Omg.....did You Know Spiders Did This????
Lounge By CakeDiva73 Updated 30 Oct 2006 , 9:23pm by noreen816
OK, I am very, very scared of spiders so, to conquer that fear, I decided to let my daughter 'adopt' a tarantula.... his name is 'Crash' and he is rather large 
I have been getting used to him slowly over the last 2 months...then, he started to grow on me. I would put my hand in his cage to give him water/crickets, etc.... One day, he looked dead and I realized I was sort of sad - awwwww, how cute 
(he was fine).... anyway,
Fast forward to last night.... I take a look in the cage like normal and jumped outa my freakin' skin!!!! 
There were 2 of them in there - I swear my screams woke up the neighborhood..... 
I grab a flashlight to investigate and behind 'Crash' is a 'crash suit' The tarantula shedded or 'molted' his entire body.... like a snake. wt? I am so freaked out... and apparently I have to go in there and get the old one out! OMG - I am going to die.....why, oh why did I ever say I would take that thing?
Oh my, yes, my little brother (well he is 23 now), but he has one. And he had the exact same reaction that you did!!!! We did NOT know that they do that, and one day he woke up and thought it had died, well later on that day or something, he saw them 'both'!!!!!! It has only happened once in all the years that he has had it. So, not sure if they only do it once in their lifetime, or what.
I am terrified of spiders also, I try not to have anything to do with this thing!!
I was tempted to upload a picture since he is black and orange and rather cool looking but I didn't want to scare the begeesus out of everyone!
Someone uploaded a picture of a Wolf Spider in a thread about what we were afraid of, and it was an UP CLOSE pic of one, it about gave me a heart attack that is for sure!!! But they are kinda cool, in a scary kind of way.... At a distance.
My brother still has the 'shell' that his molted. It's pretty cool.
He has his in a huge aquarium, and had sort of a makeshift lid on it, I think it was a screen of some kind. Well the lid wasn't secure, it was just layed on top of it. He didn't think that his tarantula would be able to get out of it. Well, one nite he was in bed (asleep) and something woke him up. He could hear a 'thumping' sound. His eyes adjusted to the darkness, and on the wall, above his head was his spider, tapping it's foot against the wall. It is a defense mechanism, I believe, to either scare possible preditors or to let other tarantulas know of possible danger. I can't remember which one he said it was. Kind of scared him a little bit. To say the least, he found something to secure the lid after that! It would've been dead if that had been me..... just pure instinct!!
Sweet mother of God, you are scaring the he!! out of me!!! I am telling you right now, if that spider ever got out, YOU would hear me screaming.... and I have no idea how many states away you are but you would still hear me! Cripes, are you serious? Please say you were just kidding around.....
It climbed out? And was on the wall above his sleeping body..... I can feel the night terrors coming already
Ok, take several deep cleansing breaths........
Ok, feel better now? Ok, ready????? No I wasn't kidding. Yes, right above his sleeping body. 
And I am also not kidding about if it had been ME in that bed, I would've killed it and probably have severly injured myself in the process!! But like I said, the lid wasn't secure. So as long as you have something on top of the lid that is too heavy for the spider to push it off, or if the lid is already secure, I wouldn't worry about it. (easier said than done, right???) But it has never happened again!! And that was at least 3 years ago, if not a little longer that that happened!
I am so sorry if I have given you nightmares now!! I truly am! A couple of weeks ago my brother found a tarantula on the road to my and our parents house (my parents live across the road from me). He stopped and got it with a cup he had in his truck. And asked if my oldest son could have it!!! We ended up saying no. I think, like you, it would've been sort of neat for him to have something like that. But ultimately we didn't have anything for my son to keep it in, so they let it go. But it would have taken some major time for me to get used to having it in our house!!!
Ok, I have no clue as to why you would say yes to a "pet" like that. Just so you also know, tarantulas have no fear. And they jump, too, at you if you are the threat. They do not retreat.
