Ahoy!
I'm new to the forum and I've been watching a lot of YouTube videos. I've noticed when people up pot figs or plant air layers figs that I never see them de-tangle the roots. With other plants I've handled, I've always been taught to loosen up the root mass when transplanting. Is there a reason to avoid disturbing fig tree roots?

It depends on what you are up potting. With an air layer the roots are new and weakly attached. If you tried to detangle them they would rip right off. Same thing goes with a cutting.

With a mature tree on the other hand I would definitely tangle and prune them as best as I could. Keep in mind that figs are not produced until a tree is partially root bound.

I wouldn't mess with the roots until it goes dormant.

I bare root young plants that are growing all the time. Never did it to a tree that was not in good shape, never lost a tree that I did do it to. They might wilt a little and you can put them in the shade for a week. If the roots are really bound its better to cut them, and that is better to do when dormant.

hoosierbanana -- that's helpful info.  But what are you doing exactly?

I usually just tickle up into the center with my fingers and give them a little shaking to get rid of the mix, or I might bump them on something if the rootball is tight. Sometimes I am just spreading the roots at the bottom when moving to a bigger container, but I usually get rid of as much potting mix as possible when planting in ground or compost socks. 

Thx!

I agree.  I would not mess with the roots until it's dormant in the winter.

I shake mine to loosen them up, repot them, then put a mixture of 1 aspirin tablet  to one gallon of water. Then keep them in the shade. Worked great for me this year.