Handling Your T Safely!

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WARNING: Tarantulas are unpredictable and can change there disposition at anytime and may bite. So handling is never advised unless you’re experienced. Old World species tend to be more venomous (stronger venom) than New World species who have urticating hairs. Take all precautions, do some research on the species you plan to own, etc…before handling these wonderful creatures.

Thought I would do a tarantula handling video for a client who had asked me how to safely handle her new B. smithi as it grows. While doing another breeding attempt with my G. rosea’s, I had the male in my hands and thought “handling video”. He cooperated really well.

Before attempting to hold your tarantula, test to make sure it is safe. You should never just reach in and grab your tarantula. You risk getting bit. If your tarantula is hungry, it could easily mistake your finger for a giant roach. Watch this feeding video to see how fast a tarantula can attack your finger when reaching in to pickup.

To attempt a safe pickup of your tarantula, take a paint brush, or a pair of tongs or similar and gently nudge the tarantulas back end. If it flicks urticating hairs, or worse yet, turns around rapidly and bites whatever your using to probe, then its not a good time to handle.

If however your tarantula scrolls up the side after nudging, then gently hold your hand at the edge for it to crawl onto. When handling your tarantula, never hold hi above the floor. Tarantulas bodies are very delicate. If it should fall from a couple of feet or more, it could severally injure or be fatal. So always take precautions and handle over a table, counter, bed or on the floor.

When handling your tarantula, they generally will walk forward in your hands. As your tarantula moves forward, move your free hand under and forward of your other hand so the tarantula has a consistant path to walk. While handling, never breathe or blow directly the tarantula. Doing so could startle it and cause it to become nervous and run off your hands.

Always place your hand in front when attempting to pickup. Only advanced keepers should attempt grabbing from above or behind. When done handling, just place your hand palm up inside the tarantulas enclosure and let it walk off gradually. Now you can safely handle your tarantula without to many concerns.

Valid comments on/about/experience are all welcome. Spam, hate, offensive, etc… will be ignored/deleted. Your welcome to share videos as long as it is doesn’t violate any terms. Thanks for reading, Greg Hagedorn.

Brachypelma vagans Slings

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Picked up some Brachypelma vagans (Mexican Red-Rump) slings locally from a breeder. The slings are captive bred (cb) and about 0.3″ – 0.5″ in legspan. There eating well. I have been feeding newborn B. lateralis nymphs twice a week. Fascinating to watch something so small catch its prey. I have plenty available for those interested. Click the link above to get started!

Brachypelma vagans (Mexican Red-Rump) are native of Mexico, and frequently found in Belize, El Salvador and Guatemala in deep burrows. This is a very beautiful New World Terrestrial species of tarantula, with very distinctive jet black legs and abdomen. As they mature, the abdomen is covered with fine red hairs (hense the common name Red-Rump). The carapace is edged with cream and has thin radiating lines of cream coloring. They are typically docile, though they can appear aggressive, are a bit skittish and are prone to kicking urticating hairs, so not recomended for handling. If handling, use caution! They can move very quickly when startled! They reach a legspan of around 5 inches with males generally a little smaller. Females can live up to 15 years.

Valid comments on/about/experience are all welcome. Spam, hate, offensive, etc… will be ignored/deleted. Your welcome to share videos as long as it is doesn’t violate any terms. Thanks for reading, Greg Hagedorn.

Aphonopelma chalcodes Care Sheet

Scientific Name: Aphonopelma chalcodes

Common Name: Desert Blonde Tarantula

Geographic Range: Southwestern United States, especially Arizona, New Mexico, and Southern California

Habitat/Species type: Terrestrial, New World

• Terrestrial refers to ground dweller, burrower.
• Arboreal refers to tree dwellers.
• New World species found in the Americas tend to be more docile, less venomous, kick urticating hairs for defense.
• Old World species found throughout the rest of the world, like Asia, Africa, Europe, etc… generally more aggressive, stronger venom, more apt to bite.

