Please help me overcome my fears

[Skymall007]

Hello everyone!

I am not an invert owner of any kind (except silkworms). I am however a reptile owner. Since snakes are especially misunderstood creatures, I know a bit of what it is like to have to defend one's hobby and love. I am here today because I am very much afraid of spiders, all spiders. I am also afraid of most inverts (except for crabs which I also own but that took a while). I do not want to fear spiders. I know that they are important to the environment and I have been told that tarantulas in particular can be fascinating and docile animals. Much like snakes, misunderstood in many ways. I hope that by joining this community I can learn to overcome my arachnophobia. I was hoping you guys could answer a few questions for me.

1. Were you ever afraid of spiders and if so how did you overcome that fear?
2. What got you interested in owning spiders?
3. Do tarantulas of the same species exhibit personality? Can they recognize their owners?
4. What is your favorite species and why?
5. Are there any deadly tarantulas? I know that most are venomous? I think? I heard new world spiders have a more intense bite?
6. Interesting facts
7. Do you find them cute? I find snakes adorable but I know that for many snake owners they might not. More just interesting.
8. What do you do when you see a house spider? Do you also find them cute? I always try to let them back outside. I don't know if the feelings differ? If I found a snake in my house I would be very happy, unless it was venomous in which case I would call someone to safety bring it back to its home. Preferably outside my house.
8. Anything really. The more the better. I want to better understand this hobby and community.

I am both frightened of and fascinated by Avicularia versicolor.
It is however that particular species that brought me here.

 

[Denny Dee]

Hi Skymall007,

Okay, I will take a crack at this:

1. Were you ever afraid of spiders and if so how did you overcome that fear? No.
2. What got you interested in owning spiders? Always fascinated with predators species in the animal kingdom. When I studied Entomology, the spider was the on the top of the food chain and they absolutely fascinated me with their hunting abilities. From a pet perspective, they are also one of the lowest maintenance pets one can acquire. ++
3. Do tarantulas of the same species exhibit personality? Can they recognize their owners? Yes, definitely. However, through research (like forums like this), you can find general characteristics that you can rely on in selecting a T based on their aggressive tendancies. There are always exceptions though so you need to experiment with your new T to get to know them before you assume they are docile and safe to handle. I do not think they can recognize their owners as site is not a primary attribute for most T's. But you never know?
4. What is your favorite species and why? I own 18 T's because I have never been able to answer this question properly
5. Are there any deadly tarantulas? I know that most are venomous? I think? I heard new world spiders have a more intense bite? There are hundreds of opinions on this. Since I have avoided being bit (by T's that is), I would not be 100% confident. I will tell you that in any venom rankings, you will see the Haplopelma, Poecilotheria, most of the larger bird eating spiders, and some of the baboons. They are all venomous and venom is a funny thing. Depending on the health of the individual that gets bit, the amount of actual venom that the spider injects, allergic reactions, infections caused by the bite not being treated are all some variables in the equation. Most people that treat the bite and any possible allergy that you may not be aware of. If you decide not to get treatment, there are wide varieties of symptoms including fever and intense pain and potentially worse. If you do get bit, go get it checked out just to be safe. New world species generally have a less intense bite than old world species. New world species have the ability to sling uticrating hairs from the abdomen as a first defense and bite only when necessary. The hairs can cause intense itching on the skin and even temporary blindness if they get in the eyes. Again, you should research individual species by species to determine their "normal" mode of defense.
6. Interesting facts: The forums are full of fascinating and interesting T facts. Too many to list here. Enjoy.
7. Do you find them cute? I find snakes adorable but I know that for many snake owners they might not. More just interesting. Cute no. Gorgeous and fascinating, yes. But I also find scorpions, true and primitive spiders the same.
8. What do you do when you see a house spider? Do you also find them cute? I always try to let them back outside. I don't know if the feelings differ? If I found a snake in my house I would be very happy, unless it was venomous in which case I would call someone to safety bring it back to its home. Preferably outside my house. I usually try to capture it and either release it or add it to my True Spider collection to save a buck or two
8. Anything really. The more the better. I want to better understand this hobby and community. Although I have read that owning a T is good therapy for arachnophobia, I would definitely not recommend it. There are several folks out there that will probably argue this point but for every 1 that has overcome it using T's, I would wager there are many more that have not and probably not done their T's justice in upkeep and health. Female T's can live 10-15 years under the right conditions so this is a major commitment. Granted that you probably will never be short of T collectors that will help you relocate your T to another home if it does not work out but they are not goldfish. If you continue your research and are still intrigued, fascinated and determined to give it a go, than go for it. But remember, you don't have to handle T's to own T's. I do not handle my specimens unless absolutely necessary as I am confident that they don't "enjoy" it and there is always a risk of damaging the T. Keep in mind that this is my own personal opinion and you find others completely counter these points.

