Species Risk Assessment: Amphibians & Invertebrates

← Back to all risk assessments

This document provides species-specific risk assessments for all amphibian and invertebrate species in the Pets on the Green collection. Each species profile includes temperament, handling procedures, health monitoring requirements, and safety protocols.

Assessed by:	Ciera O'Rourke
Review Date:	April 2026 (reviewed annually or when collection changes)
Veterinary Care:	Mark Rowland MRCVS, Trinity Veterinary Centre, Maidstone

VACCINATION STATUS

Important Information:

Amphibians (Frogs): No vaccinations required or available
Invertebrates (Insects, Snails): No vaccinations required or available
All animals receive regular health monitoring and veterinary care when needed
Biosecurity protocols in place to prevent disease transmission

AMPHIBIANS: FROGS

1. White's Tree Frog (Dumpy Tree Frog)

Temperament Profile:

Juvenile: Active, jumpy, requires gentle handling to build confidence
Adult: Very docile, one of calmest frog species, tolerates handling well, often sits motionless
Bite risk: Low - mouth too small to cause injury, rarely attempt to bite
Jump risk: Medium - can jump suddenly but usually calm
Skin toxicity: Low - mild skin secretions (not dangerous but wash hands after)

Handling Procedures:

CRITICAL: Wet hands before handling - dry skin damages frog's delicate skin
Use dechlorinated water or handling gloves moistened with water
Scoop gently from below - never grab from above
Cup in moistened hands - support body fully
Keep low over handling tray/basin to prevent injury from jumps
Soft, smooth, slightly sticky skin - unique tactile experience
Cool to touch (amphibians are ectothermic)
Keep handling brief (5-10 minutes maximum)
Never handle if participant has hand sanitizer, lotion, or chemicals on hands (toxic to amphibians)
Wash hands immediately after handling

Health Monitoring:

Daily: Activity level (nocturnal), appetite, skin condition, posture
Weekly: Weight, skin hydration, eye clarity, limb mobility
Monthly: Overall body condition, fecal output, shedding frequency
Signs of illness: Red leg (bacterial infection), bloating, lethargy, cloudy eyes, abnormal skin shedding, loss of appetite

Suitability for Handling:

Suitable for: Most ages (7+), calm handlers, educational demonstrations
Good for: Teaching about amphibians, rainforest ecology, unique texture experience
Excellent: Very calm species, fascinating to observe, memorable sticky skin
Not suitable for: Young children (under 7), those who cannot keep hands wet, very large groups

2. African Bullfrog (Pixie Frog)

Temperament Profile:

Juvenile: Active, can be aggressive when feeding, defensive posture common
Adult: Can be calm or aggressive depending on individual, very large and powerful, territorial
Bite risk: High - powerful jaws with tooth-like projections, can inflict painful bite and draw blood
Jump risk: Medium - can lunge forward aggressively
Size: Can reach 10 inches (25cm) and over 2kg - one of largest frogs in world

Handling Procedures:

EXPERIENCED HANDLER ONLY - not for general participant handling
Wet hands thoroughly before any handling
Approach from side, not front (avoids feeding response)
Scoop firmly with both hands supporting body
Keep hands away from mouth - bite can be serious
Very heavy for a frog - support weight properly
OBSERVATION PREFERRED for most participants - show in enclosure or secure container
If handled by participants: close supervision, hands positioned away from mouth, maximum 5 minutes
Never handle near feeding time (increased aggression)
Wash hands immediately after handling

Health Monitoring:

Daily: Activity, appetite (voracious eater), skin condition, alertness
Weekly: Weight, skin hydration, eye clarity, limb strength
Monthly: Body condition (obesity common in captivity), fecal output
Signs of illness: Bloating, red leg, lethargy, refusal to eat (unusual), skin lesions

Suitability for Handling:

Suitable for: OBSERVATION primarily - educational talks, demonstrations in enclosure
Good for: Showing size diversity in amphibians, discussing African wildlife, impressive visual
LIMITED HANDLING: Experienced handlers only, close supervision, brief duration
Not suitable for: Children handling, nervous handlers, those wanting hands-on experience
HIGH RISK: Powerful bite can cause significant injury

INVERTEBRATES: INSECTS

3. Orchid Mantis

Temperament Profile:

