How do people react when you say you have pet tarantulas?

[Richard Shah]

Unfortunately some of the worries and woes are carried by my immediate family and the recent heavy discussion has resulted in a NO MORE TARANTULA, with the exception of the 3 versi's I've ordered from HAMM.
It seems you can educate and provide a rational argument but you can never take away the irrational fear.
In contrast I don't seem to have the choice when it comes to the cat though. And that has a habit of bringing in mice, birds and even a live pigeon recently. Can't wait til the Summer so we can add fleas to that list :-/

Arrgghhh man I cannot stand it; you go into bed and occasionally feel and see black specs now and then just jumping around.
Luckily for me my cat never brings any dead animals to my (well my mum's) property, he leaves it in the neighbours garden instead. Lol we always joke about it with eachother; I dnt think they mind, and it could well be their two cats too!
I wonder what would happen if my T ever escaped...

[Traci Barker]

Hmmm...the strangest repsonses I've had are:

*Oh...tarantulas...but you're a woman!* lol

and:

*Ahh, but you are a goth, you're supposed to be weird*

That is so cool, I get the woman bit too and it has alway's made me frown before I chuckle... I never get the goth bit though ... though Matt wishes (he has a bit of a thing for goths, so be warned Louise )


We get kids from the boys school wanting to come round and see the T's, which is okay as they are the next generation of keepers so any encouragement is a good thing ... I find girls irritating though as for some unknown reason they all seam to have to scream but have to look too, boys are way too cool to look scared of any thing!

Older people seam to have either two mind set's. One set are terrified of them, to the point of our close friend will not look at any of the spiders and hates me even more now that I own a T mouse matt too, he cannot even put his arm on that ... and the second set are very curious but still repulsed at the idea of keeping a 'pet' T.

When I tell people that I keep them, as with most of you, I get 'Why'?
I can tell you, even though I own a dog too, if it was a choice between the dog and it's mess or the T's, I know which I would be choosing!!!

[Louise~Nichols]

That is so cool, I get the woman bit too and it has alway's made me frown before I chuckle... I never get the goth bit though ... though Matt wishes (he has a bit of a thing for goths, so be warned Louise )

LMAO Traci!! It's probably just a morbid fascination for the *dark aloofness*...I'm sure Matt will steer clear of me and my legendary habit of committing *wedgies*...

I had a customer visitor today that informed me that the number of T's that I have is somehow indicative that I suffer with some form of subversive perversions... Wooo...these *normal* folks just get better don't they?!! lol

[Traci Barker]

LMAO Traci!! It's probably just a morbid fascination for the *dark aloofness*...I'm sure Matt will steer clear of me and my legendary habit of committing *wedgies*...

I had a customer visitor today that informed me that the number of T's that I have is somehow indicative that I suffer with some form of subversive perversions... Wooo...these *normal* folks just get better don't they?!! lol

That is fantastic, I love it ... and I'll be sure to let Matt know about the wedgies too. Though I have attempted to get intouch with my goth side. I have a pair or red skull knee socks and doc's ho and I have a navel spider bar ... though I haven't had my navel done yet... But I have been 'looking' at spider tats too. Hooo I'm sooo bad, must be that subversive thing they were talking about

[Simon Batten]

everyone thinks im weird for keeping them, but im just glad im not normal

[Pam Turner]

My T will be kept in my bedroom, where I hang out a lot.

This is where mine are kept as well. Like I said, hubby is tolerant. The dresser they sit on is even on his side of the bed. LOL.

[Andrew Ferguson]

But I have been 'looking' at spider tats too. Hooo I'm sooo bad, must be that subversive thing they were talking about

Try this website Traci http://www.tattoofinder.com/find_tattooDB.asp

I've spent hours looking at this site.

[Peter Lacey]

Well, after some lengthy discussions and bit of throwing my toys out of the pram, it seems I might be able to increase the collection \o/
Strangely neither the wife or daughter are putting up further resistance, I think they're planned something which will probably cost me, I just hope its not another cat!
I'm now looking at a Brachypelma boehmei as I feel I should have a Brachy and the wife is even accepting the idea of 3 Poecilotheria rufliata as a community. Things are definitely looking up, maybe the message is finally getting through, although I'm just waiting for that slap round the back of my head

[Richard Shah]

Well, after some lengthy discussions and bit of throwing my toys out of the pram, it seems I might be able to increase the collection \o/
Strangely neither the wife or daughter are putting up further resistance, I think they're planned something which will probably cost me, I just hope its not another cat!
I'm now looking at a Brachypelma boehmei as I feel I should have a Brachy and the wife is even accepting the idea of 3 Poecilotheria rufliata as a community. Things are definitely looking up, maybe the message is finally getting through, although I'm just waiting for that slap round the back of my head

