Handling pokies = bad idea?

[Oli Dodds]

Move all the equipment that you think you might need into the bathroom, such as paper toweling, medium tropical fish net (you do have one of these for catching escaped pokies, don't you?)

Ah hah, dont be silly Stanley, all I have is my hands and a chop stick (no really thats all I use) ahahah.
As always, you have not let me down, and your information is both very informative and helpful, as always.
But I want to be the next 'Spider Bob' hahaha.
I was free handling it today and it almost got me twice, but I'd still say its pretty gentle for a pokie. Just scared me when it jumped off the wall with its fangs aimed at my finger lol.
Many regards,
Oli

PS When are you gonna get your @** over here so I can meet you in person? Ive got your book and I think your my hero

[Colin D Wilson]

Once again a nice write up Stanley,

If i may add one point....

Tell the others in the house that you are undertaking such a task.
you shouldn't lock the door when undertaking a task like this (instantaneous Anaphylaxis has been known from spider bites, rarely but not a chance to take) , and you dont want people just walking in if they don't know you're in there.

[Stanley A. Schultz]

... You can't bond with a spider, or rather the spider can't bond with you. The spider gets no enjoyment out of being handled, it won't remember it's been handled previously, ...

While I can't directly refute this I need to mention that most of this is largely conjecture and there is some anecdotal evidence that they do remember some things if they're repeated enough, can learn limited responses to some simple stimuli, and may even enjoy being relieved of the boredom of living in a limiting cage once they overcome their aversion to the hand of man.

I wouldn't be a bit surprised to find one day that someone actually publishes something about tarantulas' learning ability.

While it's a good idea to not wax too idyllic about these matters (after all, we must maintain some sort of rational objectivity), it's also important not to allow ourselves to become too firmly prejudiced.

The next thing you know, they'll be running for office!

[Trevor Parsons]

I wouldn't be a bit surprised to find one day that someone actually publishes something about tarantulas' learning ability.

I've already thought about that and now I'm on to the clarevoyance of Haplopelma's. They just seem to know when I'm coming

All joking aside here's something to think about.

I had an L. difficillis that meandered out of her enclosure walked around a bit then turned around and went back in all the way into her hide.

Along the same lines I tried mating G. rosea and both male and female decided to venture out of their enclosures. I figured "I'll just wait this out and see what happens" anyway the mating was a wash, but afterward the female again re-entered her own enclosure.

[Stanley A. Schultz]

Ah hah, dont be silly Stanley, all I have is my hands and a chop stick (no really thats all I use) ahahah. ...

Two comments:

1: I took the conservative route because I didn't want to be responsible for someone reading this, misinterpreting it, and getting bit.

2: Once you are bit by a pokie, you'll never do that again!

... PS When are you gonna get your @** over here so I can meet you in person? Ive got your book and I think your my hero

I was going to mention the proper spelling for the term, but I was afraid the moderators would ax my posting, so I'll be nice and let it slip by.

I would love nothing better than to be able to visit other countries. Unfortunately, Marguerite is becoming quite frail (she's 85 this year!), she can't fly anymore, and I can't leave her more than a few hours at a time.

As far as my heroism is concerned, I am a most unlikely hero, and am a little amazed at the phenomenon. In truth Marguerite and I did write a good tarantula book, but it wasn't the first and won't be the last. It's good, but I'm waiting with baited breath to see what it's successor will be like. And, there's always a successor, trust me.

[Phil Rea]

While I can't directly refute this I need to mention that most of this is largely conjecture and there is some anecdotal evidence that they do remember some things if they're repeated enough, can learn limited responses to some simple stimuli, and may even enjoy being relieved of the boredom of living in a limiting cage once they overcome their aversion to the hand of man.

I wouldn't be a bit surprised to find one day that someone actually publishes something about tarantulas' learning ability.

While it's a good idea to not wax too idyllic about these matters (after all, we must maintain some sort of rational objectivity), it's also important not to allow ourselves to become too firmly prejudiced.

The next thing you know, they'll be running for office!

Of course Stanley. They're clearly more intelligent than most politicians

Limited learning and memory I can maybe take on board, but I'm not entirely sure about boredom. I would love to be proved wrong about their cognitive abilities though

[James Box]

given the choices of current politicians...
...i'd vote my C. crawshayi in any day over the lot of them. at least she's fair: threat posture and fangs for everyone!

[Oli Dodds]

given the choices of current politicians...
...i'd vote my C. crawshayi in any day over the lot of them. at least she's fair: threat posture and fangs for everyone!

Ruling with an iron fist ahaha
Oli

[James Box]

but shyly from her lair underneath her corkbark retreat...

her main policy would be "leave me the heck alone!" lol

[Mike_Strick]

This was my solution when I had to up-size my communal P.fasciata tank - cups on sticks with lids on sticks. Using these through a narrowly opened lid let me get three of the four spiders safely captured without the remainder teleporting in all directions. The last one absolutely refused to leave its piece of cork tubing, so I just transferred cork and spider together. The whole operation was done in a shower cubicle.

Here's one in its new home -

[James Box]

yikes, i just realised i'm going to have to do this soon enough! my striata are growing at quite the pace

[alex smith]

once done it becomes easier and more enjoyable every time -whilst confidence gained, a great adrenaline sport.They are not aggresive.

[James Box]

well i re-potted them once, but they are still quite small. one went up my arm, but we stopped it in time from escaping. not all that intimidating at this age!

[Nicola Dolby]

Hi Oli,
Can I recommend a pair of 15cm forceps if you want to move things about in the tank. I wouldn't go near the spiders with them, they're too fragile but it does help. Also with arborials the one thing that they hate is wind, so if you need to move one but are worried about getting a bite then lightly blow on him (or her). The spider will think its the breeze and will move out of the way. As for picking up tarantulas, personally I'm totally against it but if you want to handle Poecilotheria or species that can be venemous think of this. I send a male A. versicolour off for breeding a while ago. I couldn't get him to move so I touched his back legs and he walked into the container as good as gold. So later I was cleaning one of my Poecilotheria and she had her front feet hooked over the top ledge of the container so I couldn't close the lid. Being confident I touched her feet to get her to move. BANG. No warning or threat posture, she just went for me. If she'd had had her fangs out I'd have been in serious pain. Handling tarantulas is a bad idea, and if this doesn't convince you then please read the bite reports available. They're beautiful animals but they're wild animals too.