Understanding Behaviors While Handling Your Pet Tarantula

When people buy a pet tarantula, they are almost certain to want to handle it at some point. The feeling of a tarantula crawling across your skin is a very unique one, and it is soothing to some people that are in tune with their pet. The tarantula is not naturally interested in being handled, however, so problems can quickly arise if you do not understand how they communicate. The best line of defense here is to leave the tarantula within their enclosure, but if you must pick them up there are some things about tarantula behavior that you need to know first.

Tarantulas are naturally curious and skittish. They do not like to feel out in the open, and will first be inclined to hide when they are brought out of their enclosure. This means that they are more susceptible to bite during the initial retrieval, and they are much more likely to try to escape. For this reason, you must take extra precautions when you take your tarantula out of their enclosure.

First, you should make sure the spider is aware of your presence. Approach them gently and nudge them into your palm slowly. They will usually go voluntarily once they are used to your touch. Also, make certain that the tarantula will not be facing a long drop if they fall. A tarantula is not a cat, and will likely not survive even a fall from about three feet. They have bulbous abdomens that will burst if they fall from a distance. Because the tarantula will likely want to initially hide or run, you need to stay close to the ground or other surface when you bring them out.

Another consideration is their aggression signals. Tarantulas have very specific behaviors when they are alarmed or upset. One of these is the act of flicking the hairs on their abdomen at the perceived attacker. That would be you if you are attempting to handle a pet tarantula that is not interested. If they are exhibiting this behavior, then forget about trying to handle them for now. These hairs are not going to harm you in the long term, but they do leave a rash and itch like the dickens.

Another behavior that should tell you to walk away is when the tarantula raises up on it's hind legs and bares it's fangs. This is not common to every tarantula, but it is common among the species overall. This is a sure fire sign that they will bite if you continue, so you best leave them alone. A tarantula is not going to harm most healthy humans, as their venom is designed for much smaller food items. There are some exceptions to this rule, but most species are fairly benign when it comes to venom. Still, a tarantula bite will sting like a bee sting, and the bite site will likely swell and hurt for a few days. Some people have allergic reactions to the venom, so some danger is possible.

Finally, you need to understand that a tarantula is not a social pet as a rule. The more activity and people that are around, the more likely that a tarantula will exhibit behaviors that are not conducive to being held. Make sure the area you are going to hold your pet tarantula is calm and serene, and that the spider does not have a quick escape route. They are very fast spiders, and can be gone in a flash if you give them a place to escape. Limit these areas by making sure you have plenty of space to work and keep the spider in your hands at all times. Also make certain that no other pets are around for obvious reasons.