Lol. Damn pokies are crazy I dunno if I could look after them they are just to mental for me, and the thought of getting bitten by one has sort of put me off them for a good few years lol! Thanks a lot, Oli; nah kidding, you've been and proven to be a continuing help for me, as has everyone else here - so really, thanks a lot!
A few days and I'll make my order for the brachypelma Smithi (as soon as the money has all been put and shows up on my account).
I will not have any escaping crickets, and if anyone says it is inevitable, I will prove it really isn't, with honesty.

Something else I need to ask but I forgot so if it is really important I should remember it soon,

Cheers,

Rich.

[Phil Rea]

Poikies are not the maniacs they are made out to be. In fact more often than not, they will run and hide rather than risk a confrontation. Sure, they are fast moving, but then again so are the vast majority of arboreals (and some terrestrials are no slouches either!).

Their venom is known to be stronger, and to cause more symptoms than say a G. rosea's, but I wouldn't particularly like a bite from any spider if I could help it.

[Peter Lacey]

I think you're right Phil, the more I read the more I find people's opinions change but I still hold them with much respect. I don't handle any of my Ts but the thought of 3 whipper snappers escaping (I'm thinking of Toms bet here LOL) does frighten me a little and perhaps I should learn how to avoid escape and rehousing as much as poss.
To that end if anyone has any experience with housing pokies, either individually or communally, I'd be very grateful to hear as much as possible.

[Richard Shah]

Poikies are not the maniacs they are made out to be. In fact more often than not, they will run and hide rather than risk a confrontation. Sure, they are fast moving, but then again so are the vast majority of arboreals (and some terrestrials are no slouches either!).

Their venom is known to be stronger, and to cause more symptoms than say a G. rosea's, but I wouldn't particularly like a bite from any spider if I could help it.

Well, still I'll wait a few years before getting another T. (I'm getting mine this week I can't wait It'll be great!)
And their vemon has a lot more affects on a person than a G. Rosea; I've seen a pokie bite report, and that was wack!
Cheers,
Rich.

[Kate Arbon]

I recently acquired my first Pokie, a little 3cm P. regalis, and instantly fell in love with it. Yes it is quick (which is why I decided to start off small, to get used to it as it grows) but it is definitely shy rather than mean. And beautiful, even with its dull spiderling colours. It has totally won me over as my first arboreal, I love the different legs and movement compared to terrestrial spiders. I think I am definitely going to get a lot more tree dwellers in my collection from now on

[Andrew Ferguson]

I got my haircut on Saturday and the hairdresser (you can't call girls barbers, can you?) is as dull as ditch water. Anyway, she eventually told me she just got a labrador puppy. So the conversation swayed onto pets. Cue the spider She literally froze when I mentioned it, then shuddered. Then went onto the usual "I hate them, I kill them" routine. Some people I can sway into not killing spiders of any kind. But some people would rather stick a dog in a handbag and no matter what I say, spiders may as well be murderous killing machines with 12ft legspans.

[Richard Shah]

I got my haircut on Saturday and the hairdresser (you can't call girls barbers, can you?) is as dull as ditch water. Anyway, she eventually told me she just got a labrador puppy. So the conversation swayed onto pets. Cue the spider She literally froze when I mentioned it, then shuddered. Then went onto the usual "I hate them, I kill them" routine. Some people I can sway into not killing spiders of any kind. But some people would rather stick a dog in a handbag and no matter what I say, spiders may as well be murderous killing machines with 12ft legspans.

Lol nice going with your hairdresser !!! Lol jkin; you could be right, though you may wanna check the definition of a hairdresser and a barber for that - cuz I usually assume a barber is a person who cuts males' hair, not a male who cuts hair - CHECK IT OUT lol! Why would you get a woman to cut your hair though; no offence ladies, but I know both males and females that say males cut hair way better than females (sorry if one of y'all cuts hair for a living!)!
Yeah that is true about the other thing you said, though I must admit spiders, like house spiders, do freak me out a bit. Tarantulas just do not though, and I probably know why I'm jus too tired to think right now!

Kate Arbon, if anything happens to my Mexican Red Knee, (which I should be getting this week, though I have to ensure someone can answer the door!), which I hope it doesn't, or I suddenly decide to expand my collection (probably ain't gonna happen for like ten years!), then I'm getting a pokie!


Cheers people,

Rich!