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Original poster

To Keep A Handy Spider in the House?

114 replies

SmidgenofaPigeon · 03/07/2021 12:14

I have a lovely one, called Marigold.

I rescued him out of the bath when he was only little (after shouting at DH not to flush him down Angry) when he was only little. Pretended to put him out in the corridor of our flats but secretly let him back in. Didn’t see him for a few weeks but but yesterday I noticed he’d grown into a lovely big spider living in the corner of the bathroom. So he can stay up there and catch some flies, and everybody is happy.

Do you keep a handy spider around?

OP posts:
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6
TheWeeDonkeyFella · 03/07/2021 13:00

I feel a bit bad now for evicting a spindly one a few days ago. It was in the downstairs loo and I didn't mind while he was up in his corner but he started expanding his patch and getting a bit close for comfort so I put him outside but into an unused kennel so he still has shelter and there are flies outside so hopefully he's doing ok.

Cupcakeschocolate · 03/07/2021 13:03

I leave spiders hut false Widows get sent outside since me and my sin where bitten with nasty allergic reactions. All others stay. They get named and they eat flies. I don't want them near me but happy for them to earn their keep fly catching

SplendidDaysInTheGarden · 03/07/2021 13:03

Yep, we had one called Fred that lived under our sofa. Was huge! I'm deathly afraid of flies so loved Fred. He would appear at the entrance to his sofa kingdom in the evening, guard it for a while then scuttle out across the living room floor. We'd always say hello to him (or her). Was very disappointed when Fred disappeared. I think it coincided with getting a kitten.

Pinotwoman82 · 03/07/2021 13:08

Like others I’m terrified of those big black hairy ones so when I learned that the spindly ones ate those I’ve kept them ever since, never seen a big black one since

Weirdfan · 03/07/2021 13:24

I never evict them but we have cats and dogs so they either move out of their own accord or get eaten I presume as I rarely see the same one twice Sad It amazes me that I can now actually co-exist happily with them as I've been terrified of them all my life but the fear just sort of disappeared a couple of years ago (no idea how/why) and now I find them fascinating and even sort of endearing. DD and I always name them despite the fact that they never stay, I would actually really like a pet tarantula now and I'm the last person I would ever have expected to say that!

trappedsincesundaymorn · 03/07/2021 13:34

We have a spider (Gerald), in the bathroom. DP has allowed him to stay on the strict understanding that Gerald keeps the siverfish population down and that under no circumstances whatsoever be tempted to go near the shower .DP is not a manly man where spiders are concerned so as long as Gerald sticks to the deal DP will pretend he's not there.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 03/07/2021 13:37

Awwwwwww. Can we see him.

LaurieSchafferIsAllBitterNow · 03/07/2021 14:01

we had a Pervert Spider for a while, lived in the edge of the rail over the shower. He would only come out when it was dd or me in the shower.

Otherwise there's one in the top left corner of the big kitchen window...Ds2 chases the flies up there for him and one who lives over the back door. However they have both been recently evicted since I have painted and scrubbed all the window frames.

I worry about the cats or dog eating them though...a colleague had a dog who ate a spider and died the next day, so I worry about a bite and an allergy or something.

We had a total giant run through the dining room once. I actually heard its feet tippy tapping on the wooden floor, squawked in horror as it heaveho'd the laundry basket out of the way, the dog came running to save me, took one look and ran back to the other room (7st GSD btw!)
I managed to grab a large pint mug and put it over the top of it, but its feet were crimped on both sides it was sooooooo wide.