Juvenile (Nymph): Very small, fragile, fast-moving, easily stressed
Adult: Calm, slow-moving, beautiful, tolerates brief observation
Bite risk: Low - can pinch with forelegs if threatened but rarely harmful
Fragility: High - extremely delicate, legs easily damaged
Camouflage: Stunning pink/white coloration mimics orchid flowers

Handling Procedures:

MINIMAL HANDLING - primarily observation species
Display in clear enclosure or on branch/flower for close viewing
If handling necessary: allow to walk onto hand/stick voluntarily
NEVER grab or restrain - extremely fragile
Keep hands still - mantis will walk slowly if calm
Maximum 2-3 minutes on hand
Handle over soft surface to prevent injury from falls
Wash hands before and after (residue on hands can harm insect)
Best shown on decorative branch with flowers for photography/observation

Health Monitoring:

Daily: Activity, molting status, appetite (eats flying insects), posture
Weekly: Color vibrancy, limb integrity, abdomen size (feeding)
Molting: Critical period - do not disturb, humidity essential, happens 6-7 times to adulthood
Signs of illness: Darkening color, lethargy, refusing food, mismolt (stuck shed), falling frequently

Suitability for Handling:

Suitable for: OBSERVATION - all ages, photography, educational displays
Good for: Teaching camouflage, insect anatomy, predator behavior, rainforest ecology
Excellent: Stunning visual appeal, unique flower mimicry, memorable
Limited handling: Adult only, experienced handlers, very brief, observation strongly preferred
Not suitable for: Young children handling, those wanting tactile experience

4. Giant Malaysian Leaf Insect (Phyllium giganteum)

Temperament Profile:

Juvenile (Nymph): Very small, delicate, active climbers
Adult: Calm, very slow-moving, excellent handleable insect, docile
Bite risk: None - herbivorous, no biting capability
Fragility: Medium-High - delicate legs but sturdier than mantis
Camouflage: Incredible leaf mimicry - green, flat body, veined wings, even brown spots like decay

Handling Procedures:

GOOD HANDLING INSECT - suitable for gentle hands-on experience
Allow to walk onto hand from branch/leaf
Move very slowly - any sudden movement and insect freezes (defense)
Support body on palm - will walk slowly if calm
Legs can grip gently - completely harmless
Handle over soft surface or handling tray
Maximum 10 minutes handling
Cool to touch, very light weight
Fascinating to watch walk - slow swaying motion mimics leaf in breeze
Wash hands before and after

Health Monitoring:

Daily: Activity, feeding (bramble/oak leaves), color, posture
Weekly: Limb integrity, abdomen size, molting signs
Molting: Humidity critical, do not disturb, happens multiple times
Signs of illness: Brown/black discoloration (dying), refusing food, falling frequently, mismolt

Suitability for Handling:

Suitable for: Most ages (6+), gentle handlers, educational sessions, SEN (calming)
Good for: Teaching camouflage, herbivorous insects, gentle handling practice, patience
EXCELLENT: One of best handleable insects, safe, calm, fascinating movement, stunning camouflage
Not suitable for: Impulsive handlers, very young children (under 6), those wanting fast-moving animal

INVERTEBRATES: MOLLUSCS

5. African Giant Land Snail (Achatina fulica)

Temperament Profile:

Juvenile: Small (2-3cm), active, good climbers
Adult: Very calm, slow-moving, can reach 20cm shell length, very handleable
Bite risk: None - radula (tongue) cannot harm humans
Fragility: Medium - shell can crack if dropped, body delicate
Slime: Produces mucus trail - slimy but harmless

Handling Procedures:

EXCELLENT HANDLING SPECIES - safe, calm, fascinating
Wet hands before handling (dry skin uncomfortable for snail)
Scoop from underneath, support shell and body
NEVER pick up by shell alone - can damage muscle attachment
Allow to crawl on hand/arm - slow, predictable movement
Slimy texture fascinating for sensory exploration
Cool, wet to touch - unique tactile experience
Can watch eye stalks extend and retract (gentle touch retracts them)
Handle over tray/towel - leaves slime trail
Can handle for 15-20 minutes
Wash hands thoroughly after (slime is harmless but slimy)

Health Monitoring:

