Tarantula Behaviors

Video Transcript

"In this clip we're going to discuss tarantula behaviors. In my hand, I've got a tarantula molt. This is not a live tarantula. This is just the old excess skeleton of a tarantula. Now tarantula behavior is very interesting. When they're at rest, the tarantula might sit just like it's sitting, this excess skeleton is sitting in my hand. Just nice and still. Not moving around. Now tarantula's are nocturnal. So they're not diurnal, like most of our pets are. So tarantulas are going to be active in the evening time. At night time, when we're asleep. So we'll see most of their behavior in the evenings. Now tarantulas, when they're at rest will sit still. Maybe groom themselves, cleaning their fangs. Cleaning their bodies and just kind of, grooming over all. Negative tarantula behaviors can come in, in several different types. The first behavior that we normally see, is running away. If a tarantula feels threatened, it will try to escape that threat. By running away. Now remember tarantulas are very delicate animals. So it's important that if your tarantula is running. Try to make sure that you take away that threat. Make them more at ease. So that they stop running and don't hurt themselves. The second thing that a tarantula will generally do, is kick hairs. What this means, is that they will rub their back legs on their abdomen. And what happens is, they use this back leg to rub hairs, off of their abdomen. These hairs are called Urticating hairs. And what urticating means, is that they're irritating or itchy hairs. What they do, tarantulas, is they kick those hairs into the eyes, nose and mouth of a potential predator. If you see that your tarantula is starting to kick or rub hairs off, of its abdomen. Its' best to stay away from your tarantula because it is quite agitated. Last but not least, the worst type of defense mechanism for a tarantula, is a threat posture. Tarantulas will try to make themselves look better or bigger, excuse me. When threatened. So they will raise their body, creating a larger body size for themselves. By spreading out their legs. This will also show their fangs. When they show their fangs, this is definitely a threat posture. And they're telling you, leave me alone. What we're really seeing, is that the tarantula is really scared. When we do the see the fangs, the next step is that the tarantula is ready to bite. Now this is usually a last resort for a tarantula. But if, indeed it does bite. It will pierce it's fangs into the skin of its prey, or it's enemy, it's threat. Injecting venom. Tarantulas can be quite dangerous but also very gentle. So by understanding their behaviors, we can understand tarantulas a little better."