Are Tarantulas Bites Dangerous? "Sometime Yes", According to New Study

[findiviglio]

Hi, Frank Indiviglio here. I’m a herpetologist, zoologist and book author, recently retired from a career spent at several zoos, aquarium, and museums, including over 20 years with the Bronx Zoo.
I’ve worked with thousands of tarantulas, in zoos and my own collection, for over 50 years. In all that time, I’ve never been bitten…mainly because I do not handle them! Tarantulas certainly adjust to captivity, but they can in no way be “tamed” or “trusted not to bite”…videos and statements to the contrary should be ignored. Cases involving muscle spasms, chest pain and other severe reactions requiring hospitalizations were reviewed in a recent study – I am aware of similar cases involving colleagues working in the field. The urticating hairs of New World tarantulas are also a consideration; some years ago, a co-worker of mine required corneal surgery to remove those shed by a Red-Kneed Tarantula. Read the rest of this article here Are Tarantula Bites Dangeous? Sometimes Yes | That Reptile Blog
Please also check out my posts on Twitter http://bitly.com/JP27Nj and Facebook http://on.fb.me/KckP1m

My Bio, with photos of animals I’ve been lucky enough to work with: That Pet Place welcomes Zoologist/Herpetologist Frank Indiviglio to That Reptile Blog | That Reptile Blog

Best Regards, Frank Indiviglio

[Mentat]

Nice article Frank! I keep a few tarantulas and do not handle them either .

[findiviglio]

Nice article Frank! I keep a few tarantulas and do not handle them either .

Much appreciated, Carlos; best regards, frank

[nicodimus22]

Not to play devil's advocate here, but there is not a single recorded death due to a tarantula bite in human history. I'm not saying there's no risk, or that it can't be extremely unpleasant depending on the species (OBTs have a nasty bite record, for example) but they're not in the same league as many other venomous creatures in terms of lethality. I have 2 tarantulas, and I never handle them either, primarily because there is no benefit to it. It's all risk (mostly for the spider due to its fragility) and no reward. They're not smart enough to 'get used to' handling, so I limit my contact with them to re-housing and the occasional habitat cleaning.

[findiviglio]

Not to play devil's advocate here, but there is not a single recorded death due to a tarantula bite in human history. I'm not saying there's no risk, or that it can't be extremely unpleasant depending on the species (OBTs have a nasty bite record, for example) but they're not in the same league as many other venomous creatures in terms of lethality. I have 2 tarantulas, and I never handle them either, primarily because there is no benefit to it. It's all risk (mostly for the spider due to its fragility) and no reward. They're not smart enough to 'get used to' handling, so I limit my contact with them to re-housing and the occasional habitat cleaning.

Hello,

Thanks for your interest. Deaths have not been documented, but given the number of factors that can affect severity, and the fact that most are un-reported, it's difficult to say much with certainty. As for handling, I agree, although my fragility is the main reason! best, Frank

[deranged chipmunk]

Frank, as always, yet another great and informative blog. Thanks for sharing!!

[findiviglio]

Frank, as always, yet another great and informative blog. Thanks for sharing!!

Much appreciated! ..Re your nickname - I've kept chipmunks, and they can be quite deranged!...impossible to house together, mass murders, sex immaterial!

[deranged chipmunk]

Haha!! That's actually awesome info to have frank! It's my playstation name. I actually derived the name from a spoof movie called "disaster movie", where Alvin and the chipmunks become possessed. I got a kick out of how something so cute could be so, well, deranged

Are chipmunks a difficult charge? They seem like they would be about the same care as any rodent?

[findiviglio]

Haha!! That's actually awesome info to have frank! It's my playstation name. I actually derived the name from a spoof movie called "disaster movie", where Alvin and the chipmunks become possessed. I got a kick out of how something so cute could be so, well, deranged

Are chipmunks a difficult charge? They seem like they would be about the same care as any rodent?

Ha, very good.

Yes, I thought the same about them; At age 14, I tried keeping adults I'd trapped for a nature museum; they are very territorial, active and do not settle down even in huge cages. Youngsters dug from a nest years later did better, but still hard to pair up, etc. A Russian species, looks very similar to the NA eastern Chipmunk, is quite calm, takes well to captivity. They were popular in the trade here in US in the 70's, I haven't seen them advertised recently. In my experience, flying squirrels are hands-down the best native rodents to keep, especially if you use red bulbs for viewing..best, frank