i knew i shouldnt have entered this part of the forum

im absoloutly terried of spiders, i dont dis-like them , i know they are harmless(most of them) so dont like to hurt them

you know its strange because i actually like the BIG spiders and the very small ones too!

its the in-betweeny ones that terrify me! the one with the spiked legs and fat bodies? or the ones with tiny bodies and massive long legs!!

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I dont blame you if you dont like spiders whatever shap or size , i was terified of the little critters but after gettin the first one (SAM) i overcame the fear and now i have three also some friends of mine have held them an overcame there fear could be worth a try if you are feeling brave !!! yours phil

If it helps, here are some facts about tarantulas and spiders


Tarantula's

"Their bodies are carpeted with chemosensitive bristles that provide something analogous to a combined sense of taste and smell"

"bristles that are not chemosensors are extremely sensitive to sound, especially in the lower frequencies, and courser vibrations like those produced by moving prey"

"Many tarantulas, especially the arboreals, apparently have pretty good vision, and have been observed turning to follow moving prey on a neighboring branch for instance"

"tarantulas are ambush predators"

"Tarantula's natural defences are to run and hide, or when cornered will more than likely take anouther course of action, such as rearing up in a threat posture, biteing, flicking urticating hairs, or shooting poop at you. In the cases were they immediatly rear up, or try to bite, it is a case of the threat to there instincts being based upon the level of threat at the time"

"Tarantula bites can not kill you. The pain from a tarantula bite is often compared to a bee sting, this is far from the truth for the following reasons...

A) Everyone reacts diffrent to there venom

B) Some tarantula bites dont even come close to a bee sting, were as others are far far worse. The worst report from a tarantula bite was from an old world tarantula, the tarantula's in question are called "Feather legged baboon", and "Fringed ornamental". The fringed ornamental left somone in severe pain and swears, that the body reacted to protect it self, by going into a comer. The comer lasted 48 hours.... The feather legged baboon, bit a native on the neck, making his neck swell and almost cutting off his air supply. The least effective bite reports, No feeling what so ever from a bite from an Metallic pink toe, and a relaxing feeling, were the mucles become loose and limp from a Guyana pink toe bite. Infact i remember when i had one having ago at me, and bit me several times. I sat there saying "awwww, are we angry today"... No effects from the bite what so ever."


Theres many more to add here, but non the less, in short.... Tarantulas and spiders, is basically instinct on legs. They mean you no harm, and wont on the condition you mean them no harm.

For example, black widow bites, never happen unless A) accidental B) a purpose move on our part... Meaning that more than 50% of bites from a black widow is down to us attacking them, rather than accidental bites, such as putting on a glove.... Infact Black widows are VERY docile spiders.


Spiders

Spiders are more or less the same, but with few diffrences, such as all tarantulas have retracting claws, were as not every spider does. And the venom on quiet a few spiders can cause severe damage, or fatality. Tarantulas fangs move up and down, were as spiders fangs move from side to side (with the exeption of a few small selection). And ofcourse the obviouse, tarantulas are much larger than spiders (again with a few exeptions to the dwarf tarantulas).


And as much as i can fill in more in, i wont, as there are a few facts here that would make you go insane at pressent. BUT this may be off some comfort, the venom milked from these animals are going to good use when it comes to medicen's, i believe they recently made a very powerful pain killer from the venoms, that is more powerful and safer than the pain killers we have to date. Still being tested ofcourse. And something interesting to add, Tarantula silk (webbing) is much much stronger than the materials used in a bullet proof jacket. And according to science (which is currently under testing) when you put the web on a gash, or cut, it heals much faster, and makes that area much much more stronger, and tougher. As the web and skin heal together, making you become tougher skinned.

Hope this comes as some relief, again they mean you no harm, and are very benaficial when it comes to new medicens, and other area's.

spiders scare me to death, i cant even watch them on tv im that bad sufice to say my dog has learned to attack them lol. dont ask me how she knows to attack them but she sure does.

Stems back to when i was about 11 years old and a kid down my street kept spiders, one day his dog ran in and whacked the table with all the containers on and all the spiders he had got out and they were freaking huge and sprinted to every corner of the room bar one that ran at me. since then i cant even stand them.

BTW has anyone else noticed they sneak up on you.