I have a question about handling spiders. Although i have only ever owned snakes i am looking into spiders purley out of intrest but may result in me getting one!

Do you handle aggresive spiders? after looking at some of the goliath brid eaters on here i sure as wouldnt be sticking my hand in with one of those but should spiders like this be handled? or is it a no go sort of area? I read some of you on here only ever throw food in for them and dont handle them, is th is normal or wrong?

Many people hold their T's, agressive or otherwise, but it is definatly not recommended unless necessary.
The agressive ones especially, such as the famous goliath, shouldnt be handled for your benefit as well as its own.
But the main reason is, even for the usually docile species such as the red knees and the chilea roses, if you hold them and then they jump or fall or you panic for some reason and throw or bash them etc etc they can have a nasty fall and die, or it would have a serious injury that would usually lead to death. The most common thing is for the abdomen to burst when it falls. Anything over a 2 inch drop can kill a T.
But if you insist on holding a T, please make sure you know the correct way to coax it onto your hand and what to do with it when it is on your hand and how to get it back in etc. Most importantly you do not want to stand up or even sit on the settee holding one. Sit on the floor, preferably with some blankets under your hands.
Always use two hands, and never house or hold two tarantulas together, not even of the same species. It will end in tears.
Its safer for them and more enjoyabe for you to know your T is safe and you can watch it with interest. They arfe such fascinating creatures and its definatly worth getting one as long as you have read up on them. Anymore questions just ask.
BTW a goliath and such species are not recommended for beginners, especially for people who intend to handle them. Just a heads up thats all

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1.0.0 bearded dragon - Nimbus
0.0.3 baby GALS
0.0.1 carolina corn snake baby - Magma
0.2.12 tarantulas
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0.1.0 dog - Rosie

ah thanks for that, i helld one of my friends t's a few years back scared the crap out of me!

I think goliaths are fantastic looking creatures but i dont have the exsperiance to look after one so wont be getting one of them!

i do find them very intresting to watch even though they do give me the cringe factor now and again but if its ok for them to stay in thier tabk with handling only when needed i would be more than hppy to have a T.

What is it like raising a T from a spiderling?

Well even though I have 7, im still pretty much a newbie myself. I just read up on them loads beforehand and make sure I ask anything im unsure of. Im glad to hear you wont be getting a goliath for that reason. Im the same. I would love one but havnt the room or the knowledge and mainly the guts to get one lol. Maybe one day we will get one.
For me im glad I didnt get a sling as my first T, as it is more rewarding to own a juvi or older as your first.
But my second was a red knee sling and its the cutest little thing. I can tell you it is one of the most rewarding thing in the spider keeping hobby. watching it grow into this colourful hairy little beast, getting bigger and bigger with each molt. knowing it grew up in your care. I should imagine its even more rewarding for someone who has one of the harder species to raise.
Mine has only molted once while with me, but already is showing its black colouring and althout still tiny it is alot bigger than it was.
The way I can describe it is it feels like youre waiting for a new baby or something (not that ive had one) when its molting and when you see what emerges and you know its ok you feel so proud and you find yourself congragulating your spider...or is that just me?
Anyways I would def recommend a tarantula for anyone. May I recommend for a starter a chilea, a red knee, or a red rump? All are very nice and usually very docile. Or in the aboreal area a pink toe is best to go for.

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1.1.0 cats
1.0.0 chinese dwarf hamster
1.0.0 bearded dragon - Nimbus
0.0.3 baby GALS
0.0.1 carolina corn snake baby - Magma
0.2.12 tarantulas
0.1.0 sub adult female leopard gecko - Lettuce
0.1.0 dog - Rosie

People should not handle aggressive tarantulas although there are always numptys out there who will and stick it on you tube but in general they shouldn't be handled, no need and would only result in it being very angry and biting the person. Less aggressive spiders is ok although some spider owners frown on manual handling of all spiders completely but now and then it is good to gain some confidence should a spider run from the tank to your arm you will have more idea what to do and less panic but thats just my opinion

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqTzgNP2BK8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qZX9Dv0AI4

not many people are gonna be holding things like baboons or haplopelma species, it would be stupid.

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I've handled a cobalt blue!
However, I was new to the hobby and the person who sold it to me RECOMMENDED it! (it was my first T, this was 12years ago)
I only handled it the once, any time after that I even opened the viv doors it reared up. Beautiful T, wish I'd kept it (ended up swapping it for 3 leo geckos), not fussed about handling them anyway.
Only tarantula I ever handled was my avic avic, never handled one since then.
If someone had one they handled all the time I might handle that (I like the feel of their feet)but I'd never handle one of my own. I wouldn't want to risk damaging or killing the spider. They are fascinating enough just to watch

I only have 2 now, I am confident my T pruriens would tolerate being handled (I've had her 9years and never handled her, thats not going to change!), the other 2 t pruriens I had were the same, VERY laid back.
My b smithi I won't even put my hand in with. Shes a mentalist.

3 geckos noiice not bad to be honest haha

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Handling spiders isnt recommended by most people, but to me thats where i get the most enjoyment.

Docile species such as Chile Rose/Red Knee/Curly Hair can be simply coaxed onto the hand in front of them with a very very gentle nudge.

Other species such as Orange Baboon, i usually hold using this method:

(Lol at this drawing)



I put my hand Behind the spider and push it backwards onto my hand using a book or ruler (Note: this usually ends up with a very pissed off spider on your hand, so you have to be extra careful

There's a good vid on utube of this woman handling a salmon pink bird eater!!

check it out........

YouTube - Salmon Pink Bird Eater Tarantula ... again

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