Tarantula handling should never be done without a ton of research, watching of tutorials by experienced and trusted experts, and a plan in place for how you’re going to do this (and what you’re going to do if something goes wrong).

Learning how to handle a tarantula is an entirely separate topic in itself, and you should definitely read up on it or watch YouTube videos in order to educate yourself. In fact, you should not even attempt to engage in tarantula handling unless you know how to pick up a tarantula, how to handle them, what to expect when handling, knowledge about the temperament and behavior about your T’s species, a safe handling environment, and a plan in place for what to do if something goes wrong. There’s a lot of great information on the internet for those topics. The tips I’m going to share with you are some other lesser known tips that will help you once you get actually get your tarantula into your hands.

As a disclaimer, I first want to say that you do NOT have to handle your tarantulas. Tarantula handling is often used as bragging rights in the tarantula community, and I believe that’s wrong. You do not have to participate in this in order to feel you are a good tarantula owner. You are not a lesser T owner just because you don’t want to handle your spiders – many great experienced owners never handle their Ts. Tarantulas don’t get anything out of being handled – in fact, many of them get very stressed out when being handled. So just be aware that tarantula handling only benefits the owner – it does nothing for the spider and may even be harmful if they become very stressed out.

Now that that’s out of the way, here are my tips for tarantula handling:

Be close to the ground

Nothing makes me more nervous than watching a YouTube video of a tarantula owner carelessly holding their tarantula from a standing position with nothing under them. Tarantulas are extremely fragile, guys, and a fall from a great distance could literally rupture their abdomen and KILL them. My advice is to be sitting down while tarantula handling so that if they fall, they aren’t going far. You can also place a soft pillow or something similar underneath your hands to further protect your spider in case of an accident. This is all about providing a very safe environment for you and your Ts.

Control the airflow

If you’re new to tarantulas, you may not know just how sensitive they are to airflow. Their hairs can sense the tiniest bit of vibration and air current, and they can freak out at times if it comes as a surprise. One of the biggest things you can do to avoid having your tarantula freak out and bolt is to make sure you avoid breathing on them (or even in their direction), or talking in their direction. Trust me, they WILL feel your breath if you talk near them and it may scare them. Make sure not to laugh, cough, or sneeze near them. If you must speak as you hold them, make sure your mouth is not pointing in their direction. The same with breathing – make sure they are not in the way of your exhalations. You want to provide the least amount of stimulation as humanly possible because any bit of sensation can make them nervous.

Quarantine all pets and other dangers

This should be obvious but sometimes we get so excited that we forget basic safety. If you have pets or children, make sure you are in a locked room where they cannot get in. The last thing you need is 1. Interference of a dangerous or curious pet/kid or 2. For your T to bolt and be at the mercy of your dog or cat before you can catch them. If you have roommates or older family members, it’s a good idea to warn them or wait until they are not around so that they cannot interrupt you or cause any other disturbances that will distract you or stress you/your spider out.

Take other safety precautions

There are other things you can do to ensure your tarantulas’ safety as well as reduce the chances of escape if your T bolts. First, you should be handling your T in an enclosed room in case they bolt. This makes it easier for you to find and catch them. You can reduce the chances of your T wandering to other areas of your house by placing towels under your door and blocking all exit routes. You should also have a catch up nearby so you can react quickly. The other major safety precaution is to have first aid tools on hand in case your tarantula falls or gets injured. Being able to have all your tools on hand and not having to abandon your spider while you track down first aid stuff could be the difference between life and death for your spider. If you are thinking about handling, you should not start to do this without being fully aware of the tools you need and how to do basic first aid on a tarantula.

Have someone you trust nearby

If you have an Old World who has potent venom and is very fast (most Old Worlds are), it can be helpful to have someone you trust around in case your tarantula bolts up your arm or onto your back (like when THIS happened to Rob Carman!). This person can be called for help to get your spider off of you. Having someone nearby can also be very good in case you do get a bite and are having severe side effects. In one particular case in which Rob Carman got bitten by his tarantula, he had very severe pain and cramping and he had to be taken to the hospital. Fortunately, his wife was there to help him. While these things may not be much of a problem with New World tarantulas who generally move more slowly, are more docile, and have less potent venom, many T owners love to handle their more exotic spiders so it’s important to mention.

Please take these tips seriously, as well as doing your own research on handling tarantulas. Your spider’s life is in your hands if you decide to engage in tarantula handling, so it’s your responsibility to keep them safe.

Do you have any other tips for T owners on tarantula handling? Let me know in the comments! And if you are interested in the full scope of tarantula care, check out my tarantula guide!