Daily: Activity (nocturnal but can be active in day if sprayed), feeding (vegetables, cuttlebone), shell condition
Weekly: Shell growth, body extension, slime production, fecal output
Monthly: Shell measurements, overall health, breeding behavior (hermaphrodites)
Signs of illness: Shell damage/cracking, refusing to extend from shell, dry/cracked skin, lethargy, not eating

Legal Notice - Invasive Species:

CRITICAL BIOSECURITY:

African Giant Land Snails are listed as one of world's worst invasive species
Illegal to release into wild in UK - serious ecological threat
All eggs MUST be frozen/destroyed - species reproduces rapidly (hermaphrodites, 100s of eggs)
Secure housing essential - cannot escape
Substrate/bedding frozen before disposal
Sessions conducted indoors only - no outdoor exposure risk

Suitability for Handling:

Suitable for: ALL ages (3+), SEN, dementia care, wheelchair users, sensory seekers/avoiders
Good for: Unique sensory experience (slime), teaching about molluscs, slow predictable movement, calming
EXCELLENT: One of best invertebrates for handling, safe, fascinating, memorable texture
Accessible: Completely safe, no bite/sting/poison, gentle, slow
Caution: Some find slime texture unpleasant - offer observation option

INVERTEBRATES: INSECTS (CONTINUED)

6. Giant Asian Mantis

Temperament Profile:

Nymph: Small, fast, fragile, easily stressed
Adult: Much larger and bolder than the orchid mantis, and will hold on firmly once it has gripped
Bite risk: Very Low - does not bite defensively
Grip risk: Medium - spined forelegs can catch and scratch skin when it grips or is pulled away
Fragility: High - legs and wings are easily damaged
Warning signs: Rearing up with forelegs spread, wings flared, striking at movement

Handling Procedures:

Watch and gentle handling only, as tagged on our animals page
Let the mantis walk onto a flat open hand voluntarily; never pick it up
NEVER pull a gripping mantis off skin - let it release on its own, or offer a stick for it to step onto
Keep the hand still and low over a table; a fall can kill an adult
Maximum 2–3 minutes on a hand
One participant at a time, seated, hands washed first
Indoors only - it flies, and an escape outdoors would be lost
Not handled while in or approaching a moult

Health Monitoring:

Daily: Activity, posture, feeding response, grip strength
Weekly: Limb and wing integrity, abdomen size, colour
Moulting: Do not disturb; humidity essential; a mismoult is usually fatal
Signs of illness: Lethargy, refusing food, dark patches, stuck shed, repeated falling, limbs held oddly

Suitability for Handling:

Suitable for: Observation at all ages; brief gentle contact for calm children (7+) and adults
Good for: Teaching predator adaptations, camouflage, insect anatomy, the difference between this and the orchid mantis
Not suitable for: Impulsive handlers, large groups passing it between them, outdoor sessions
Caution: Brief handlers that it may grip, and that they must not pull it off

7. Vietnamese Giant Stick Insects

Temperament Profile:

Nymph: Very small and fragile, thread-like legs
Adult: Slow, docile, among the easiest invertebrates to handle
Bite risk: Very Low - herbivorous, does not bite
Sting or venom: None
Fragility: High - legs shed easily and a dropped insect is often fatally injured
Autotomy: May shed a leg if held or pulled; regrows only at a moult, and not always

Handling Procedures:

Hands-on, as tagged on our animals page, with a flat still hand
Lift only by letting it walk on; never grasp the body, and never hold a leg
Participants seated, hands flat and low over a table or a lined tray
No passing hand to hand between participants - return it to the handler each time
Maximum 5 minutes per insect, then rest
Indoors only; wash hands before and after
Not handled while moulting or within 24 hours of a moult

Health Monitoring:

Daily: Activity, feeding on fresh leaves, posture, hydration
Weekly: Leg count and integrity, moult progress, body condition
Moulting: Needs humidity and clear space to hang; do not disturb
Signs of illness: Lethargy, refusing to feed, dark or shrivelled abdomen, repeated falls, failed moult

Suitability for Handling:

Suitable for: ALL ages (4+) with a flat hand and supervision, SEN, nervous handlers, wheelchair users
Good for: A first invertebrate, teaching camouflage and herbivory, calm slow sensory contact
Excellent: Safe, slow and genuinely handleable
Caution: Fragility is the whole risk here - it is the animal at risk, not the child

