One of the first questions I get when people find out that I keep tarantulas is whether I handle them. The answer to that is almost exclusively “no”. And part of the reason for that pertains to whether or not tarantulas actually like being handled. Broadly speaking tarantulas don’t like being handled. Some calmer and …
Ball pythons are well-known for their relaxed, docile attitudes. This makes them an ideal pet snake for anyone who wants to be able to handle their pet. It can also make routine tank maintenance and health checks much simpler when compared to faster or more aggressive species. Before you reach into the cage and start …
One of the first questions I receive from people when they find out I keep a menagerie of exotic pets is “do you handle them?”. Sadly, they’re often disappointed with my answer. The fact is that while some reptiles are suitable for handling, the vast majority aren’t. As responsible reptile keepers our first priority must …
If you’ve been lucky enough to watch a praying mantis going about it’s day then an obvious question is: “is it safe to hold a praying mantis?”. In this article we’re going to answer that exact question, and go into some specific do’s and don’ts. Before we get into the nitty gritty details the quick …
If there’s one question I hear more than any other it’s whether or not I handle my tarantulas. The answer often disappoints: not all tarantulas can be handled safely, while it is generally considered better not to handle even the more docile species. The reason is simply that handling even friendly tarantulas can still pose …
Moving aggressive and/or fast moving tarantulas from one cage to another can be a difficult exercise. Do it wrong and you could end up with a nasty bite mark or a missing tarantula in reward for all your effort. If you’re therefore graduating up from “docile plodders” like Chilean Roses or Mexican Red Knees then, …
Many of us have an innate fear of tarantulas, seeing them as scary, dangerous or even deadly. But how much truth is there behind the myth? Is a tarantula dangerous to humans? Can a tarantula kill you? Or is the reality really rather different? Let’s find out… Tarantula Defences Tarantulas might look scary to many …
While there are many different snakes that you can keep as a pet, one of the most popular options is the ball python. Of course, one of the most common questions relates to their temperament – specifically how friendly they are. There’s good news – ball pythons haven’t just become popular pets because they look …
Deadly scorpions are covered in most countries by licensing meaning that in general the species of scorpion commonly available in the pet trade are relatively safe. At worst their stings tend to be like that of a bee causing some short term swelling, redness, soreness and possible muscle cramps. However there is always a risk …
