I'm a tarantula AMA (selfie included)

[charabanctrip]

My name is Albie, feel free to ask me any questions

@charabanctrip

Hiya Albie, this is one of my spidey house mates. Just wondering what the spiky things on his back end are. Are they spinaret thingymibobs?

Those are spinnerets and your spider is a girl.

Ah cool. Thanks Albie 🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷

Have you ever read Charlotte’s Web? I recommend it and it’s a lot shorter than Crime and Punishment.

Do you sleep much? And do you walk and stand all the time, or do you snuggle down in your burrow with your legs tucked in? Are your scary hairs attached to your exoskeleton, leaving you bald when you shed? What does your mum do with your shed exoskeletons?

Would all South African tarantulas be bitey ones? We were once shown one by the staff in a shop there, who had found it outside and put it in a tank. I'm afraid I didn't get close enough to be politely introduced, I was afraid I might offend him or her by running away screaming.

Can you ask them not to touch my person please? I’m happy to cohabit but that is my dealbreaker.

The only wandersome ones are the boys when they're looking for girlfriends. They're naughty and end up in all manner of places. You know what men are like though 😄

What's the point eating your mate after he gets you pregnant, he won't be able to help you look after the babies, how many do you have in one go?

You’re pretty, do you feel pretty I hope so

Yes, I'm particularly proud of my pink curls 😍

I spend most of my time in my burrow waiting for prey or just staying still.

My exoskeleton looks just like me, complete with hairs and fangs. I'm covered in new hairs underneath. My new fangs are soft and have to harden before I can eat or I'll damage them. If I were to lose a leg I can grow a new one which is revealed when I shed my exo.

@charabanctrip

I wouldn't tend to bite anyone. I'm not aggressive at all. If I did need to bite I'd have a choice between a dry bite (not injecting venom) and a wet bite (injecting venom). If I inject venom it results in more pain, swelling and infection.

Me and my South American cousins aren't aggressive. The aggressive tarantulas come from Asia and Africa and can really pack a punch. My mum had one once and he was scary. He was an Orange Baboon Tarantula and he could move fast. You can't pick these ones up. They can't kick hairs for defence which is why they bite, South Americans are the hair kickers.

My DD wants an Orange Bitey Thing as discussed. I've told her she can move out but she's only ten. Snakes were a gateway animal to your brethren and sistren I think.

What career do you suggest for the little weirdo?

What's the point eating your mate after he gets you pregnant, he won't be able to help you look after the babies, how many do you have in one go?

Free protein. The males don't help with childrearing and die once they've matured and mated.

My DD wants an Orange Bitey Thing as discussed. I've told her she can move out but she's only ten. Snakes were a gateway animal to your brethren and sistren I think.

A vet or a zoologist I think 🤔

The OBTs are truly scary. My mum had a male and he moved at lightening speed and was a voracious eater. He was also very feisty. You need to be somewhat experienced to keep an Orange Baboon. Ours was called Fangs 😄

Does it hurt when you shed your skin, Albie? It looks sore.

I held one of your cousins at a butterfly farm (butterflies and spiders), because I'd never had the chance before, and it was lovely. Felt a bit like having a little mouse walking on my hands. I am keen on spiders, there is one currently living in my hallway and I am just leaving her to get on with whatever she does, we live in harmony.

If you like I can save you the bother of reading Crime and Punishment by telling you who did it.

How often do you shed?
My daughter loves spiders and has a couple of old sheds on display in her bedroom 😳.
She's only seven but she always talks about the day she will get her first real spider! ( when she leaves home or I'd never dare close my eyes again 🤣)

Not sore, just a bit uncomfortable and scary in case it goes wrong. In the wild, spiders can be attacked whilst moulting because they're vulnerable.

This is the loveliest AMA I've ever read on MN, thank you Albie!!

I saw a massive house spider in the spare room earlier but it's so cold outside I felt sorry for it and left it where it is. My DM used to put saucers of water out for the spiders at home so I've clearly inherited her softness!

Are you scared of conkers?

Hello Albie, thank you for taking the time to answer all these questions this evening.

How often do you shed your exoskeleton?

If you had babies, how many would you be able to have in one go?

Albie, have you ever escaped and wandered off into a neighbour's house?

Have you ever escaped?

What an awesome thread. The most interesting AMA.
Thank you Albie.

I have no question, but I want to tell you that you are are indeed very beautiful and to assure you that I let all spiders in my house stay and do not remove their webs.

¡Hola Albiecita! You are cute and you have a great personality. I used to be terrified of spiders but I'm much better now. You've made me think too, you should be in PR.

So if I wanted to hold you and let you sit on my hand to help me overcome a fear of spiders what's the likelihood that you would chomp down on he?

I always think tarantulas loos so fluffy and cute but I just can't deal with all the legs!

You are beautiful Albie and sound really friendly as long as we respect each others space - my kinda girl.

What does your mum do with the shed skeletons? Do you shed every year?

Now that I'm a grown up I only shed around once every couple of years. My mum just throws the sheds away because they go very dry and crispy and fall to bits.

If I had babies, I would have several hundred 😱 in the wild, most would be eaten fairly quickly.

If you were to hold me there would be virtually no risk of me biting you. My mum has had several tarantulas and has never been bitten.

I would certainly be interested in getting into PR. If anybody knows how I could get going then let me know, but I can't leave my enclosure and certainly no train travel.

I've never escaped. My mum keeps me safe and I'm scared of the cats so daren't go out.

Thank you all for being kind to spiders 😃 we don't mean to frighten you.

How do you feel about the representation of spiders in the Harry Potter films? Is it unjustifiably negative?

I've never come across a conker, but if I did, I'd throw it into Smiffy's enclosure because she's such a madam.