I can only cope with still spiders, not running ones

cricketmum84 · 03/07/2021 14:17

@Weirdfan

I never evict them but we have cats and dogs so they either move out of their own accord or get eaten I presume as I rarely see the same one twice Sad It amazes me that I can now actually co-exist happily with them as I've been terrified of them all my life but the fear just sort of disappeared a couple of years ago (no idea how/why) and now I find them fascinating and even sort of endearing. DD and I always name them despite the fact that they never stay, I would actually really like a pet tarantula now and I'm the last person I would ever have expected to say that!
Have you ever seen a jumping spider??? Cutest spiders ever!!!
To Keep A Handy Spider in the House?
TopTabby · 03/07/2021 14:26

We had a great cellar spider living under the stairs, he grew to quite an impressive size. There were always little bodies underneath his web, leftover bits of much larger house spiders. He lived for ages but just disappeared in the end.
I let a few cellar spiders stay but chuck a few out because we get loads & their webs get everywhere.
Marigold sounds lovely! Grin

30degreesandmeltinghere · 03/07/2021 14:29

We have a 7 legged one called Tracy.. Had an unfortunate encounter with a piece of fly tape a couple of years ago.. Skinny one
..
Even ds isn't scared of it...
17 to ds who wakes me at all hours to remove any he sees in his room..

SweetPetrichor · 03/07/2021 14:33

I had one living above our bedroom window that we called Boris but he has moved in to somewhere new. I also have a baby lace weaver that I found and have kept as a pet. I don’t seem to get many house spiders though…but I have 33 tarantulas so maybe the native spiders are scared away by the giants!

nicky2512 · 03/07/2021 14:34

No they have to go. My dog is absolutely terrified of spiders!
One ran over him just after he got into his bed one night and the noise he made was unreal. Had to hold him for ages until he settled!! Poor baby.

HoppingPavlova · 03/07/2021 14:39

I leave Daddy Long Legs spiders, they are handy. Huntsmen are harmless and control insects but I can’t bring myself to co-exist with them, think it’s the hairiness and probably imagining it but all I can think of is their eyes looking at me. They also move around a lot where Daddy Long Legs seem to stay put in the same harmless spots and just feed there ….. or maybe they just race back there before I see them!

Pinuporc · 03/07/2021 14:41

I allow the spindly ones but sorry im terrified of big ones and they are not permitted to stay. I can get close to them outside but would leave the house room there was a big one indoors. I dont kill them (I cant get that near) but have to enlist someone else to get rid by any means they see fit.

Findmeatthebeach · 03/07/2021 14:43

We have a tube web spider high up in a velux window in our kitchen. We have so many flies come in when we open the bifolds right up that I'm glad he's there!

Nat6999 · 03/07/2021 14:47

I have a large spider that lives in my hall web & all, he is in charge of fly prevention. I directed a massive fly to his web, he spent a good couple of hours devouring it, saving it's wings & legs until last.

HeyDemonsItsYaGirl · 03/07/2021 14:48

I keep them all, even the false widow that bit me (Charlotte). I had one living on my car wing mirror for about three months - was amazed that she never got blown away in the wind.

MajorNeville · 03/07/2021 14:54

They don't bother me, only if anyone else sees them do I put them outside. They are always called Derek.

Tangledtresses · 03/07/2021 14:58

Also feel terrible for getting rid of spindly spider yesterday! We have a gigantic spider that lives in the chimney.... he comes out in the summer 😱😱

And a few in the kitchen that are allowed to stay in quiet corners.... and one who lives in the sash window also called Boris

Rc123467 · 03/07/2021 14:59

Yuck 🤢 no way I have a phobia and I kill them all big or small 🤢

Picklypickles · 03/07/2021 14:59

I allow the skinny-legs ones to stay, but only in the bathroom, kitchen and hallways, places I'm not going to be sleeping or trying to relax! The big hairy ones give me palpitations and make the children scream so my oh sucks them up the hoover, he says he's not scared of them but I suspect he may be lying.

Original poster
SmidgenofaPigeon · 03/07/2021 15:03

@Rc123467 but why kill them?

OP posts:
Letsnotargue · 03/07/2021 15:06

I allow all spiders to stay. The house has room for us and them too. When OH finds a spider and demands I remove it I pretend I hadn’t already seen and ignored it. The dog can’t see well enough to be bothered.

AnUnoriginalUsername · 03/07/2021 15:08

We have loads.
The rules are:
Eat mosquitos
Stay out of my bed
If you end up in the bath you go out the window (except the babies)