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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To mount my tarantula onto a log

92 replies

TheQueenOfDiamonds · 10/08/2012 03:22

I have some Tarantulas.
One of them (my favourite one) died. I would like to mount her onto a log or inside a photo frame and varnish her.

Would this freak you out if you saw this in someones house? Its not like she's alive. Its an ornament. Like when people stuff animals I guess.

I did it with one of my mums and my OH and his friend jumped out of their seats screaming when they noticed it.

I don't want people to be scared to come in my house!

OP posts:
neverquitesure · 10/08/2012 17:58

Can someone please describe exactly what's in the picture at the end of the link? I want to click on it so desperately but know I mustn't!

Incidentally, the poster (sorry, I forget who) who said that most people who call themselves arachnophobes have no idea is right. I have a fear of spiders but it does not control my life. There is a Big Difference.

TheQueenOfDiamonds · 10/08/2012 18:41

Out of interest Queen how did overcome yr fear?

My first boyfriend wanted one. Being young and wanting to impress him I wanted to buy him something hed love for his 18th. Hed said how hed always wanted a Tarantula, but his mum wouldn't let him. So I had a chat with a friends mum who also loved them and she said she would let him keep it at hers (he practically lived there by this point).

So I bought him one. I was such a wreck though. I went into the shop and this bit of water from a pipe that had burst dripped on me.. I ran out screaming, crying and shaking, it took half an hour to go back in.

The man set the tank up in the petshop and transferred to tarantula into It. Whilst I stood ready with a roll of sellotape to tape he lid down "just in case"!

I didn't sleep that night. I put books on the tank incase the tank lid and the sellotape failed!

He came over the next day. We had covered the tank with a towel expecting him to ask what it was! He thought it was the fucking breadbin. So eventually I said "pass me that towel". He was chuffed, and was told that under no circumstance was it to come out, the tank was to be kept closed at all times while I was there etc.

I used to watch her in her tank, and just gradually wanted to see her do more. One day I let him get it out across the room from me. And gradually went closer and closer over a few weeks until one day I touched her. Then one day I let her walk over my hand.

He bought another one and kept asking if I'd hold her again. One day we were joking and he said "let me put her on your head" and I said no. He kept going on and I said jokingly "have the bigger one on your face and ill do it" thinking he wouldn't. But he did. So I did. And I realised while it was sat there "I'd kill that if I hit it.. The worst its going to do to me is bite me.. The cats done worse.. I'm not scared of the cat.." And it just went away. Like that. I've not been scared since.

There are some that I wouldn't touch in a million years, but that's because some are more vicious than others, and I don't know if I'm allergic either so that's just common sense more than a fear.

I still won't touch a true spider. I don like how they move. But ill calmly catch one in a glass now, whereas before I'd have broken out into a sweat and ran in a blind panic.

OP posts:
TheQueenOfDiamonds · 10/08/2012 18:49

How intelligent are these spiders? Do they recognise you? How long is their memory span? Are they affectionate?

I'm not sure about intelligence. They have amazing senses. They know if you're scared. If you're like me, and comfortable holding one, but get slightly nervous if they go near your face or on your back they will pick up on it and go sit there, supossedly because they feel in control.

They also aren't fighters. They know we're bigger. If a tarantula bites you it will bite once and run.

Affectionate, no. Some are more placid and tolerant than others. Mexican red knees are popular and cost more to purchase because they are slow moving, docile and colourful.

starlings You superglue it into position and use a varnish type spray to harden it. Hairspray works just as well :)

dagruffalo how unlucky, I promise you that would so rarely happen, a tarantula rarely moves so far. Especially a skittish one that would go shooting across the floor!

OP posts:
AllYoursBabooshka · 10/08/2012 19:14

i definitely think it's the way tarantulas move that make them less terrifying scary than true spiders.

I googled the Chilean Rose and think they are beautiful. Not sure if I would be able to hold one, I think I could stroke one though

In answer to your OP I don't think you are BU. As long as you don't do it with all of them when they die... No one wants to be in a house decorated with dead tarantulas. :o

Sorry about your pet.

BartletForTeamGB · 10/08/2012 19:19

In all these sorts of threads, I have to link to The London Zoo Friendly Spider Programme.