My husband and I went on an archaeological dig in the rain forest of Belize for part of our honeymoon. I was chased out of the outhouse by a giant tarantula (this thing was bigger than hubby's hand!) with my pants around my ankles screaming my head off! My husband tried to stomp his foot on the ground to scare it away, and it lunged at him! It must have been quite a sight.
I used to have a pet python, and now I can't figure out what in the world I was thinking. Dogs, cats, fish, birds, now those are sensible pets. No more pets that creep, slither, have more than 4 legs.......
Good luck with this one. And its ok to be afraid of spiders. Not all fears must be conquered. Especially that one!
eriksmom: It was my daughter's teachers class pet and she had it at home for 3 years.... she just got sick of feeding crickets to it. He is in a 10 gallon aquarium tank and they have that little rectangular opening at the top.... it has been like that for 2 months and he never ventures too far from his little shelter and then onto the log.
** Off to get the roll of duck tape **
Ok, now I am back....and still completely freaking out.... ooooooh, I had SO hoped you were kidding around about the sleeping thing....
Amen to not all fears must be conquered, cause I don't think I will ever get over MY fear of spiders!!
My brother also, at one time, had a python as a pet. But it refused to eat, and he didn't want it to die, so he took it back to the pet store he bought it at. He has also had a 'pet' iguana. I wouldn't let my kids near that thing!! I had heard all about all of the diseases they carry. It died one year that we had a really bad ice storm and our electricity was out for a week or two. It 'froze' to death since the warming rock in it's aquarium couldn't work. But he has had this tarantula for several years now.
One night several years ago, I was nursing my infant daughter in her room. The room was dimly lit and I didn't have in my contacts but I could tell something was moving near her crib. When I saw it was a spider I went to smash it and when I did, a bajillion little baby spiders erupted from her and went all directions! Somehow I managed not to scream, but got DH to help me with the spider round-up. OMG......I still get the heebie jeebies just thinking about it.
I just don't think I could live with a tarantula, although I think it's great you are trying to get over your fear. 
I swear I have to look the other way when I see them in tanks at the zoo. The thought of those furry legs walking over me in the night makes my skin crawl.
To make the story even more interesting the teacher mentioned that there is another small spider that lives in the cage (in the plastic bushes).... sure enough, today I saw it. It has this enourmous round ball as it's torso but we have enough black widows in the garage for me to see that it's not one of those....I want to say an Orb but maybe that's just because the body looks like an orb....
I really wanted to get over this fear but all this has set me back. I don't think anyone wants him and I do want him to go to a good home - am I crazy? I could never, never, never just let him loose even though we live near the orchards. What if he then crawled into the closest house or car or shoe? And the scared the living he!! out of them? Or what if he couldn't survive?
Oy! I think I will hit up the 4th grade teacher at the school....she seemed rather daring so perhaps she will take him off my hands. The other teacher who we got him from said to give him away so clearly she doesn't mind...
As far as I'm concerned, the only good spider is a dead spider! They absolutely scare me to death.
When I was little we lived in a very rocky area, and it seemed to me that every time I went outside a tarantula would "corner" me, and I'd just stand there and yell and cry until somebody came and rescued me. I have never liked tarantulas in particular and spiders in general sinced then.
So much for overcoming fears. Janice
OMG! I am completely grossed out right now! The story about nursing baby and killing spider and babies coming out has given me the 'heebie geebies!!!!
No way would a spider be in my house unless it has a death wish!
I HATE SPIDERS!!!!!
NeeNee30 Wrote:
Someone uploaded a picture of a Wolf Spider in a thread about what we were afraid of, and it was an UP CLOSE pic of one, it about gave me a heart attack that is for sure!!!
*clears throat* Um, that was me. I'm terribly sorry about that! I took it off.
I hate spiders too. Y'all are makin me feel like there are hundreds of crawly things on me. *shivers*
But actually, tarantulas are not poisonous, they are venomous, as are bees, wasps and snakes (amongst others).