Temperature: 72°F-85°F Humidity: Moderate/High

Growth/Size: Fast / 6″ legspan Experience Level: Beginner

Temperament: Little aggressive
Tarantulas vary from docile to very aggressive, skittish, nervous, urticating hair flicker. Read “WARNING” at the end of this care sheet!

Food: Crickets and feeder roaches are most common in captivity. You can also offer mealworms, superworms, etc… DO NOT USE wild caught insects due to insecticides/pesticides and parasites threat.

Water: It is IMPORTANT to always keep an open water dish, full of water in your tarantulas enclosure at all times. This keeps them hydrated and helps keep humidity up! For slings, keep substrate moist. For juveniles and adults, water dish should be non-toxic, shallow and no wider than the body length of your tarantula. NEVER USE cotton balls or sponges to supply water or moisture, may promote mold and harmful bacteria that could be harmful to your tarantula and/or it’s enclosure.

Substrate: Peat moss, coco fiber or a mixer of peat moss, vermiculite. Kept on the damp side.
Provide 4″-12″ of substrate packed down for burrowers. Tarantulas that require low-moderate humidity should be kept on a dry substrate.

Enclosure/Cage: 5 gal tank, showbox size sterile plastic container, etc. is adequate.
Rule of thumb for enclosures is about 1½-2 times the width and length of your tarantula for terrestrial along with 3″-8″ of substrate packed for burrowers. For arboreals, they need more height then ground space, 1″-2″ of substrate. Provide long pieces of cork bard, branches, etc. to climb on for aboreals. You may provide a hide for a quick retreat if it is startled or feels threatened..

Longevity: 8 to 10 years for males and females to mature and Females live (up to 20 years).

Description:
Aphonopelma chalcodes cepholothorax is gray to dark brown and the abdomen is dark brown to black. Aphonopelma chalcodes often resides in burrows in the desert soil. It makes its burrows by digging itself under stones or by utilizing burrows discarded by rodents or other animals. It may live in the same burrow for decades. Males come out when mature after 10-12 years and search for a mate. Since it lives in the desert, Aphonopelma chalcodes is acclimated to harsh weather conditions. It does not require much water to survive, and can therefore survive in the extreme heat of the desert.

Keeping in captivity as pets:
Use medium to large Kritter Keepers, 5 gal tanks, etc… for juveniles, up to adults. This species prefers dry substrate, so moderate/high humidity levels will work and temps between 72F-85F work. Substrate can be peat moss, coco fiber or a mixer of peat moss, vermiculite mixture and should be at least 2″-4″ deep to provide adequate burrowing for slings and juveniles. Aphonopelma chalcodes can be a little more aggressive then other beginner species.

WARNING: Tarantulas are unpredictable and can change there disposition at anytime and may bite. So handling is never advised unless you’re experienced. Old World species tend to be more venomous (stronger venom) than New World species who have urticating hairs. Take all precautions, do some research on the species you plan to own, etc…before handling these wonderful creatures.

DISCLAIMER: Information contained herein represents various resources and my own personal experience with this particular species. Valid comments on/about/experience are all welcome. There are still allot unknown about certain species, so if you feel this article needs correcting/clarification, please comment below and I will make adjustments where necessary. Spam, hate, offensive, etc… will be ignored/deleted. Thanks for reading, Greg Hagedorn.

Aphonopelma hentzi Drinking!

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While down in the city picking up some B. vagans slings, the seller gave me a free Aphonopelma hentzi (Oklahoma Brown). She was in a yogurt cup and needed to be transfered to a new container. As soon as I put her in her new home, she went sraight for the water, so I thought I would film it.

Its important to keep water in with all your tarantulas and scorpions regardless of size. I use little ink caps for my slings, they work well. This species will get a legspan of about 4″-5″ and make a great beginner tarantula. Takes 8-10 to mature after which females have been know to live up to 35 years and males up to 12.

Valid comments on/about/experience are all welcome. Spam, hate, offensive, etc… will be ignored/deleted. Your welcome to share videos as long as it is doesn’t violate any terms. Thanks for reading, Greg Hagedorn.