Tarantulas are perhaps one of the most misunderstood creatures on the planet. Their large size and fearsome appearance lead many to believe they are dangerous or aggressive. However, tarantulas are actually quite docile and make interesting pets for those willing to learn proper handling techniques.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: most tarantulas tolerate handling but they do not actively enjoy it or seek interaction with humans. Handling should be minimal to avoid stressing your tarantula.
Tarantula Temperaments and Handling Considerations
Docile Nature of Pet Tarantulas
Many popular pet tarantula species like the Chilean rose hair and Mexican redknee tend to be quite docile when handled properly. These New World terrestrial tarantulas are generally slower moving and calmer by nature compared to arboreal or Old World species.
When provided proper husbandry, heating, humidity and enclosure set ups, pet tarantulas rarely show aggression without cause.
According to authoritative tarantula care sites like Tom’s Big Spiders, pet tarantulas exhibit better temperaments for handling when kept solitary without the stress of competing for resources. Well-fed pet tarantulas may allow short handling sessions without showing major signs of distress.
Signs of Stress in Tarantulas
It’s important for owners to learn signs of stress in tarantulas when attempting to handle them. Look for these behaviors:
- Balding – kicking hairs off the abdomen
- Rearing up into a threat posture
- Rapid movements like darting or jumping
- Attempts to flee or push away from the handler
According to the American Tarantula Society, any of these behaviors signal the tarantula is agitated and wants to be left alone. Prolonged handling leading to chronic stress can shorten a tarantula’s lifespan.
| Signs of Calm Tarantula | Signs of Stressed Tarantula |
| Moving slowly and gently | Quick, erratic movements |
| Not exhibiting threat postures | Rearing up on hind legs |
| Not kicking hairs or flicking fangs | Balding/flicking urticating hairs |
Handling Tips to Avoid Stress
Follow these basic handling guidelines from Tom’s Big Spiders to make the experience calmer for pet tarantulas:
- Avoid handling for 2 weeks after molting or immediately after feeding
- Scoop up gently from underneath, never grab from above
- Keep fall height very low to prevent injury if dropped
- Support all legs securely; don’t let legs dangle
- Keep handling sessions under 10 minutes
- Monitor body language and return to enclosure if stressed
With species known for better temperaments and using proper handling methods, many pet tarantulas can tolerate brief, occasional handling when required for cage maintenance. This allows interaction without unduly stressful events.
Do Tarantulas Enjoy Being Held?
When it comes to the question of whether tarantulas enjoy being held, the answer is probably not. Tarantulas are solitary creatures that lack social bonds and communication seen in more complex animals.
Additionally, handling a tarantula offers little benefit for the spider itself beyond the amusement of humans who keep them as pets.
Lack of Socialization in Tarantulas
Tarantulas do not form social groups or families – they lead solitary lives from birth to death. After hatching, young spiders immediately disperse to avoid being eaten by siblings or the mother. As adults, they only interact with others of their species to mate.
So unlike social mammals that take comfort in physical contact and petting from human companions, the concept of “enjoying” attention is foreign to tarantulas.
Solitary by nature, tarantulas invested more evolutionary energy into defense mechanisms than social cognition. Built for survival rather than affection, their behavior ranges from docile to aggressive when threatened.
For example, some tarantula species fling irritating hairs at attackers while others deliver nasty bites with venomous fangs. Getting grabbed by a giant human hand can easily trigger such self-preservation instincts.
Handling Only for Human Enjoyment
The lack of social fulfillment in tarantulas means that human handling is for our own entertainment, not the spider’s. Sure, you can allow your pet tarantula to walk on your hands safely, but it won’t get any inherent satisfaction from the interaction.
In fact, frequent handling that stresses out the spider may shorten its lifespan. One study published in the Journal of Arachnology in 2020 analyzed Chilean rose tarantulas and found that regularly handled spiders lived on average 11 months less than those left alone in cages.
Researchers attributed increased mortality rates to the rises in hemolymph glucose caused by repeat handling stress.
So if tarantulas neither enjoy nor benefit biologically from handling, why do some tarantula owners persist? Well, interaction with the large fuzzy spiders can provide people emotional fulfillment through:
- Facing fears – Getting comfortable holding giant spiders can help conquer arachnophobia or build confidence.
- Bonding – Feeling a connection while a tarantula walks on your skin can be meaningful to some caretakers.
