So these guys are really awful???

This is Myakka, my S. calceatum. Eric ("GONADS!!!"), I was not at all concerned about my ... er ... nether-regions, and Myakka has not been the devil incarnate that I have read about. Needless to say, I always get a read on their moods before any handling ... I was cleaning her home (I HOPE it's a girl!!!!) and just had to transfer her from her "holding vial" to the nice, clean cage. She is a gem ... I hold the vial in front of her, gently touch her butt, and in she marches. She usually just marches right back into her cage, but today, I had her make a pit-stop on me for a picture. She's waving, isn't that cute!!!

Awwww...Nice spider. Maybe individual specimens vary greatly in disposition for every tarantula species.

*Flashback to receiving bite from Usumbara*

Or Maybe not.


-Glen

Wow!! It seems that quite a number of Stromatopelma are actually not the vicious creatures they're often portrayed as. My friend used to have a docile one, and I had one too, long ago. Though I admit, after being bitten once (an accident from squeezing her leg) I never handled another baboon or Poecilotheria of any sort again!

Anyway, that's a lovely specimen, looks really well-fed too!

I want that spider!
GIVE ME!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes it is said that their venom can be very potent. I wouldn't handle it just for that very reason. I wouldn't want to take the risk of it.

That is just awesome.

Makes me want to run down to the office and pull out our big female.

On second thought...