Venom glands removed?

[MissG]

I often get asked (or sometimes told! LOL!) that tarantulas can have their venom glands removed.

Is this true?

I personally find it hard to believe, but I would love to hear from someone who knows.

Thanks

[Pliskens_Chains]

never heard of such a thing

[GRB]

ive heard this before, but it seems like it would be really, really hard to do.

I dont think its true, but im sure other people know better than me about this.

[Doodles]

I will admit inverts are probably my weakest subject but I can't see how its possible. You would have to anethetise the spider and perform surgery on it. I would imagine the spider would just die.

[izan]

Total rubbish i would say.

iZAN

[GRB]

The more I think about this, the more it seems impossible.

I'd say no. You'd have to disect out the venom glands and they are quite deep inside the main body of the tarantula. There would be no way you could do this to a taranatula you wanted to keep alive.

[.snap.]

couldnt they stick a needle in the glands and suck em out

[stuartdouglas]

It's CUB..................... (Complete & Utter B)

[AZUK]

Spiders venom has a double function. Once it's prey is immobilized with the venom the venom goes to work on the internal organs and flesh of the prey and literally tuns it to soup which the spider then slurps up.
If it were at all possible to remove the venom glands (which I doubt) the spider would be unable to eat it's predigested meal properly.

[MissG]

Thanks everyone.

You all are thinking what I was thinking, I just needed to make sure.

Thanks AZUK - probably the best explaination for me to give to the kids next time I get asked.