[Closed] A few spiders

\o/

like all spiders, they are beautiful and completely terrifying (to me anyway) at the same time and in equal measure

One very very fast and highly venomous spider

Have you been at that last one with a marker pen?!

Spiders are awesome.

You don't think Mr Roper's got it in for you though, do you?

Nah Mr Roper knows I've got enough experience and knowledge to handle the "little" terror. It did try do a runner when I first got it and was trying out it into it's new home and climbed up the bathroom wall - that was funny!

*swoon*

the blue one looks like it's been kitted out at Halfords

ooooh lovely looks spids Hadge.
The rufilata is looking good, great colour and looks healthy too.
It's good to see the maculata too. Certainly has grown. I can't remember how old it is but I would guess you have a juvenile female there. I think maculata are quite dimorphic and only the female will have shades of grey, white arround the opisthosoma and cephalothorax. the males tend to keep the green shades. It's hard to tell from that photo but it doesn't look too leggy either. My fingers are crossed for the next moult.

sonic looks Amazing too. Do you get to see her much? I know they are one of the more shy pokies but she seems comfortable there.[i] very nice 🙂

I'll add one photo too 🙂
This [i]H.gigas[/i] has recently got its adult "colours" too. They are quite a beefy T but they can hunt in water as well as land.

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Love the [i]gigas[/i] Pete - has it just shed as it looks like an old skin by the side of it. Sonic is out loads as where her viv is it's quite shaded. Even during the day she comes out for a wander but she spooks easy so all pictures have to be taken through the enclosure.
I was fingers crossed looking at the colour of the [i]H mac[/i] and I was thinking "please be female" as the adult females have the stunning black and grey colours and patterns and it would be great if it was a "she"

That was about a day after moulting. They can be quite grey after a while though. I have another black T, Selencosmia sp "negero"
they are quite shy but you can see a rare photo here.
[img] [/img]
They are typical selencosmia and are quite defensive. The gigas is very confident, always out and about and quite a robust spider.

Do you think you will try and breed any?

Yeah I'm going try breed the pokies as I've got 4 females and so I'll be looking for some mature males later this year. I'm hoping the [i]H maculata[/i] is a female too as I'll try them as well. How's your [i]M balfouri[/i] - I never ever see mine at all and I was really worried so I had a little dig round and found it very much alive lol.

Beautiful spiders.

I've always wanted to hold a large fluffy one like those above, assuming that those above are large and not just big photos 😆

Quite scared though, which I know is a shame and is just what we're conditioned to think.

I love the way spiders move.

My [i]M balfouri[/i] died at sling stage. It had a bad moult but didn't last much beyond that. I think I had the temps and humidity right so just have to put it down to one of those things.I havd had a couple of breeding successes and I'm hoping my [i]Androctonus bicolor[/i] scorp pair will mate later this year, though I will have to be careful with where they go.
I've also got a pair of [i]A.moderatum[/i] I'm waiting to fully mature. it would be great to get some slings from them.

Naranjada, you wouldn't really want to hold any of the spiders above.
There are some which are more docile or which have less nasty venom so could be handled, but they are not that cuddly. The hairs are urticating hairs so act a bit like fibre glass. Some flick the hairs as a form of self defence

Pete, that's a shame about the [i]balfouri[/i]. I was so worried about mine considering what I'd paid for it and even though I knew they're quite secretive, there's secretive and down right hidden! Food disappears and it's made some nice webs but it still makes me worried not ever seeing it. I've only ever took one picture of wit when it arrived and it is a female too. Oh well we will see.
I take it the [i]Androctonus bicolor[/i] are a DWA species here in the UK? A change in my life plans will mean I can dedicate a bit more time to the spiders and get some breeding projects on the way this year so if I get an success s I'll be in touch okay 🙂
Oh I'll try get some pictures of my [i]P formosa[/i] - she's huge! Stunning colours and patterns too 😀

It sounds to me like you have a happy balfouri 🙂 She might come out more when she matures but I think they are quite shy. I have never seem my king baboon on the surface.I did find an old moult and think it could be a male. So at least it might be out and about at some point.
The A.bicolor are DWA, they are from the [i]Buthidae[/i] family, all of which are DWA in the UK I think. These though do have a strong and complex venom so should be treated with extreme caution. They are rather nice though too 🙂

Please post photos of your P formosa ( or any others ;)) they are a great T and stunning in the right light.
Speaking of big spids, this is my [i]Theraphosa apophysis[/i], it is only a baby but has a leg span of 12cm or so. I suspect it might live up to the reputation Theraphosa have of being the biggest.
[img] [/img]

Grrr - I keep mulling over getting a [i]Theraphosa apophysis [/i]as I fancy a BIG spider and I've got a couple of spare enclosures going - me thinks I'll have to satisfy my want soon hehe.
Here's the big girl but this picture was taken a while ago and she's grown quite a bit since this was taken. She never drinks from any water that's in her bowl but loves when I spray the enclosure so it's one way f getting her to come out for a while 🙂

[IMG] [/IMG]

Great looking spider. I certainly hope you get a chance to breed her. Nice that she is not too nutty too 🙂

Not for all the ****ing tea in china...... 😯

I genuinely have a morbid phobia of spiders ever since I got bitten by a [url= http://www.desertusa.com/desert-animals/brown_spider.html ]Brown Recluse Spider[/url] while in bed in California:

[img] [/img]

It was before I had turned out the light and I felt a faint brushing then a sharp, ahem, prick in my leg. I jumped out and threw the covers back to find this rougue in bed with me 😯

Since then, whilst still fascinated, the thought of them turns my nipples inside out.

