A question about the hairs in the eyes

[Luka98]

Urticating hairs are annoying and itchy and everybody keeps saying you DON'T want them in your eyes and i understand that but I'm curious about what exactly happens if they do make contact with the eyes? Is it lemon juice bad or is it "i immediately have to go to the hospital" bad?

 

[antinous]

A quick search reveals some of these threads:
http://arachnoboards.com/threads/urticating-hairs-in-eye.290868/
http://arachnoboards.com/threads/urticating-hair-in-eye.219407/
http://arachnoboards.com/threads/urticating-hairs-in-my-eye.246720/
http://arachnoboards.com/threads/the-effects-of-urticating-hairs-to-the-eyes.187322/

Yea, wouldn't want this to happen ever..

 

[Luka98]

A quick search reveals some of these threads:
http://arachnoboards.com/threads/urticating-hairs-in-eye.290868/
http://arachnoboards.com/threads/urticating-hair-in-eye.219407/
http://arachnoboards.com/threads/urticating-hairs-in-my-eye.246720/
http://arachnoboards.com/threads/the-effects-of-urticating-hairs-to-the-eyes.187322/

Yea, wouldn't want this to happen ever..

My bad on posting without searching, one of the comments said that there's medical records of people going fully blind by a Grammostola i could only imagine the damage of Nhandu/GBB/LP hair. OUCH

 

[Enrgy]

lol a perk of having to wear glasses

 

[0311usmc]

Why we are talking about hairs in eyes
What happens when new world tarantulas like the theraphosas who kick off massive amounts of urcitating hairs and then roll onto their backs and start molting, I would think they would get their own hairs in their eyes right? Something I always thought about when I see how much hairs they kick off and lay in to molt. It obviously doesn't bother them but I have always wondered if you could look at their eyes with high magnification would you see hairs sticking out?

 

[Nightstalker47]

Why we are talking about hairs in eyes
What happens when new world tarantulas like the theraphosas who kick off massive amounts of urcitating hairs and then roll onto their backs and start molting, I would think they would get their own hairs in their eyes right? Something I always thought about when I see how much hairs they kick off and lay in to molt. It obviously doesn't bother them but I have always wondered if you could look at their eyes with high magnification would you see hairs sticking out?

The eyes are well protected by the exoskeleton, this is why you can see the "old eyes" on your molts.

 

[0311usmc]

The eyes are well protected by the exoskeleton, this is why you can see the "old eyes" on your molts.

Yeah I get that but you can't tell me that they don't get any on the new eyes. I keep theraphosas just like you do and you know just like me that they are covered in hairs I would think they would get hairs in them. Just a thought. Always have been curious. Thanks for your reply buddy

 

[Chris LXXIX]

I think depends.

When setae are involved, depends, always.

First, I think depends about the victim's sensibility (for instance, isn't true that Theraphosa spp. are always and necessarily the worst... there's out there people more sensible to Nhandu spp. or Acanthoscurria spp. ones etc).

Second, depends about how the setae managed to enter in contact with the eyes. I mean, I would love to continue to think that someone stupid enough that will place on purpose his/her head inside a, don't know, 20 G T.stirmi enclosure for try that doesn't exist. Therefore, a direct "spider's setae-eye contact" is unlikely, IMO. Let's not counting, of course, those that loves to "headling" (yeah, they exist) as well.

Most likely, can happens that someone, haired badly in the hand, for a rush-mistake touch his/her eyes with the fingers.

Frankly I can't think about other ways for end with T's setae in the eyes

Anyway, the issues are all are related about the single person sensibility, as I've said, but since unlike a finger/hand, eyes are delicates, well... wouldn't be a bad idea to get checked, if happens.

 

[Greasylake]

I mean, I doubt that there's out there someone stupid enough that will place on purpose his/her head inside a, don't know, 20 G T.stirmi enclosure for try that. Therefore, a direct spider's setae-eye contact is unlikely, IMO. Let's not counting, of course, those that "headling" (yeah, they exist) as well.

You haven't watched the video that was just posted telling you to blow in the enclosure to let your tarantula know you're there, have you?