Hopefully, you will continue your research and find them as fascinating as we do.

 

[Skymall007]

I can't thank you enough for your responses! I really enjoyed reading them. I def. shall not own one unless I am very confident that I can make the commitment and keep its care up. I would have to not be afraid before owning one. =)

 

[Grammostola in my heart]

listen, i was a RAGING arachnophobe. if someone even mentioned "spider" i would quite literally run down to the end of my street. then i started researching spiders. and then i saw a tarantula feeding video. and from that moment on, it was nonstop tarantula research until i got my first t, a grammostola pulchripes. i was still terrified, but the curiosity won me over. i got it set up in an enclosure, and cared for it. i actually got an avicularia versicolor with the grammostola, but it died. i was devastated. and that was my revelation. i had actually CARED about a spider. a tarantula. and then, i got another. and another. and another. and another. i now have five t's and i love them all. if i can do it, you can too.

 

[MichK]

I have the exact opposite problem - I totally fear snakes yet I love and own spiders!

So here are your answers:

1.. I have never been afraid of spiders
2. Ease of care and fascination
3. I believe they do exhibit personality. I dont know about recognition of owner, though
4. My current favourites are avics. I have a Avicularia Avicularia as well as a Avicularia Versicolor.
5. I have not been bitten (yet)... But having read much information on forums have learnt that T venom is medically insignificant. But dont quote me on that. I am not an expert!
6. I dont feel qualified to pass any info on as facts just yet...
7. I find all 8 my T's extremely cute! Snakes - not so much!
8. When I see a house spider I either leave it be or I move it outside, depending on type of spider and circumstances

 

[Skymall007]

Thank you guys! I am really enjoying these answers

 

[philflake]

Get a calm species like a Chilean Rose Hair first. They are very easy to care for also.

 

[Grammostola in my heart]

now dont go by that. there are MANY roseas that are very aggressive albeit very easy to care for. and on the other end of that spectrum ive seen pokies that are actually handleable

 

[philflake]

MOST roses are mellow. Any T can be aggressive. Personality traits can vary.

 

[Grammostola in my heart]

exactly. lucky for me, i have ALL docile t's so far. theyre temperament can change. heck, my gbb lets me hande her. though they arent known for being aggressive, they normally refuse to be held

 

[MatthewM1]

1. Were you ever afraid of spiders and if so how did you overcome that fear?

I wwouldn't say I feared them but was quite uneasy around them, yet fascinated at the same time. Found an arachnid form looking for roach colonies(originally an amphibian guy) from there started keeping scorps and true spiders then finally dove head first into T's
2. What got you interested in owning spiders?
See above^

3. Do tarantulas of the same species exhibit personality? Can they recognize their owners?
Yes they have different ppersonalities, construct retreats/ burrows differently, react to stimuli differently. I'm very doubtfull they can recognize their keeper in any way.
4. What is your favorite species and why?
Don't think I could pick a single favorite if I tried, so many great ones

5. Are there any deadly tarantulas? I know that most are venomous? I think? I heard new world spiders have a more intense bite?
There has never been a documented death from a T bite. All are venomous to some degree. OW tend to be much more significant than NW. Search for bite reports for S. calceatum, P. ornata and P. murinus, those are some of the most potent. Although lacking strong venom some large NW's have large fangs that can do some damage.

6. Interesting facts
They can regenerate lost limbs.


7. Do you find them cute? I find snakes adorable but I know that for many snake owners they might not. More just interesting.
Idk who can look at a baby A. versicolor and not find it cute


8. What do you do when you see a house spider? Do you also find them cute? I always try to let them back outside. I don't know if the feelings differ? If I found a snake in my house I would be very happy, unless it was venomous in which case I would call someone to safety bring it back to its home. Preferably outside my house.

Depends on what it is. Small web weaving spiders get moved into my critter room. They catch loose feeders and pests like flies and gnats. Jumping spiders get moved out to my porch, under weight/ dehydrated ones get a drink and a meal before being sent on their way.


8. Anything really. The more the better. I want to better understand this hobby and community.
Pick up a copy of tthe tarantula keepers guide, its an excellent resource to have and isn't very expensive, around $15 on amazon.