INVERTEBRATES: MYRIAPODS

8. Giant African Land Millipede

Temperament Profile:

Juvenile: Smaller, faster, burrows readily
Adult: Slow, calm, very tolerant of handling
Bite risk: None - no biting mouthparts capable of injuring a person
Sting risk: None
Defensive secretion: Medium - releases a benzoquinone fluid when stressed that stains skin and irritates eyes and broken skin
Fragility: Low - robust, but a fall can crack the exoskeleton

Handling Procedures:

Hands-on, flat open palms, held low over a table
Let it walk; do not grip or lift by the body
HANDS WASHED IMMEDIATELY AFTER, before touching the face or eating - the defensive fluid is the main hazard
Anyone with broken skin on their hands observes instead
Stop and return it to its tub if it curls tightly or releases fluid
Maximum 5–10 minutes
Not suitable for anyone who will not wash their hands afterwards

Health Monitoring:

Daily: Activity, burrowing, feeding
Weekly: Exoskeleton condition, leg integrity, moult signs, hydration
Moulting: Burrows and is not handled for the duration
Signs of illness: Lethargy on the surface, curling persistently, mite load, damaged segments, failure to moult

Suitability for Handling:

Suitable for: ALL ages (4+), SEN, dementia care, wheelchair users, sensory sessions
Good for: Teaching detritivores, many-legged anatomy, soil ecology; the walking sensation is memorable
Excellent: Safe, slow, handleable and popular
Caution: The hand-washing rule is not optional - brief every participant before contact

INVERTEBRATES: CRUSTACEANS

9. Vampire Crab

Temperament Profile:

Juvenile and adult: Small, fast, secretive; hides most of the day
Bite risk: None
Pinch risk: Low - claws can pinch but are too small to injure
Escape risk: High - fast, climbs well, and very hard to recover if loose
Fragility: Medium - a fall from hand height is usually fatal

Handling Procedures:

OBSERVATION ONLY - not handled, as tagged on our animals page
Shown in its own enclosure, lid closed, brought to the participants
Never removed from the enclosure during a session
Home base only - does not travel
Keep the viewing quiet and the enclosure out of direct light
Hands washed after touching the enclosure

Health Monitoring:

Daily: Activity at dusk, feeding, water quality, humidity
Weekly: Claw and leg integrity, moult signs, shell condition
Moulting: Vulnerable; left completely undisturbed and not displayed
Signs of illness: Inactivity, limb loss, failure to moult, cloudy shell, refusing food

Suitability for Handling:

Suitable for: OBSERVATION at all ages
Good for: Teaching semi-aquatic life, moulting, the difference between crabs and insects
Not suitable for: Any handling, by participants or staff, during sessions
Caution: Escape risk is the reason this one stays in its enclosure

INVERTEBRATES: ARACHNIDS

10. Asian Forest Scorpion

Temperament Profile:

Juvenile and adult: Defensive rather than aggressive; retreats to a hide if given the option
Sting risk: High - VENOMOUS. The venom of this genus is not considered medically significant to a healthy adult, and the sting is commonly compared to a wasp sting, but it is painful and the reaction in a child or an allergic person cannot be predicted
Pinch risk: Medium - large powerful pincers, used in preference to stinging
Warning signs: Pincers raised, tail arched forward, stridulating or hissing, backing away

Handling Procedures:

OBSERVATION ONLY - NEVER handled by participants or by staff during a session
Tagged watch only on our animals page, and that is absolute
Shown in a closed, clear enclosure, brought to seated participants
The lid is not opened in front of a group
Enclosure kept on a stable surface at adult chest height, never passed around and never on a lap
Indoors only, where temperature and escape risk can be controlled
Participants told before it is brought out that this animal is not touched, and why
Moved between enclosures off-session only, by Ciera, using long forceps and a catch cup
Hands washed after touching the enclosure

Health Monitoring:

Daily: Position, alertness, feeding response, humidity and temperature
Weekly: Pincer and tail integrity, exoskeleton condition, moult signs
Moulting: Not displayed; left entirely undisturbed
Signs of illness: Sluggishness, refusing food, limb loss, discolouration, failed moult

Suitability for Handling:

Suitable for: OBSERVATION at all ages, with the no-touching rule stated first
Good for: Teaching venom versus poison, arachnid anatomy, nocturnal adaptations, respect for animals that must not be handled
Not suitable for: ANY handling; sessions where a group cannot be kept seated and calm
FIRST AID: In the event of a sting, keep the person calm and seated, clean the site, apply a cold pack, and seek medical advice. Call 999 immediately for any sign of a systemic or allergic reaction — spreading swelling, difficulty breathing, or faintness

INVERTEBRATES: BEETLES

11. Rainbow Stag Beetle

Temperament Profile:

Adult: Slow, deliberate, long-lived for a beetle; males carry large mandibles
Bite risk: Low - males can pinch with their mandibles; it startles more than it injures
Sting risk: None
Grip risk: Medium - strong tarsal claws cling to skin and clothing and must not be pulled free
Fragility: Medium - robust shell, but legs and antennae are easily damaged and a fall can be fatal

Handling Procedures:

Watch and gentle handling only, as tagged on our animals page
Let it walk onto a flat hand; never lift by the shell, a leg or the mandibles
NEVER pull it off skin or fabric - let it release, or offer a stick
Low over a table, one seated participant at a time
Maximum 3–5 minutes
Keep away from faces - the mandibles are at the front and children reach in
Indoors only; it flies
Hands washed before and after

Health Monitoring:

Daily: Activity, feeding on fruit or jelly, posture
Weekly: Leg, antenna and elytra integrity, mandible condition, body condition
Signs of illness: Inactivity, refusing food, missing tarsi, difficulty righting itself, dull colouring

Suitability for Handling:

Suitable for: Observation at all ages; brief contact for calm children (6+) and adults
Good for: Teaching beetle anatomy, iridescence and structural colour, sexual dimorphism, Australian rainforest ecology
Not suitable for: Impulsive handlers, hands near faces, outdoor sessions
Caution: Brief handlers that the males can pinch before they touch it

12. Sun Beetle

Temperament Profile:

Larva: Kept off-session; not shown or handled
Adult: Active, robust, among the easiest beetles to handle
Bite risk: None - feeds on fruit, no mandibles capable of injuring a person
Sting risk: None
Grip risk: Low - clings lightly; releases readily
Fragility: Low - one of our more robust invertebrates, though a fall can still injure

Handling Procedures:

Hands-on, as tagged on our animals page
Flat open palms, held low over a table
Let it walk; may be cupped loosely between two hands, never squeezed
Be ready for flight - it opens its wings without warning
Maximum 5–10 minutes
Indoors only, because it flies
Hands washed before and after

Health Monitoring:

Daily: Activity, feeding on fruit, posture
Weekly: Leg and elytra integrity, body condition, colour
Signs of illness: Inactivity, refusing fruit, missing tarsi, inability to right itself

Suitability for Handling:

Suitable for: ALL ages (4+), SEN, nervous handlers, sensory sessions, wheelchair users
Good for: A first beetle, teaching metamorphosis, pollination and fruit feeding; the tickling walk is popular
Excellent: Safe, hardy, forgiving of a beginner handler
Caution: It will try to fly - keep the session indoors and tell handlers first

13. Sapphire Flower Beetle

Temperament Profile:

Adult: Active and quick to fly; otherwise similar in temperament to the sun beetle
Bite risk: None
Sting risk: None
Flight risk: Medium - flies readily and strongly, which is why contact is kept brief
Fragility: Medium - legs and antennae damage easily

Handling Procedures:

Watch and gentle handling only, as tagged on our animals page
Flat still hand, low over a table, one seated participant at a time
Let it walk on; never grasp it
Expect flight - do not chase a flying beetle, let it settle and recover it calmly
Maximum 2–3 minutes on a hand
Indoors only, doors and windows closed before it is brought out
Hands washed before and after

Health Monitoring:

Daily: Activity, feeding, posture
Weekly: Leg, antenna and elytra integrity, colour, body condition
Signs of illness: Inactivity, refusing food, missing tarsi, dull colouring, inability to right itself

Suitability for Handling:

Suitable for: Observation at all ages; brief contact for calm children (6+) and adults
Good for: Teaching structural colour, flower feeding and pollination, beetle diversity alongside the sun beetle
Not suitable for: Outdoor sessions, rooms that cannot be closed, groups too large to stay calm if it flies
Caution: The flight, not the animal, is what makes this one brief