- Education – Hands-on learning allows people to admire tarantula behaviors, features, and sensory capabilities up close.
Most experts recommend limiting handling sessions to once per week at most. This satisfies human desire for interaction while minimizing stressful overhandling. Gentle touching of legs and feet is preferable over restricting tarantula movement or grabbing across the body.
| Handling Situations | Tarantula’s Possible Reactions |
|---|---|
| Being picked up by hands | Balling up defensively or showing aggression like rearing up, hissing, or biting |
| Being passed between multiple people | Loss of ability to get footing and falling |
| Having legs forcibly extended to show size | Pulling back into a ball or loss of legs due to autonomy response |
As the above shows, tarantulas generally do not react positively when restrained against their will. Mishandling any spider is dangerous for both the handler and the tarantula. Ultimately, the best practice is leaving your pet spider alone in its secure enclosure except for brief handling once a week or so.
While adorable and interesting creatures, tarantulas should never be treated like cuddly kittens or affectionate dogs. Attempting to pet, cuddle, or force interactions with them to meet our own social needs is misguided. Tarantulas are best admired from a slight distance with handling used sparingly.
Alternative Ways to Interact with Your Tarantula
Feeding Time
Feeding your tarantula can be an enriching experience for both you and your eight-legged friend. Many tarantula owners look forward to this special bonding time when they get to interact with their pet up close. Here are some tips for making the most of feeding time:
Hand-feeding is an option if your tarantula is docile enough. Place the live insect prey in the palm of your hand and allow your tarantula to take it from you directly. This creates a positive association between your hand and getting fed. Just be sure to wash up afterwards!
Use long tweezers to hold prey items like crickets or roaches. This keeps your hands clean while allowing you to move the prey around and stimulate your tarantula’s predatory instincts. It’s exciting to watch them stalk, pounce, and wrap their prey.
Place prey in different spots around your tarantula’s enclosure to encourage exploration and exercise. Watch your pet scurry around hunting for the tasty meal.
Offer a variety of appropriately-sized feeder insects to provide a balanced diet. Crickets, roaches, moths, butterworms, and more – variety is the spice of life!
Whatever feeding method you choose, stay nearby and observe your tarantula’s unique behaviors. Feeding time doubles as enriching interaction time for tarantula lovers.
Enclosure Enrichment
A stimulating environment is vital for your tarantula’s health and your enjoyment of this fascinating creature. Here are some simple enclosure enrichment ideas:
- Add hollow logs, cork bark, and plants for hiding spots and climbing surfaces
- Use 3+ inches of eco-friendly substrate for burrowing
- Position decor items to encourage web-building
- Mist one corner of the enclosure to create a humidity gradient
Beyond habitat design, you can enrich your tarantula’s environment through interaction:
- Gently pet your tarantula’s leg using one finger – some individuals enjoy this!
- Show your tarantula colorful objects outside the enclosure, like flowers, to spark curiosity
- Place aromatic herbs or spices near (but not inside) the enclosure for new smells
- Play soft music and observe your tarantula’s reactions
With a mix of physical and social enrichment, every day can provide new sources of stimulation for your pet!
Photography and Observation
Simply sitting back and watching your tarantula can be a mesmerizing experience. With over 900 species ranging in size, colors, and behaviors – observation is endlessly interesting. Beyond just watching, tarantula photography has become a hugely popular hobby and art form.
Tips for compelling tarantula photos and observation:
- Take photos at tarantula’s eye-level for an intriguing perspective
- Use macro settings and lighting to highlight vivid details like colors, patterns, and fuzz
- Look for opportunities to capture exciting behaviors like eating, climbing, or rearranging decor
- Slow quiet movements and patience are key – no flash and minimal disturbance
- Observe appetite, growth rate, behavior changes, molting, and other health indicators
Thoughtful photography and observation will give you a deeper appreciation of your tarantula as you discover more about its unique personality and beauty.
Conclusion
While tarantulas may tolerate periodic handling, they do not gain enrichment from human interaction. As solitary creatures, handling is stressful and disruptive to their natural behaviors. The best way to build bonds with your tarantula is through proper care, feeding, and low-stress activities like photography.
Focus on providing a naturalistic environment and limiting handling to necessary maintenance. This will allow both you and your tarantula to gain an appreciation for these captivating creatures!