Wow geetee!!!!!
Was it a dry bite or did you suffer any effects from the venom? I hope it was not necratic 😯

My thigh was so swollen it would have shamed Mark Cavendish and I was bed ridden for three days. It was like the worst case of flu I've ever had; I could barely stand up.

Not sure what the term 'dry bite' means, perhaps no venom? Well I guess that wasn't the case or maybe I just got a light dose?

My uncle came into the room (the screaming sort of got his attention!) and diagnosed the spider saying that they are (despite the name) relatively common?

Also I went to Australia a few years back and spent some time in the rain forrests near Brisbane sharing a bedroom with a Hadronyche formidabilis looking for a mate!

Yes dry bite means no venom. I have heard they can adjust the amount of venom they inject and the symptoms can vary to each person. Recluse spiders can be pretty bad though, as you know 🙂 They are not the most agressive but will bite if knocked. Unfortunately they also have a habbit of getting in they way. I'm pleased you made a full recovery.

uh, i dont mind english spiders, but those ones are far too big. HTey give me the heebie geebies

Unfortunately they also have a habbit of getting in they way. I'm pleased you made a full recovery.

Thanks mate 🙂 It was worse because it was in bed, that place where you're most vulnerable and supposed to be safe!

I'm fascinated by them though as a result. Love your family especially the electric blue one!

Am I the only one who is proper creeped out by this topic. I'm properly goosey

No, your probably not so Mr Roper and I will keep them coming in the future

I like spiders but rather more circumspect about since I got bitten by one - nice big necrotic area on my arm, ill for weeks, permanent scar

Man alive... *Compose yourself. Calm down. Breath*

Do you have any info on what spiders can be found in Nepal by any chance? I was in the east of the country earlier this year and a HUGE spider (I kid you not, it was saucer size, black and red with spindly legs from what I remember) fell from the ceiling above my bed, hit the floor with an almighty thump which got my attention and then proceeded to chase me around the room with its front legs in the air. I figured it was a pretty nasty spider but when one of the locals came in to see what the noise was and started to go mental, I gathered I was correct.

I've not been able to find any pictures of it or get any idea of what it was but I'm intrigued to find out. Any ideas?

Alpha1653 I've no idea I'm afraid. Maybe the best thing you can do is a Google search for images and then copy the picture to here. I'm not very well up on what are called "true spiders" compared to the tarantula's that I keep.

That whole 'front legs in the air' and people going mental sounds like a Sydney Funnel web, which are no laughing matter (except I think the name rules it out in Nepal).

The Sydney Funnel web is notorious for being hugely aggressive. It will raise itself up on its back legs, front legs in the air, so that it can get more force on the fangs as it stamps down on its prey (or anyone in the vicinity that happens to have p***ed it of!) The force is more than enough to pierce a big toe nail apparently or a shoe for that matter.

They are also black bodied

[img] [/img]

Right. I hope you're happy. In an attempt to track down what this spider was I've had to trawl through a stack of images of spiders. It was traumatic. Anyway, this is the closest I could find and the person says she found it in Phakdina, Nepal. The size of the spider approx 12cm which would match with the one I encountered.

What the hell is it?!

Firstly, it definitely wasn't one of them.

Secondly, I yelped and let out a little bit of wee when I saw that photo. IS THAT FOR REAL?!

IS THAT FOR REAL?!

What the Sydney Funnel Web? Yes it's for real. No one has died since they deveoped the antidote to the bite though so you sould rest easy.

[url= http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_funnel-web_spider ]Sydney Funnel Web[/url]

I've posted the picture on the RFUK site in the spider section so hopefully I'll be told and then I'll let you know okay.

@geetee1972: Ok, the wiki definition doesn't seem quite so horrendous as the image that you posted...

@Hadge: thanks for that, I'll be very interested to hear if the local was taking the p!$$ or if it really was a proper nasty spider.

They are amazing things and I find them fascinating. But they definitely freak me out.

Hadge and Roper

I'm moving to Adelaide this year and was wondering if you knew what the real nasty spiders that I should watch out for are? I'll also get you a picture of the first Huntsman I see! maybe whilst i'm crying or wetting myself. As said above I'm scared of spiders but amazed by them all at the same time.

@Hadge: poking around on RFUK, I found your post and seem the two replies. A huntsman spider? Reading up on them, it seems to concur: indoors, fast moving, aggressive etc. Bloody scary thing.

