I believe when you are "taught" that certain species are dangerous then you avoid the contact. I do however believe that if you understand the species and have a great amount of confidence then you can do amazing things.

Taki's son Christopher handles the scariest Tarantulas and Taki keeps on explaining that if they bite it will not be a kind one. I just dont believe that a tarantula can be trained but will be very interesting to see someone try!

Post the tutorial videos when you are done! :woohoo:

Dimitri wrote: I believe when you are "taught" that certain species are dangerous then you avoid the contact. I do however believe that if you understand the species and have a great amount of confidence then you can do amazing things.

I agree with you here

Dimitri wrote:
Taki's son Christopher handles the scariest Tarantulas and Taki keeps on explaining that if they bite it will not be a kind one. I just dont believe that a tarantula can be trained but will be very interesting to see someone try!

Post the tutorial videos when you are done! :woohoo:

Seeing Taki's son handle the T's that he did was a bit of an eye opener for me. If he could do it, why shouldn't I? The reason I don't is because I have more data than him.

I don't have much to say here, but I guess only you will have a feel for which T's you will end up doing "what" with.

On the other hand, I have seen everything from OBT's to P.Regalis, P.Formosa, P.Miranda, H.Minax and other supposed meanies all handled by people as though they were Curly's or Mexican Red Knees, exception is NOT the rule however.

I believe training or conditioning T's is certainly possible, but in a case where the big or well known meanies are involved, being able to say "i was bitten by one of those", is a luxury I would gladly forfeit.

HS

I opened a thread on a similar topic a while ago.. Stanley mentioned something about his tarantulas rolling balls in their cages at night and Mammon once told me any T can be handeled. Someone else mentioned how their tarantulas scramble for the water bowl or in anticipation of being fed when the lids are opened.
There surely is a capacity for "remembering" things or at least adaption.
I would be interested to see some dedicated documentation on something like this..

Wild creatures do not just bite/attack. The common denominator is almost always provocation/threat. Unless maybe there is a desease related "dimentia" So if the T is happily stroling along and your hand is in its path (if it wants to) it will climb on your hand without biting you. Grab it and it will show you - This is how nature says: "Don't touch."

Wow these are some really interesting opinions.

I had a Horned Baboon for a while. Definetly one of the most defensive tarantulas I have ever seen. Quick and use to strike at anything.

I do not have him anymore. I got a few other T's and did tons of research and now I am scared to handle my curly. I think my GBB is even more docile. ANyway keep us posted. I really want to read more.

I am sure there is some factors in the research you are going to do but nontheless I am keen to read what you come up with. It seems so little research is done on T's and millions get spent to track populations of animals in areas yet we know so little about T's.