INVERTEBRATES: TARANTULAS

14. Green Bottle Blue Tarantula

Temperament Profile:

Juvenile and adult: Nervous, fast and flighty — the most skittish of our spiders. A bolter rather than a biter.
Bite risk: Medium - VENOMOUS, like all tarantulas. A bite from a New World species of this kind is usually compared to a wasp sting rather than anything medically serious, but it is painful and a reaction cannot be predicted in a child.
Urticating hairs: High - flicks barbed hairs from the abdomen when threatened. These irritate skin and are genuinely dangerous to eyes.
Speed: High - very fast, and the main practical risk is a sudden dash rather than a bite
Fragility: High - a fall can rupture the abdomen and kill it
Warning signs: Raising front legs, turning to face a hand, brushing the abdomen with a hind leg, bolting

Handling Procedures:

These spiders belong to a member of our team rather than to us, and are only present on days she is working. She handles them; no other member of staff does.
Handled over a table or a lined tray, no higher than a seated participant’s lap - a fall of even a short distance can rupture the abdomen and kill the spider
Participants SEATED at all times. Nobody stands, walks or passes the spider to anyone else
The spider walks on and off a flat open hand of its own accord; it is never gripped, lifted or restrained
One participant at a time, hands washed first, no hand cream or perfume
NEVER touch the abdomen - it carries the urticating hairs and is the most fragile part
Anyone with asthma, eczema, broken skin on the hands, or a known allergy observes instead
Nobody touches their face or eyes until they have washed their hands
Stopped immediately if the spider raises its front legs, turns to face a hand, or brushes at its abdomen with a hind leg
Maximum 3–5 minutes, and not at all if the spider is in or near a moult
Indoors only, doors closed, floor clear
Not handled within 48 hours of feeding
Because of its speed, this is the one of the two most likely to bolt — keep the tray walls and the handler’s hands close

Health Monitoring:

Daily: Position, posture, water dish, feeding response
Weekly: Abdomen size and condition, leg count and integrity, fang condition, premoult signs
Moulting: Flipped on its back is normal and must not be disturbed; no handling for at least two weeks after a moult while the new exoskeleton hardens
Signs of illness: Lethargy with legs curling under, shrunken or ruptured abdomen, refusing food for an unusually long period, difficulty moulting, mite load

Suitability for Handling:

Suitable for: Observation at all ages. Brief contact only for calm, confident participants (12+) who can sit still and follow instruction, with the owner handling throughout
Good for: Teaching venom versus poison, arachnid anatomy, web building, Venezuelan scrubland ecology, structural colour
Not suitable for: Young children, impulsive or anxious handlers, large groups, anyone with asthma, eczema or a known allergy, care home sessions
Not suitable for: Any session that cannot be kept seated, quiet and indoors
FIRST AID: Bite — wash, cold pack, medical advice; call 999 for any spreading swelling or breathing difficulty. Hairs on skin — do not rub, lift with tape, wash, antihistamine if needed. Hairs in eye — do not rub, irrigate, seek medical attention the same day

15. Sazimi’s Tarantula

Temperament Profile:

Juvenile and adult: Calmer and more deliberate than the green bottle blue, but large and heavy-bodied
Bite risk: Medium - VENOMOUS, like all tarantulas. Usually compared to a wasp sting rather than anything medically serious, but painful, with larger fangs than our other spiders, and a reaction cannot be predicted in a child.
Urticating hairs: High - flicks barbed hairs from the abdomen when threatened; irritating to skin and dangerous to eyes
Size: Large and weighty, which makes a fall more damaging to the spider, not less
Fragility: High - a fall can rupture the abdomen and kill it
Warning signs: Raising front legs, turning to face a hand, brushing the abdomen with a hind leg, tapping or stamping

Handling Procedures:

