So, spiders are scary, right? Wrong. Well, in my opinion anyway. I can understand some people fear different things, heights, clowns, balloons, fish, snakes, sharks.. ducks? haha. Anyway yeah, These are usually phobia's and the definition of phobia is an irrational or extreme fear of something. Now irrational is what I want to focus on here. That's one of mine to the right by the way, Jiggy my Costa Rican Zebra Tarantula. Normally a skittish, quick moving species but Jiggy will stay relatively still if you give her a stroke. Which is nice, don't you think?
Anyway, too often people tell me they hate spiders, hate snakes, why don't you get a dog? well, why should I? I have a dog, for the record. She just lives with my parents. Anyway, I don't particularly want to seem cool that I have 'strange' pets, I genuinely think they're amazing. You feed a dog, it wolfs down it's meal, slobbers and then goes to chase it's tail for an hour, which some people find adorable, and I find it quite amusing.
But if you ever take the time to watch a tarantula eat, it's amazing. It really is. They stay still (most of the time, although on occasion one of mine CHASES her food, comical) and wait for the cricket to come close enough and then BAM they've got it. Then they rearrange it so it's comfortable to eat, and stand on their tip toes and proceed to do the 'happy spider dance' which is basically where they wiggle about spreading web or sometimes just for the sake of it. They then stand there and eat, slowly, savouring every last bit. Even for someone who fears spiders it would be an amazing thing to watch, same as when they moult. It is an amazing process, and it's all these little things that make them interesting and beautiful.
You're not going to find a dog that's purple or blue and silver naturally, are you? You can with spiders. And believe me, even ones that look plain are interesting looking. If you ever look closely at Jiggy you can see each individual colouration on her legs and body, the fact she's black, with orange hairs and white stripes is pretty impressive to me. Most people think EWW BLACK HAIRY SPIDER, and that's fair enough. I'm pretty scared of Jellyfish, but not for the same reasons as most are scared of spiders. I had a horrible experience with a jellyfish when I was little, where I got a long tentacle flicked on me, and it stung me around the top of my shoulder and down my back, and this was only in wales... it hurt LIKE A BITCH. Seriously, and the other reason is because jellyfish are blind, and they just go with the flow of the ocean. Well, they don't actually. Everytime i'm sploshing about in the ocean, and there's a jellyfish it always turns direction and poofs its water out to get closer to me, I know it does. I've watched them do it. The oceans their territory, so I quietly leave. But yeah, I don't like them. But I've given them a chance since I got badly stung and they just still keep coming towards me. So i'm a bit scared of them, but i've encountered them and can easily avoid them. I just don't go into the ocean if they're about, simple. They're not going to stroll through my house causing trouble, so it's fair enough.
Anyway, some of the reasons I hear for spiders is ridiculous. Now, I know they're not fluffy and affectionate and cuddly like a puppy is, and they're not as obvious with their temperament as a cat is, but I can tell their moods. Plenty of times I've said no I can't get her out she's not in the mood, they make it pretty clear when they don't want to be handled, which is half and half. Obviously different species have different tempers but you know, you can tell when you're used to them.
I don't know why i'm writing this really, I just am of the opinion that you should give something a chance before you hate it and fear it. Fear is based on ignorance usually, so if you broaden your knowledge of something then you're more likely to feel more comfortable knowing it exists. For example, do you know that when you get an increased amount of house spiders in your house, they're looking for a mate and are usually disorientated, male and have been through hardships? I'm not trying to get you to sympathise, but I don't think you should just kill them because they've walked in the house, remove it gently. After all, they've been around before we built all our houses and buildings, so technically we're in their way.
Being a lover of spiders, I've always allowed spiders to be in my room and I can tell you I never get flies, ever. Which i'm glad, because I cannot stand their disgusting habits.
Anyway, I had a friend who was TERRIFIED of my python, and I encouraged her to just allow her to come over and introduce herself as such, she did and seconds later she had her around her neck and was stroking her, Because she knew she wouldn't harm her. More to the point, I would never put my python or tarantula near someone if I believed either of them could get hurt, that's why I'm very strict about any handling, because as much as you think you might get hurt, I know you won't and if you freak out about it then the animal could end up getting hurt. If you drop a tarantula from a certain height thats it, they're done for. I had a horrible dream that happened to one of mine actually, it was a very sad time for me. Haha :)
Anyway yeah. I think my point is, learn a bit about things that terrify you, you might be nicely surprised at what you find out. Everything can be beautiful, if you give it a chance. As a side note, I really want a Solifugae (Camel Spider, Sun Scorpion). They get such bad press and are strangely cute, and BY THE WAY, they can only bite you, no venom :) Ahh, maybe I'm just more open minded to these creatures eh ;)
Anyway, I have to dash, I have a pizza in the oven and an escaped bearded dragon walking across my room...