Tarantulas are shy creatures, if they are disturbed they will usually run away, either to their burrow or to the nearest cover. If an animal tries to attack a tarantula, it will defend itself in one of two ways: All American ( New World ) species will first kick urticating (irritating) hairs out of it's abdomen at it's attacker, this will usually drive the attacker off, the tarantula will only bite it's attacker if the first step fails.
There have been no substantiated deaths attributed to tarantula bites. Indeed more people have died from bee stings and snake bites than by any type of spider.
Tarantulas are the most gentle spiders if they are handled right. But if you irritate one, you'll get bit.
lol Just a little bit of info on them. It's good that you are trying to get over your fear. I wish I could!
Jami
Countrygal, even though it did scare me a little bit, it was fine, really!!!!! I just wasn't prepared, 
.
My brother's must be an American one, because he has told me on several occasions that it will fling it's hairs out if it felt threatened. He takes it out occasionally (with gloved hand) and lets it crawl around on his hands and stuff . And has tried to talk me into handling it. UMMMMMM, don't think so!!!!! And it certainly doesn't have to worry about me threatening it, I tend to stay out of the room it is in, and if I have to go in there, I try to stay away from the aquarium it is in.
One night several years ago, I was nursing my infant daughter in her room. The room was dimly lit and I didn't have in my contacts but I could tell something was moving near her crib. When I saw it was a spider I went to smash it and when I did, a bajillion little baby spiders erupted from her and went all directions!
Somehow I managed not to scream, but got DH to help me with the spider round-up. OMG......I still get the heebie jeebies just thinking about it. I just don't think I could live with a tarantula, although I think it's great you are trying to get over your fear.
I swear I have to look the other way when I see them in tanks at the zoo. The thought of those furry legs walking over me in the night makes my skin crawl.
OMG!!!!!! I probably would have screamed and woke the whole house up!!! That gives me the heebie jeebies just thinking about it too!!!!! *sitting here feeling like little things are crawling all over me!!!!!!!!!*
I can't even get close to an empty web I'm that scared of spiders. People buy my boys toy spiders and even the cheap plastic rings make me sick.
I knew that tarantulas shed because one of my mom's cousins had one and I was at his house with an uncle and they threw the skin at me. I went running out of his house screaming, it was really mean of them because my uncle knew I have a problem with them.
I don't mind snakes or lizards, my brother just got the cutest ball python and the kids all are going nuts over it. I wouldn't have one with children or cats around the house but I love them.
Yeah, I used to go 4-wheeler riding with my husband on his hunting lease, but I quit because of all the webs we would go through and I would have fits trying to get it off of me and thinking that there would be a spider on me. Same for going to check trot-lines and yo-yo's on the river at nite. OMG at all the spiders! You can NOT get me in a boat after dark on the river!!!!!!!!!! And my DH and his brother would intentionally go up under trees where they knew the spiders would be..... 
Just can't take it!!!
Ok....I'm not going to lie.... I took a Xanax! : ) all is good now, I actually look at that hairy little *&^%^$$ and think "He's not so bad"....( I have really good Xanax, btw)
I was under the impression that , technically, a black widow's venom is more deadly than a rattler but delivered in such a small dose that it is not the same....Haven't heard about too many tarantula-related deaths not really typical pet-keeping philosophy but it will work for now. I taped the lid, "Crash" isn't going anywhere and 3 little girls (ages 7, 9 & 10) from my daughters school just wandered up and have been playing and want to spend the night - their parents are sleeping (it's dark) so I have less hairy fish to fry
Cripes, I will never understand people! I could be a friggin' ax murderer! Or I could have a tarantula 
LOL!!
Thanks for all your post - I will check back when they go to sleep....depending on how much of a softie I am, it will be either 4 sleeping children or 7. 
Okay....all that really freaked me out, but I have a scary and a funny story.
First I was at my BF's house and she lives across from a field that is being mutilated so that they can build houses on it, so of course the mice try to find new homes. She has had about 3 since they started building and last weekend I actually saw one run across the floor. I HATE mice...