These spiders belong to a member of our team rather than to us, and are only present on days she is working. She handles them; no other member of staff does.
Handled over a table or a lined tray, no higher than a seated participant’s lap - a fall of even a short distance can rupture the abdomen and kill the spider
Participants SEATED at all times. Nobody stands, walks or passes the spider to anyone else
The spider walks on and off a flat open hand of its own accord; it is never gripped, lifted or restrained
One participant at a time, hands washed first, no hand cream or perfume
NEVER touch the abdomen - it carries the urticating hairs and is the most fragile part
Anyone with asthma, eczema, broken skin on the hands, or a known allergy observes instead
Nobody touches their face or eyes until they have washed their hands
Stopped immediately if the spider raises its front legs, turns to face a hand, or brushes at its abdomen with a hind leg
Maximum 3–5 minutes, and not at all if the spider is in or near a moult
Indoors only, doors closed, floor clear
Not handled within 48 hours of feeding
Its size means two flat hands rather than one, still held low over the tray

Health Monitoring:

Daily: Position, posture, water dish, feeding response
Weekly: Abdomen size and condition, leg count and integrity, fang condition, premoult signs
Moulting: Flipped on its back is normal and must not be disturbed; no handling for at least two weeks after a moult while the new exoskeleton hardens
Signs of illness: Lethargy with legs curling under, shrunken or ruptured abdomen, refusing food for an unusually long period, difficulty moulting, mite load

Suitability for Handling:

Suitable for: Observation at all ages. Brief contact only for calm, confident participants (12+) who can sit still and follow instruction, with the owner handling throughout
Good for: Teaching arachnid anatomy and scale, venom versus poison, moulting, South American rainforest ecology
Not suitable for: Young children, impulsive or anxious handlers, large groups, anyone with asthma, eczema or a known allergy, care home sessions
Not suitable for: Any session that cannot be kept seated, quiet and indoors
FIRST AID: Bite — wash, cold pack, medical advice; call 999 for any spreading swelling or breathing difficulty. Hairs on skin — do not rub, lift with tape, wash, antihistamine if needed. Hairs in eye — do not rub, irrigate, seek medical attention the same day

GENERAL AMPHIBIAN & INVERTEBRATE SAFETY PROTOCOLS

Amphibian-Specific Protocols:

CRITICAL RULE: WET HANDS BEFORE HANDLING AMPHIBIANS

Amphibian skin is permeable - absorbs chemicals from dry/contaminated hands
Use dechlorinated water to wet hands
Never handle if hands have: hand sanitizer, lotion, soap residue, chemicals
Wash hands thoroughly AFTER handling (skin secretions)
Keep handling brief (5-10 minutes max)
Handle over basin/tray - prepared for jumps
Temperature: Keep cool (18-22 degrees C) - overheating fatal

Invertebrate-Specific Protocols:

Clean hands (no chemicals) - insects very sensitive
Gentle movements - invertebrates fragile
Never grab/squeeze - allow to walk voluntarily
Handle over soft surface - prevent fall injuries
Keep sessions brief (5-15 minutes depending on species)
Do not disturb during molting period - critical life stage

Hygiene Protocols:

Amphibians: Wet hands before, wash hands thoroughly after
Invertebrates: Clean hands before and after
No eating/drinking during handling
Equipment cleaned between sessions

Pre-Session Health Checks:

Visual assessment: alertness, posture, skin/shell/exoskeleton condition
Activity check: normal behavior for species
No handling during molting/shedding
Any signs of illness = no handling that day

Maximum Handling Times:

Species	Maximum Handling Time
Amphibians (frogs)	5-10 minutes maximum
Orchid Mantis	2-3 minutes (observation preferred)
Leaf Insect	10 minutes
Giant Snail	15-20 minutes

Emergency Procedures:

Dropped animal: Assess for injury, return to enclosure, monitor closely, vet if needed
Frog bite (bullfrog): Clean wound, antiseptic, seek medical attention if bleeding/deep
Escape: Stay calm, secure area, gentle recapture, container/hands ready
Snail shell crack: Return to humid enclosure, vet assessment for repair
Insect leg damage: Return to enclosure, monitor - often molts heal minor damage
All incidents recorded and participants informed

Educational Value:

These species provide excellent opportunities to teach about:

Amphibian biology: Skin respiration, life cycles, metamorphosis
Insect anatomy: Exoskeleton, molting, camouflage, mimicry
Mollusc biology: Shell formation, locomotion, hermaphroditism
Ecology: Food chains, habitats, invasive species threats
Biodiversity: Variety of life forms, adaptations
Conservation: Habitat loss, climate change impacts

Pets on the Green Ltd - Company No. 16721467
4 Redvers Road, Warlingham, Surrey, CR6 9HN