 

[Nightstalker47]

Yeah I get that but you can't tell me that they don't get any on the new eyes. I keep theraphosas just like you do and you know just like me that they are covered in hairs I would think they would get hairs in them. Just a thought. Always have been curious. Thanks for your reply buddy

All good man, I see what you mean...let me try and explain my take on it better.

So basically, even just after molting the new eyes will come out completely covered and protected, as the T has been growing a new exo layer under the old one(just like the rest of the tarantulas body). Its basically a clear protective film, that prevents anything from getting into the eyes and obstructing them.

Look at it this way, they are constantly wearing their own primitive version of protective goggles...that they can shed and replace with each molt.

 

[Theneil]

Why we are talking about hairs in eyes
What happens when new world tarantulas like the theraphosas who kick off massive amounts of urcitating hairs and then roll onto their backs and start molting, I would think they would get their own hairs in their eyes right? Something I always thought about when I see how much hairs they kick off and lay in to molt. It obviously doesn't bother them but I have always wondered if you could look at their eyes with high magnification would you see hairs sticking out?

i would assume that they are reletively uneffected by their own hairs. Also, the eyes of a tarantula are covered 100% with a HARD lens 100% of the time, unlike humans where everything is soft and squishy.

Another thought. Even if the hairs stuck, they would be immediately shed with the old exuvia (spelling?) when the spider molts.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

You haven't watched the video that was just posted telling you to blow in the enclosure to let your tarantula know you're there, have you?

No, obviously

 

[0311usmc]

All good man, I see what you mean...let me try and explain my take on it better.

So basically, even just after molting the new eyes will come out completely covered and protected, as the T has been growing a new exo layer under the old one(just like the rest of the tarantulas body). Its basically a clear protective film, that prevents anything from getting into the eyes and obstructing them.

Look at it this way, they are constantly wearing their own primitive version of protective goggles...that they can shed and replace with each molt.

That makes sense. Thanks for the information.

 

[Luka98]

I'm not a scientist or anything but aside from being funny it would be a pretty useless defense system if they could hair themselves wouldn't it

 

[weibkreux]

I'm not a scientist or anything but aside from being funny it would be a pretty useless defense system if they could hair themselves wouldn't it

Just like a cobra that got poisoned for ingesting its own venom.

 

[8LeggedLair]

Urticating hairs are annoying and itchy and everybody keeps saying you DON'T want them in your eyes and i understand that but I'm curious about what exactly happens if they do make contact with the eyes? Is it lemon juice bad or is it "i immediately have to go to the hospital" bad?

Well depending on the species say goodbye to all those beautiful T’s you have cause you can go blind. Yes if you get urticating hairs in your eyes GO TO THE HOSPITAL IMMEDIATELY!!!

 

[8LeggedLair]

Why we are talking about hairs in eyes
What happens when new world tarantulas like the theraphosas who kick off massive amounts of urcitating hairs and then roll onto their backs and start molting, I would think they would get their own hairs in their eyes right? Something I always thought about when I see how much hairs they kick off and lay in to molt. It obviously doesn't bother them but I have always wondered if you could look at their eyes with high magnification would you see hairs sticking out?

They do this to protect themselves as they molt to not get eaten by predators. A last line of defense if you will

 

[0311usmc]

They do this to protect themselves as they molt to not get eaten by predators. A last line of defense if you will

No kidding. I own both T.stirmi and apophysis. They kick off a ridiculous amount of hairs then roll over onto them and molt. I was always curious if they ever got into their own eyes. Just curious since they lay on them when molting. Thank you for telling me something I knew since 2009 when I acquired my T.stirmi about why they have urcitating hairs to begin with. I was always just curious about hairs in their eyes. My curiosity is dead now because nightstalker set me straight and cleared my curiosity.

 

[Nightstalker47]

Whats with the negative ratings boys? This thread was fine last I checked.

Lets not turn this discussion into something petty.

 

[0311usmc]

Whats with the negative ratings boys? This thread was fine last I checked.

Lets not turn this discussion into something petty.

Your right. I apologize.