Getting over the fear of handling a T

I got my 1st T last week. It is a G. Rosea. I was wondering if there are any tips, tricks, do's, and don'ts in picking her up and handling her. I find her very fascinating but am still a little skiddish about picking her up and handling her. I'm able to get the nerves to do it with a heavy leather work glove but uneasy about letting her walk on my bare hand. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Lol, I just beat my fear of snakes. Would be worse for spiders! Ah maybe I could handle tarantulas?!?!


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Originally Posted by Gomojoe

Lol, I just beat my fear of snakes. Would be worse for spiders! Ah maybe I could handle tarantulas?!?!

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i have no problem with snakes.

Personally I find that it's easiest if you first put a deli cup over her and get her out of the enclosure with that, and then let her walk out of the cup and onto your hand. I've found many tarantulas to be far more skitting in their own enclosures then once they're out.

Aside from that, it's really just something you have to learn with practice. Eventually if you keep at it, you'll get over your fears. It's natural to be nervous the first few times, you just have to know where to draw the line - if you're so nervous that your hands are shaking and such, then perhaps you just shouldn't handle her because you may startle her or get startled yourself and drop her, etc. Tarantulas don't benefit from being handled, so it isn't the end of the world for the tarantula if you don't handle them. It's not at all necessary to handle a tarantula - I'm only comfortable handling three out of my twelve, and even then I hardly handle them unless it's for a demonstration.

Im new to T's myself. I found a guy on youtube tarantulaguy1976 he showed a technique of walking them out of the enclosure with the tip of a paintbrush gently bumping them behind the abdomen. I have an Aviculairia Metallica which is arboreal can be skittish,this trick has worked great with me I think in one of his many videos he mentions something about this method being calming to them

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Originally Posted by iCandiBallPythons

Im new to T's myself. I found a guy on youtube tarantulaguy1976 he showed a technique of walking them out of the enclosure with the tip of a paintbrush gently bumping them behind the abdomen. I have an Aviculairia Metallica which is arboreal can be skittish,this trick has worked great with me I think in one of his many videos he mentions something about this method being calming to them

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The best way I have found if a T is handleable or not, is to take the paintbrush and gently "pet" the abdomen away from the body and see how the T reacts. If they don't move then they are more than likely alright to handle. But if they turn on the paintbrush, kick hairs or move away from it, then hold off on handling it. It may be stressed and trying to handle it may stress it out more and cause it to strike you. Let it chill, but don't give up.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by iCandiBallPythons

Im new to T's myself. I found a guy on youtube tarantulaguy1976 he showed a technique of walking them out of the enclosure with the tip of a paintbrush gently bumping them behind the abdomen. I have an Aviculairia Metallica which is arboreal can be skittish,this trick has worked great with me I think in one of his many videos he mentions something about this method being calming to them

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I was advised NOT to use the paintbrush on the abdomen, but instead on the leg gently, by someone I really trust in the hobby. Robc is very comfortable with his T's so he doesn't really heed much caution.