Alpha1653 it appears to be one of the [i]Holconia sp[/i], possibly [i]Holconia insignis[/i] but a lot of them do look alike. Have a look on Google images at that species and see what you think.

2hot the only ones I know are the usual Aussie suspects and they are the Funnel Web and Black Widow but I'm sure the locals will let you know when your there. All I would say is make sure you shake you shoes out and turn them upside down as you do it so whatever's inside will drop out! I hope Mr Roper can give you a bit more info on what's what anyway.

Hadge, it's the right shape, but I seem to recall the one I encountered was a fair bit darker. THanks for your help. I can't take any more pictures for tonight so I'm off to bed to have nightmares!

Most spiders will raise their front legs when feeling threatened like this funnel web spider
[img] [/img]

They also do it when mating like these African tarantulas
[img] [/img]

If really angry they might also flip on their back, this is the male
[img] [/img]

Alpha the one you saw could be a huntsman. They do have a habit of wondering into homes, though I'm not sure how good they are at climbing or even if they are that big. There are quite a few different types within the family so the one you saw might be a different colour. Did it make any noise when in the threat pose?

2hottie There are a few dangerous spiders in Australia but as Hadge has said most or all have anti-venom. There are plenty of charts like this
[url= http://www.termite.com.au/spider-identification.html ][/url]
There are a couple of things to remember. There are not any spider species which hunt humans, this means they will tend to try to keep out of our way. While almost all will have venom the vast majority are harmless to us. A lot can't even pierce our skin. No-one has ever dies from a tarantula bite, though some might make you feel rather ill.
There are some rather interesting spiders in Australia, it might be worth getting familiar with some and then you can enjoy them rather than fear or panic.
Anyway I'd be more concerned by the snakes 🙂

awesome pictures of awesome spiders 😀 (am becoming quite fond of them now * 😯 *well the ones that cannot kill you with their venom anyways/those funnel web spiders scare the c*&p out of me 😯

Roper: did it make a noise? SPIDERS CAN MAKE NOISES?! Oh dear....

I don't think it made a noise...but even if it did, it was probably drowned out by my yelping as it ran at me.

I've now seen a few pics of Huntsman spiders and it's the most similar it seems and fits the description. Either way, it was (IMHO) massive and pretty aggressive!

Quite a few funnel web spider holes at the bottom of the garden, but not seen any wandering males yet? Bloody sore
bite apparently. Been checking my shoes religiously lately 🙂

Alpha1653, you did the right thing getting out of its way, better safe than sorry.
Some spiders can make a noise called stridulation, the same name is used for cricket noise. Spiders make it with their mouth parts by rubbing them together. It is a sort of hissing sound, or it sounds a bit like they are trying to clear their throat 🙂 They tend to do it when in the threat pose and it is a warning.

0pt1cal where are you?
If you want to see one, get a tuning fork, tap it and hold it gently at the edge of the funnel, touching a bit of silk. If it is hungry it will dart out. Be careful though, funnel webs can be very fast and aggressive and it could mistake a finger for a bug. Failing that go and look at night, they tend to sit at the egde of the funnel.

Be careful though, funnel webs can be very fast and aggressive and it could mistake a finger for a bug.

There's a plan: provoke a potentially lethal spider with a tuning fork 🙄

There's a plan: provoke a potentially lethal spider with a tuning fork

Thought you lot might like these I took a couple of years ago, on a geological mapping field course in eastern Victoria. I'd already picked up one rock to find it had a Redback sitting on its underside.. Queue flappy arms, and a squeaked mwahhh noise from me..!
Later we found these 2 fighting it out.. A Redback, and I'm pretty sure, a Huntsman... The fight had already been won by the Redback; the Huntsman was paralysed and being wrapped up. Pics were on a cheapy Pentax compact, but not too bad for it in the bright sun.
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[img] [/img]

Fantastic!!!!!
What a great chance to see that. I can't imagine the fight took very long. Both beautiful spider though and they have come out very well in the photos.
I am very jealous 😀

Cheers!
It was pretty one sided, and over very quickly. The Redback was being very efficient in wrapping the Huntsman up. I'd been quick in sorting out the camera, but you can see how much silk it'd already laid down in the first shot.
Those are the best photos.. Click through to the album and there's a couple more. The Redback was pretty aggressive. It took a disliking to me halfway through and came for me! It was obviously more bothered about it's lunch though.

Those pictures are superb! I'd love to do a field trip looking for T's and maybe one day I'll head off over the States to do one. Thanks for sharing them with us too 😀

Top spider thread again, thanks Hadge and Roper. Fascinating stuff.

When I was in Oz a few years ago we discovered a couple of rather large spiders, Huntsman I believe, when staying in rural Victoria and I was surprised just how big they are when I was up close and trying to catch them.
I thought it best to just shoo them away in the end but didn't let the then GF know that! 😳

I'm a little bit alarmed at how interested I am in all of this, given that I'm normally pretty reluctant to get near spiders. They are amazing creatures though. Hadge, Roper & Geetee, thanks for the information!