Before I did that, I would have (well, I wouldn't have read this thread!) been panicking and feeling sick at just reading this. Now, while I would never want a tarantula as a pet, I can cope with house spiders and even held a tarantula. I am not exaggerating when I say that the course (one afternoon) transformed my life!

DancesWithSockPuppets · 10/08/2012 19:25

If you have two DCs then yes, you should do it. The bigger/older one will greatly enjoy chasing the younger one round with it and tormenting him/her.

CouthyMow · 10/08/2012 19:30

Bollocks do they not go very far. Tell that to my 9yo self who woke with one just centimetres from her face, that had escaped from the local (tiny) zoo. And promptly wet the bed.

You will all be pleased to know that while I wasn't an arachnophobe prior to that, I am most definitely one now.

bronze · 10/08/2012 19:45

I find tarantulas better as I like to know where small creatures are an they tend to be pets so on view the whole time

When we moved into our old house we found spider casts bigger than tarantulas in the shed. I wouldn't go in there

Socknickingpixie · 10/08/2012 19:48

im very glad you added that said spider is dead so purely on that basis yanbu however if your fibbing about him being dead then yabu because you cant mount alive spiders thats just wicked Grin

TheQueenOfDiamonds · 10/08/2012 20:01

Saggy - Yes that's me lol! I was 18 then :) So 4 years ago. Thankyou, and mrsrobert :)

This is me now lol pic.twitter.com/hb0SnexX

Couthymow - honestly, its rare for them to go far! Terrestrials don't want to explore, they want to hide in a hole, they aren't too picky, they don't usually wander off too far. Arboreals won't go a great distance away, because they will climb upwards :)

Its true spiders you have to be careful of. I don't think its right that people can have things like wandering spiders or black widows. License or no license!

OP posts:
CouthyMow · 10/08/2012 23:51

Might be rare, but unfortunately (for ME!) it does happen.

DaGruffalosBabyMomma · 11/08/2012 06:30

Queen I am so impressed with how u got over your phobia.

I am sick of being scared in my own home and going to bed same time as my 3yr old son when my partner is working late because I am scared to be on my own. As that's when they all seem to come out.

Not impressed with the thought of one being clever enough to sit on my face to be in control.

BartletForTeamGB way too scared to do the course at the Zoo they'll make me touch one.
Although I got over my fear of drowning by learning to swim this year I don't think it would work with spiders.

SamuelWestsMistress · 11/08/2012 10:04

So do tarantulas not run fast like giant house spiders?

pumpkinsweetie · 11/08/2012 10:21

Sorry for your loss op, she was your pet and if you would like to frame her its up to you. I wouldn't worry what visitors think tbh, as its your home to do as you like with. I have found this thread really interesting even though im scared of spiders, may even think of conquering my phobia Smile

MrGeresHamster · 11/08/2012 10:21

Just remembered a story about snakes. I went to this little zoo in Nairobi which had spiders, snakes and crocodiles. We were being shown round by a guide. When we got to the black mamba snake tank the guide couldn't see it so called over one of the keepers to open the tank and overturn things with a long stick. Cue ages of searching. My small group were getting a little bored so were generally milling around. Someone pointed out a small black snake in the tree above us, which we all gathered round to look at. Next thing we knew there was lots of shouting and lots of keepers and we were all pushed very quickly away from the area. Turns out the little snake in the tree we were looking at was the 'lost' black mamba. The reaction of the guide and keepers left us all very certain of how dangerous the snake was, as generally the locals laughed at our reaction to snakes/spiders etc... they were not laughing. Eek!

Anyway back to spiders...

TheQueenOfDiamonds · 11/08/2012 13:51

Samuel - not all of them no.

Mexican red knees, bird eaters, mexican blacks are slow moving. They can move fast, they just generally don't. Females especially, they're thicker set you see.

Ornamentals move like lightening.

Avicularia species are little arboreals, and they are fast, but they're not vicious. They'd sooner run away lol.

OP posts:
ChuffMuffin · 11/08/2012 14:28

I bought a brachypelma albopilosum (curly hair) once.

When it got home and moulted I realised it was Phormictopus cancerides (Haitian brown bird eater) Shock

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