Anyway, too often people tell me they hate spiders, hate snakes, why don't you get a dog? well, why should I? I have a dog, for the record. She just lives with my parents. Anyway, I don't particularly want to seem cool that I have 'strange' pets, I genuinely think they're amazing. You feed a dog, it wolfs down it's meal, slobbers and then goes to chase it's tail for an hour, which some people find adorable, and I find it quite amusing.
But if you ever take the time to watch a tarantula eat, it's amazing. It really is. They stay still (most of the time, although on occasion one of mine CHASES her food, comical) and wait for the cricket to come close enough and then BAM they've got it. Then they rearrange it so it's comfortable to eat, and stand on their tip toes and proceed to do the 'happy spider dance' which is basically where they wiggle about spreading web or sometimes just for the sake of it. They then stand there and eat, slowly, savouring every last bit. Even for someone who fears spiders it would be an amazing thing to watch, same as when they moult. It is an amazing process, and it's all these little things that make them interesting and beautiful.
You're not going to find a dog that's purple or blue and silver naturally, are you? You can with spiders. And believe me, even ones that look plain are interesting looking. If you ever look closely at Jiggy you can see each individual colouration on her legs and body, the fact she's black, with orange hairs and white stripes is pretty impressive to me. Most people think EWW BLACK HAIRY SPIDER, and that's fair enough. I'm pretty scared of Jellyfish, but not for the same reasons as most are scared of spiders. I had a horrible experience with a jellyfish when I was little, where I got a long tentacle flicked on me, and it stung me around the top of my shoulder and down my back, and this was only in wales... it hurt LIKE A BITCH. Seriously, and the other reason is because jellyfish are blind, and they just go with the flow of the ocean. Well, they don't actually. Everytime i'm sploshing about in the ocean, and there's a jellyfish it always turns direction and poofs its water out to get closer to me, I know it does. I've watched them do it. The oceans their territory, so I quietly leave. But yeah, I don't like them. But I've given them a chance since I got badly stung and they just still keep coming towards me. So i'm a bit scared of them, but i've encountered them and can easily avoid them. I just don't go into the ocean if they're about, simple. They're not going to stroll through my house causing trouble, so it's fair enough.
Anyway, some of the reasons I hear for spiders is ridiculous. Now, I know they're not fluffy and affectionate and cuddly like a puppy is, and they're not as obvious with their temperament as a cat is, but I can tell their moods. Plenty of times I've said no I can't get her out she's not in the mood, they make it pretty clear when they don't want to be handled, which is half and half. Obviously different species have different tempers but you know, you can tell when you're used to them.
I don't know why i'm writing this really, I just am of the opinion that you should give something a chance before you hate it and fear it. Fear is based on ignorance usually, so if you broaden your knowledge of something then you're more likely to feel more comfortable knowing it exists. For example, do you know that when you get an increased amount of house spiders in your house, they're looking for a mate and are usually disorientated, male and have been through hardships? I'm not trying to get you to sympathise, but I don't think you should just kill them because they've walked in the house, remove it gently. After all, they've been around before we built all our houses and buildings, so technically we're in their way.
Being a lover of spiders, I've always allowed spiders to be in my room and I can tell you I never get flies, ever. Which i'm glad, because I cannot stand their disgusting habits.
Anyway, I had a friend who was TERRIFIED of my python, and I encouraged her to just allow her to come over and introduce herself as such, she did and seconds later she had her around her neck and was stroking her, Because she knew she wouldn't harm her. More to the point, I would never put my python or tarantula near someone if I believed either of them could get hurt, that's why I'm very strict about any handling, because as much as you think you might get hurt, I know you won't and if you freak out about it then the animal could end up getting hurt. If you drop a tarantula from a certain height thats it, they're done for. I had a horrible dream that happened to one of mine actually, it was a very sad time for me. Haha :)
Anyway yeah. I think my point is, learn a bit about things that terrify you, you might be nicely surprised at what you find out. Everything can be beautiful, if you give it a chance. As a side note, I really want a Solifugae (Camel Spider, Sun Scorpion). They get such bad press and are strangely cute, and BY THE WAY, they can only bite you, no venom :) Ahh, maybe I'm just more open minded to these creatures eh ;)
Anyway, I have to dash, I have a pizza in the oven and an escaped bearded dragon walking across my room...
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