Dave, that T. Blondi experience sounds ass puckering. LOL! How was the Megaphobema to handle?

I have handled the following Ts:

B. albopilosum female (4 or 5")
She is reasonably calm but tends to kick off a bit.

N. chromatus female (about 4") Once or twice
No real threat displays or anything but its clear she does not like it.

P. cambridgei female (6") Once (see the handling videos on this site)
Handled her once with surgical gloves. If you can get her moving, and if she realizes you are not food, she's rather calm. If she sits still in her cage and you touch her (with or without gloves) you WILL get bitten at least a couple of times.

P. regalis female (almost 6")
Not sure if this counts: Handled her accidentally this weekend. During a cleaning operation this weekend she ran all over me.

L. parahybana female(3-4") From time to time.
She's a bit defensive but not too much. Kicks off hairs from time to time. Gloves are recommended because this T's hairs are a nightmare. Even with a smaller specimen.

A. brocklehursti ?? (2")
Quite calm. Handled it for the first time this weekend. Kicked once, but for the most part quite docile.

I am taking it easy, but I want to get the brocklehursti and parahybana accustomed to being handled.

A. avicularia female (3")
The best handler of the lot. Calm, docile, doesn't seem to want to get back in her cage afterwards. I love the way she walks around waving those little pink toes in the air.

I use the following to estimate whether the T found the handling stressful:

After handling, I would put the spider back in its cage, wait a minute or so, and then feed it. If it takes food without any hesitation, I would say that the handling did not stress it out.

Thanks Nhandu. I'm surprised you handled the P. cambridgei. I looked after my brothers 5cm specimen, and would not even think about handling.

It would seem Avic. avic is a good species to handle. I'm dying to get my hands on some Avic. versicolors.

I handled every one of the 2745 (or so) spiders I ever owned. As a matter of fact, I have an H minax on my lap as we speak.

6 Months ago when I got into the hobby I was a qualified arachnophobe (with a laminate and everything), so I am quite happy to not handle any of them if I can help it. Happens though with rehousing, escapees whilst feeding etc.
So I can proudly say I have also handled every spider I have ever owned. All 17 of them Haha!!

My Avic Avic might change that though. Damned cute little spider!

awesome man, wish i still had her.
but my megaphobema robustum is so strange.
its back legs kick like a donkey.