures and to show others that they are not as scary as they may seem.

For these folks, years of experience has taught them to read subtle behavioral signs and to recognize when a tarantula might be tolerant of handling. However, bring up the topic of handling on the message boards, and you are likely to wander into a heated, age-old debate between those who endorse handling and those who consider it an unsafe, unnecessary practice.

Like politics and religion, handling discussions can often become angry arguments between two sides stubbornly making a gray-area issue into a black and white one. When I first got into the hobby, it was a major goal of mine to be able to handle a tarantula without fear.

In fact, I purchased my first T, a female G. And after years of studying this creature, my first attempt at handling her almost went horribly awry. After seeing this T sit in one spot for years and never flick a hair or make an attempt to bite, I decided the time was right to finally hold her. After putting her enclosure on the floor, I opened it up and laid my hand inside.

Using a paintbrush, I prepared to use it to prod her into my open hand. To my shock, she latched onto the paintbrush, scraping her fangs against it as she attacked.

In retrospect, I believe that her actions were a feeding response, and NOT a malicious or aggressive gesture. However, the point remains that, had the brush been my hand, I would have been bit. The benefit for me would be that I could brag that I held a tarantula. The benefit for the tarantula would be…well…nothing. I know some folks handle, and I understand the draw of it. I also realize that for some, it makes them feel closer to their pet. I would rather show my affection and love for them by not putting them in unnecessarily dangerous situations.

Still, I recognize that many keepers handle often and without incident, so handling is not necessarily wrong, and the issue is not a black and white one. Some are even brought into the hobby after these up-close and personal experiences. I do think that keepers need to be informed and use discretion before making the decision to handle, and that experience is needed before this is attempted. So, if you are a new keeper thinking about handling or feeling less than worthy of being in this hobby because you have not yet handled here are some points to consider.

NOTE: This essay is not intended necessarily to dissuade folks from handling, and I am not trying to change the views of any keeper who handles. I am just offering some points to consider before taking this step.

Many keepers with years of experience have a hands-off policy with their pets. You can also explain that the decision not to handle does not mean that you are afraid of tarantulas or that they are dangerous. You might just mention the stress it can cause the animal or the need to avoid potential injury if the T were to bolt or fall. I have seen evidence in my own collection that some can be conditioned to respond a certain way to stimuli I have a few that will now come out of their burrows to eat when I open the enclosure , but saying that they learn would be arguable.

It seems that some tarantulas have better temperaments than others, and some will become more tolerant of handling after repeated interactions.

However, it should be noted that if you hold the animal without incident, all that means is that on that particular day, in that particular moment, the T was calm enough to tolerate being handled.

They will then bite or hair flick to inflict pain and, hopefully, escape. Have you ever accidentally breathed on one? Their reaction is usually immediate and panicked. Keep this in mind if you decide to hold your pet; one minute it may be sitting calmly in your hands, the next it may bolt or bite.

Which leads to…. I believe that probably can. I doubt it. Are they still stressed? They are not domesticated animals; they are essentially wild animals and not ones recognized for higher-order thinking. This makes them VERY unpredictable. The boards are rife with stories of once docile Ts molting into nasty little monsters and sometimes molting back to docile again. If you are hesitant about handling your tarantula the best idea would be not to do it.

A tarantula kicks hairs by using its back pair of legs to repeatedly rub the abdomen and shake loose hairs. It will then flings these hairs in the direction of its attacker. This defense is enough to discourage most attackers. In humans these hairs can cause a painful, but temporary rash. The tarantula does have a venomous bite, but its venom is designed to take down prey smaller than itself.

The bite of a pet tarantula is similar to that of a bee sting. If you are bitten by your spider clean the wound and use antiseptic to prevent any infections that may occur.

The bite may throb and ache for a while and in some cases there may be nausea and fever. If you are bitten and are afraid you may be having an allergic reaction make sure you receive medical attention as soon as possible.