Then the next night, I was at home minding my business and I hear my husband scream WHAT THE HE!!. I run to the kitchen where he was to find a SNAKE coiled up next to the refrigerator. I HAVE A BRAND NEW HOUSE AND I ALREADY HAVE SNAKES!!! DARN ALL THIS CONSTRUCTION!! (I live about 30 secs down the road from my BF). Of course my husband killed it..but it was rather large, i looked it up online and it is called a Brown Snake.
Now heres the funny part, the next morning I did what any woman would do and started cleaning the house from top to bottom...hubby was in the garage while I was sweeping. I had on some rather long PJ pants and I also had my cell in my pocket (expecting a call). well, I stepped on my pants and it made them tickle my leg, I was kind of bent down.... when I jumped up my cell phone hit my leg but if felt as though it was moving because as i jumped i stood up straight. By this point I thought there was a mouse IN MY PANTS!!! so of course I scream bloody murder. My husband jumped over every piece of equipment we had in the garage and burst through the door.
Right before he came in I figured out that it was my cell phone... so I started looking around at the floor and my husband burst through the door, he said WHAT IN THE WORLD!!.... and all I could think to say was..... THERE WAS A BUG ON ME!!!
HOW EMBARASSING
Okay....all that really freaked me out, but I have a scary and a funny story.
First I was at my BF's house and she lives across from a field that is being mutilated so that they can build houses on it, so of course the mice try to find new homes. She has had about 3 since they started building and last weekend I actually saw one run across the floor. I HATE mice...
Then the next night, I was at home minding my business and I hear my husband scream WHAT THE HE!!. I run to the kitchen where he was to find a SNAKE coiled up next to the refrigerator. I HAVE A BRAND NEW HOUSE AND I ALREADY HAVE SNAKES!!! DARN ALL THIS CONSTRUCTION!! (I live about 30 secs down the road from my BF). Of course my husband killed it..but it was rather large, i looked it up online and it is called a Brown Snake.
Now heres the funny part, the next morning I did what any woman would do and started cleaning the house from top to bottom...hubby was in the garage while I was sweeping. I had on some rather long PJ pants and I also had my cell in my pocket (expecting a call). well, I stepped on my pants and it made them tickle my leg, I was kind of bent down.... when I jumped up my cell phone hit my leg but if felt as though it was moving because as i jumped i stood up straight. By this point I thought there was a mouse IN MY PANTS!!!
so of course I scream bloody murder. My husband jumped over every piece of equipment we had in the garage and burst through the door.Right before he came in I figured out that it was my cell phone... so I started looking around at the floor and my husband burst through the door, he said WHAT IN THE WORLD!!.... and all I could think to say was..... THERE WAS A BUG ON ME!!!
HOW EMBARASSING
this is hillarious!! I am ROTFLMBO!! thanks for the good laugh!
Ok now cakediva73: You are brave to tackle your fear.I HATE, HATE, HAE those things. Honestly when you say things about crash it gives me the hibbiejibbies, BAD!!
& that spider in the bed, smash & little spiders ---I would have DIED right there!!
eeeekkkkkkkkkk 
(sorry crash!)
Okay....all that really freaked me out, but I have a scary and a funny story.
First I was at my BF's house and she lives across from a field that is being mutilated so that they can build houses on it, so of course the mice try to find new homes. She has had about 3 since they started building and last weekend I actually saw one run across the floor. I HATE mice...
Then the next night, I was at home minding my business and I hear my husband scream WHAT THE HE!!. I run to the kitchen where he was to find a SNAKE coiled up next to the refrigerator. I HAVE A BRAND NEW HOUSE AND I ALREADY HAVE SNAKES!!! DARN ALL THIS CONSTRUCTION!! (I live about 30 secs down the road from my BF). Of course my husband killed it..but it was rather large, i looked it up online and it is called a Brown Snake.
