How to Handle a Tarantula | Pet Tarantulas

-
-
Great Amazon Must Haves for any Tarantula or Scorpion Owner:

When it comes to handling a tarantula, the word that pops into my mind is gently. Right? Although they're these hideous creatures that everybody's afraid of, they are extremely fragile. Their exoskeleton is thin in certain areas, particularly in the abdomen. The legs, in particular, again, they're not pliable at all and the least little bit of pressure could actually break them.

So gentle is the word. People sometimes say, 'Jungle Bob, you're so rough with your animals.' But when I'm picking up a tarantula like the Palomino Blond I know is not going to bite me, I simply cup the animal and put my hands underneath his legs. And this way he's cradled. I'm not smashing down on him. That would be a fatal event for the tarantula.

So that's how you could easily pick up a tarantula like this. Even though his fangs are right against my fingers, I know he's not an aggressive species and have to worry about that. Certainly, if he's walking along, the best way to pick him up is to coax him. By putting your hand in front of him, give him a little nudge on his abdomen and he will just gently walk where you want him to go. That's more maneuvering than it is handling him for sure.

And lastly, if a tarantula's got a good enough size it's fairly simple to, again, this is his abdomen and this is the head thorax, between the middle legs, like right between the two sides of his legs, you can gently grab his head thorax area and pick him up. That's not harming him any. You're in between legs two and three, if you will, on one side and two and three on the other side. And pick him up by grasping the body. That's the sturdiest part of the tarantula and that doesn't bother him at all.

Now again, handling tarantulas. They're a species that like to flick their hairs off that I don't like to pick up at all. Because even though you can pick them up gently enough they're going to be kicking the legs on their abdomen. You're going to have a mess on your face. Tarantula hair all over the place. Why bother? I coax them along. I push them along. I usually don't pick them up in that method. Nor do I want to cup them because their hairs come off of there. Agonizingly irritating.

So know your species, again. But if you want to pick him up, those are the methods to do so without harming the animal, which the most important thing. And without getting bitten, which is a pretty good idea too.

[NyoraiVids]

Howcast, if you're going to upload professional instructional videos, you should take feedback given by genuine hobbyists. The squeeze technique practiced by this not-so-gentleman is strongly discouraged within the spider community, and the rough tapping of the opithsoma is completely unnecessary. This video is encouraging new tarantula keepers into potentially injuring their pets.

[madturtle]

This is a perfect video for anyone wondering what NOT to do if you own a tarantula.

[Hoshimaru]

That is one seriously mellow T. The way you handle her makes her look like the spider equivalent of a Ragdoll cat.

[Chaoitcme]

The tarantula in this video is in premolt and you should not handle a tarantula when it is due for a molt.

[geeezteeez]

These videos are spreading false information. Please do some actual research and visit one of the several tarantula forums for information instead of using these videos as a reference. You need information from real hobbyists.

[BobrLovr]

When a tarantula feels a mouse scurrying around FOOD, bug FOOD. But when handling by a human they're really docile. What do tarantulas see people as? Do they see us as another animal?

[vodka]

right at 2:10 the tarantula just started to flick its hairs lol

[iancohen]

someone please explain in further detail why that spider didn't bite him

is it just not able to? or are they super good friends?

DID HE SAVE THE SPIDER'S LIFE IN 'NAM?!

DOES IT OWE HIM A LIFE DEBT?!?!?!?

just trying to do some research

[Mrspiderman]

"How to handle tarantula" *Cocks Gun*

[mayhemal]

If you are a beginner tarantula keeper then dont watch these howcast videos. These videos have bad advice and their methods can potentially harm your pet. In my opinion you shouldn’t handle tarantulas in the first place. You can handle them once or twice a month but otherwise they might become more aggressive. My advice is to watch videos by people who have experience in keeping tarantulas for a while, like Exotics Lair, The Dark Den, Tarantula Kat and there are many more people but that are my favourites. Overall just leave tarantulas alone. They are amazing animals but they are more like display pets.

[Shockszzbyyous]

thatone started to flick of it's hairs at the end of the video ..

[Lyckyeven]

1:20 "H E C C I N H E C K P L S D O A S T O P"

[bluubandette]

Even the most terrifying creatures don't judge

[jamalsalads]

That spider looks like it’s about to molt and this clown is literally swinging it around like a sparkler

[ianholmes]

My tarantula not to keen on comeing out of his tank but doesn't want to go back when I've had him out.

[srduce]

I don’t recommend handling a tarantula, maybe once or twice a month, if you do it too often it can get aggressive.

[Ajani_the_Insani]

Dude, you really shouldn't pick the Tarantula up from above like that. It will think a bird or something is trying to grab it.

[paolovina]

handling tarantulas is not advisable..dont encourage beginners to do this..

[aninditabhattacharya]

It’s good to see people are so brave. Else I’m so nervous and timid in dealing spiders. I don’t know why I just can’t take the spiders easily. Everything associated with them makes me restless. Is it a psychological problem I’m facing since my childhood? P.S. I haven’t generally encountered a lot of spiders in my life. Inspite of that I get spidy dreams.

[HiDeguild]

Jungle bob is absolutely outstanding. This guy so obviously loves the animals he works with.