It's an African, so I wouldn't reccommend handling it no!

 

There is no law to say you cant but surely with your previous experience of an African baboon you will think twice.......

 

I take it they're known for their aggression?

I guess I'll stick to a wee handle during the transfer Atleast I know its not going to kick at me - thats worse in some respects! (says the guy who's never been bitten by an african baboon!)

Can't wait to get this one set up once I'm back home, I love watching heavy webbers over the first few days in a new set up - its like watching grand designs.

 

Got mine as a 2cm sling and its just popped itself in a corner and never seems to come out. So no aggression as I never see it haha

 

Mine is about the same size, when I pick up its tub to put a cricket in I observe it in almost constant threat pose. A slight tap on the plastic tub is enough to get a threat pose actually. Wouldn't dream of handling this species.

 

Defensive not agressive :2thumb:

 

My M. balfouri is about the same size as yours and ALWAYS throws threat postures, it's so cute! Here's a video to demonstrate (wind to 4:00) Feeding fails and cute threat postures - YouTube

 

...

I have 3 communal at about the same size, never had any aggression or threat poses out of any of them yet and had one run up my bare arm during a rehouse, managed to coax it back down gently with no issues...

However... i would not advise intentional handling as i would expect that, like all african species (and as you have discovered through personal experience), they are unpredictable and you run the risk of injuring the spider should it either bite or give you a start by freaking out (i have no concern regarding you yourself getting bitten, if you choose to handle it, you deserve it if you get bitten, the spider doesn't deserve any of it)

 

You obviously havent done any research whatsoever if you are asking this question!

 

Several inches of substrate to allow burrowing, terrestrial hides + some raised/piled up structures for webbing etc, 25-28c, relatively dry set up with plenty of ventilation and the occasional mist. Some say they benefit from a set up involving a bottom watering system used occasionally provided the substrate is deep enough - but its still debated.

I'm not one for buying an animal without prior research. Just to add, upon arrival and inspection his one looks pre-moult (and I'm hoping it may start showing a little more blue with this moult based upon its size) so I've just left it alone to do its thing.

 

I wasn't looking for a tarantula to handle - if I wanted that I'd have gone for an Euthalus sp. Red.

What I was more getting at, not that it realistically matters now, is is it a species you can "get away with" provided you have a docile specimen (I won't mention the Geni I had in mind as an example as I'd likely invite more negativity - but I can say with confidence that a competent owner can handle certain "aggressive" species once you display confidence learn to read them properly), not that my hand would even find itself too close to my particularly aggressive AF OBT...

Do me a favour RFUK, never change...

 

I wasn't looking for a tarantula to handle - if I wanted that I'd have gone for an Euthalus sp. Red.

What I was more getting at, not that it realistically matters now, is is it a species you can "get away with" provided you have a docile specimen (I won't mention the Geni I had in mind as an example as I'd likely invite more negativity - but I can say with confidence that a competent owner can handle certain "aggressive" species once you display confidence learn to read them properly), not that my hand would even find itself too close to my particularly aggressive AF OBT...

Do me a favour RFUK, never change...

^ This.

 

In your initial post, you stated that you attempted to hold your "docile" P. muticus, which you claimed you had 18 months with no sign of aggression... that didn't turn out quite like you had planned, did it? That alone should have shown you that no matter how well you think you can "read" your spiders, they have a habit of surprising you... there is no such thing as a "docile" specimen when it comes to old worlds, you are either lucky or not so and if you are happy rolling the dice and handling them, then yes, with some specimens you will be lucky 8 times out of 10... personally i would not be willing to take the risk, for their sake more than mine

I am not completely opposed to handling and if people know what they are doing and want to handle their old world, fair play... but asking advice on a forum as to whether you can handle your old world (while recounting in the same post how you attempted to handle another old world because you considered it docile when it obviously wasn't) does not convince me that you are experienced enough to judge whether you are able to handle it or not. I couldn't care less if you get bitten (unless you required medical assistance, which combined with other instances of people being bitten and needing medical assistance, could negatively impact the hobby in the future), but i would hate to think that your actions could result in a spider being hurt or worse because you made a choice to handle it when it has no choice in the matter at all :S

 

And this is one of the big problems with this forum, people asking ridonkulous questions and then complaining when they get briefed up.

 

Woah, you can't say that, you'll hurt their feelings.

 

i know m.balfouri have been around for a bit now.. ours a few years back where somewhat defensive however i have never read a bite report of them yet is there much known about the venom on them ?

i also think handling any african sp is a bit risky..but then i never handle any of my T,s maybe the odd sling has run onto my arm? but i avoid it lol



disclaimer : we do are not for or against handling T,s in general just a opinion