Now heres the funny part, the next morning I did what any woman would do and started cleaning the house from top to bottom...hubby was in the garage while I was sweeping. I had on some rather long PJ pants and I also had my cell in my pocket (expecting a call). well, I stepped on my pants and it made them tickle my leg, I was kind of bent down.... when I jumped up my cell phone hit my leg but if felt as though it was moving because as i jumped i stood up straight. By this point I thought there was a mouse IN MY PANTS!!!
so of course I scream bloody murder. My husband jumped over every piece of equipment we had in the garage and burst through the door.Right before he came in I figured out that it was my cell phone... so I started looking around at the floor and my husband burst through the door, he said WHAT IN THE WORLD!!.... and all I could think to say was..... THERE WAS A BUG ON ME!!!
HOW EMBARASSING
ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!!!! That is SO totally the reaction I would have. In my mind that snake would've been crawling up my leg!! OMG, I am such a chicken where stuff like this is concerned!!
And OMG a snake in your house!!!!! We live 'out in the country' and know all about when they bushhog the fields, all kinds of critters come a runnin' out!! Our neighbors several years ago found a snake in their little girl's TOY BOX!!!!!! Can you freakin' imagine??? Thank God it wasn't the little girl that found it (they kept hearing something moving in there and the mom went looking and found a rattlesnake !)
Anyway, I feel that we are just lucky that we haven't found one in our house yet. It's just a matter of time. And if/when it happens, every single one of you guys will probably hear me screaming!! Don't know if I would be able to come back into this house if we found a snake in it!
I completely despise spiders and you are a nicer mom than me to allow one in your house! I would have totally been freaked out, but then again I wouldn't be changing water and such, so I may not have even noticed! EEEEWWWWWWW!!!
One word: tongs. You can just use cooking tongs if you don't want to invest in reptile tongs.
Once you deduce it doesn't eat the shed just remove it using tongs.
We snake keepers use tongs for feeding (They just see heat, so your hand looks as tasty as the food item you're offering it).
Just remember you are the giant with the higher IQ, lol.
All of these spider stories reminds me of a few years ago.
First off I am deathly afraid of spider, spider webs, spider pictures, spider movies, even spiderman
Anyhow, I was sweeping off the front deck on November morning. I saw this black spider and was beating the he!! out of it with my broom when I realized it was one of those friggin spider rings from halloween. Well after my heart started beating again I began sweeping again. Well there was another one, scared me again at first then I just got a little peeved with the kids leaving them laying around outside so I went to pick it up.
IT MOVED! OMG I screemed like a banchie! I must have woke up every neighbor that morning. Never again have I bought those little disgusting rings for Halloween and never again will I LOL.
All of these spider stories reminds me of a few years ago.
First off I am deathly afraid of spider, spider webs, spider pictures, spider movies, even spiderman
Anyhow, I was sweeping off the front deck on November morning. I saw this black spider and was beating the he!! out of it with my broom when I realized it was one of those friggin spider rings from halloween. Well after my heart started beating again I began sweeping again. Well there was another one, scared me again at first then I just got a little peeved with the kids leaving them laying around outside so I went to pick it up.
IT MOVED! OMG I screemed like a banchie! I must have woke up every neighbor that morning. Never again have I bought those little disgusting rings for Halloween and never again will I LOL.
LOL!!! That is a riot - I would have screamed bloody murder also...
If any of you want to get your morning freak-out on, click the link below to see a picture of our beloved family 'pet', Crash........ yes, it is a picture of the tarantula....... I set it as my wallpaper on the computer one day and my Mom came over and checked her email....well after a minute of inactivity, I heard a shriek That would be revenge for the time she showed my highschool boyfriend pictures that she should NOT have !!!!!
http://img.inkfrog.com/pix/vintagediva/crash.JPG
Ok I admit I had to look at him.....eeekkkk... yuck
I do not like those things.
That said. He is very "handsome" spider.
I like his coloring.
Sorry crash
I am weird. I think he is beautiful - it must be his coloring. He is such a vibrant and shiny black and orange.....and I hate the dam@ things! What the heck is wrong with me????
I remember going to a gun show when I was younger ( and I hate guns ) and they had this weird German vintage gun and I remember thinking how it was so beautiful....a gun?
Again, this begs the questions, WTH is wrong with me?
Perhaps we can just chalk it up me being able to see beauty in almost anything!
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