Defanging?

[AmberDawnDays]

For 'what happens if one gets loose?' (I've been asked that myself) I get a feeling of 'what do they want to happen?'

Exactly! It's like people think something big will happen. As if I'll need to call in an exterminator to have my house bombed because none of us are safe with a tarantula on the loose. I think I'm going to start flipping the question on people. If anyone asks me what would happen if one of my Ts gets loose, I'm going to ask what they think would happen? I'm curious now what types of responses I'll get.

 

[sasker]

Just remember that there are no stupid questions - only stupid people. I must say that in some cases I cannot resist the urge to give ridiculous answers to ridiculous questions. Of course I set matters straight after a while. Keeping tarantulas already has a bad reputation without my help.

1. Do they still have venom?
They are not only venomous, they are poisonous as well. Everything dies that comes in contact with them.

2. Are they all in the same enclosure?
Yes, one big happy family. They hunt in packs, too.

3. Have I been bitten?
Are you kidding? Of course not! I wouldn't be standing here talking to you if I had.

4. Do I keep them locked away from my children?
Yes. Spiders eat anything from insects to small little children.

5. What would happen if I was bitten?
I would slowly liquefy until there would only be an empty husk of my body left.

6. What would happen if one got loose?[/QUOTE]
By now you should realise that all hell would break loose.

 

[AmberDawnDays]

I need to get more creative with my answers to people. I've never been good with words though.

 

[sschind]

Some of the questions used to bother me until I realized 2 things. The first one was, as sasker said, there are no stupid questions - only stupid people who ask questions. The second was that I don't know everything about everything either. Heck, some people might even suggest that I don't know anything about anything. The biggest difference is that I try, not always successfully I might add, not to be one of those stupid people asking questions.

By far a bigger annoyance to me are those who make comments like "I hate spiders, I kill every one I see" My response to that is usually "I know what you mean, I'm the same way with cats" I get a lot of strange looks with that one and people usually walk slowly away from me while shepherding their children away with a backwards glance.

P.S. I'm not really that way with cats.

 

[spotropaicsav]

When I grew up it was common knowledge that pet Ts had been de-fanged. Imagine my surprise as an adult to realize not only are they not de-fanged but would be unable to eat if they were. But until you research Ts, you just believe stupid things you've heard others say. I am sure I spent 20 years believing in de-fanging.

Wow. This is all news to me

 

[Ungoliant]

It's like people think something big will happen. As if I'll need to call in an exterminator to have my house bombed because none of us are safe with a tarantula on the loose.

It's almost like you've never watched horror movies.

 

[mconnachan]

Woah, that's crazy! I mean for real though. To think that what was considered common knowledge is in fact incorrect information. Kind of scary isn't it? A little sad too.


I read somewhere that if you buy scratching posts and put them at each end of your furniture that they will use the posts instead of the furniture. It works. I promise. My couch is a beautiful microsuade sectional without a single claw mark and I have 3 cats with all their claws.

I never had any of my cats declawed because my 1st cat I ever got 17 years ago was an adult cat that I adopted from H.E.A.D.S. and he had all his claws. I still lived with my mom when I adopted him. I think I was 16 at the time. My mom used to let him outside all the time. I was so worried that he would get out and be defenseless without his claws. Plus he was an adult cat and I've read that declawing can be traumatic for adult cats. Because the 1st one wasn't declawed, none of them have been declawed. I have to keep it even.

I've got to reply to this one, good for you - rescue centres are one of the best ways to acquire a new pet, love that idea.
If you piss a cat off so much it wants to claw you then it's your own god damn fault, not you I must add, never in my life have I heard such drivel about T's being de-fanged, or de-venimated or whatever word you would use. I've heard of snakes being treated that way, which is just wrong, they have these fangtastic (see what I did there) weapons for good reason, if you don't like it, don't bloody buy them.

 

[ispectechular]

Ok I've heard it all now. People have asked me if I have had the venom removed from my tarantulas before. I know it's just ignorance on their part and I can't expect everyone to be educated about tarantulas. Today I had someone ask me if I defang my tarantulas. What the? How could someone even think this is a thing? Anyways even if I could defang my tarantulas, I wouldn't. My cats have all their claws and my tarantulas have all their fangs. I was kind of appalled at the question though. Tarantulas NEED their fangs.

Haha! I have had the same question.

 

[Vermis]

If anyone asks me what would happen if one of my Ts gets loose, I'm going to ask what they think would happen? I'm curious now what types of responses I'll get.

Looking forward to hearing about them.

By far a bigger annoyance to me are those who make comments like "I hate spiders, I kill every one I see" My response to that is usually "I know what you mean, I'm the same way with cats" I get a lot of strange looks with that one and people usually walk slowly away from me while shepherding their children away with a backwards glance.

Ha! I might try that myself.

I've got that one too, a couple of times. Talk about 'an orgy of hate and bloodlust'. Also from a few 'wags', when shown any invert I've kept: "I'll bet that'd make a good crunch under my heel!"
As said, I'd put other silly questions down to simply not knowing (even 'ignorance' sounds too wilful) but those two responses go further and show off a lack of tact, which annoys me more. Yeah, this is a spider, not a dog or cat, but it's still my pet and I'm still rather fond of them, ya dumbell, comin' up here flappin' yer gums about how much ye love squashin' things snassin frassin wrassin...

If you piss a cat off so much it wants to claw you then it's your own god damn fault

I have a cat that's usually what we call 'a lick': always rubbing round legs, crawling onto laps, purring and meowing for attention (especially when the fridge door is opened) but when you're rubbing her belly, a green light might come on in her eyes and you have to evacuate your hand (in the way Tokyo is evacuated when lights go on in Godzilla's eyes) if you want it back in one piece.
It's not being pissed off - it's playing. But she plays rough.

 

[mconnachan]

I must admit that here in the UK I've never heard anyone ask about de-fanging T's, it maybe an urban legend in the US, however I have been asked "Is your spider venomous" and I enlighten them, that if they were not, then they would not survive, in order for them to survive they need venom to liquefy the inner parts of the prey items, then suck them dry, well some of the looks on their faces is a picture. I try to educate where and when possible, even my seven year old knows how a tarantula manages to eat, the whole truth is always the best education IMO, she has even told her teachers about "daddies spiders" then you get the inevitable questions, then it's rinse and repeat...lol.

 

[AmberDawnDays]

I've got to reply to this one, good for you - rescue centres are one of the best ways to acquire a new pet, love that idea.

I have adopted all my cats. I also prefer to adopt adult cats or at least cats over 6 months. I've adopted a cat 4 times now over these past 17 years. The most current adoption was last year and it was for my daughter to choose a cat. We had to put one of our cats down, so when it was time to get a new one we went down to the Humane Society to select a cat. I was so proud of her because she chose a cat that was estimated to be 8 months old and who had knees that would dislocate due to a birth defect. She wanted that cat because she worried nobody else would want a cat with a birth defect. We adopted him that day and he is a lovely cat.

It's almost like you've never watched horror movies.

I'm quite the fan of horror movies.

By far a bigger annoyance to me are those who make comments like "I hate spiders, I kill every one I see" My response to that is usually "I know what you mean, I'm the same way with cats"

A lot of people find it necessary to tell me how spiders creep them out and how they kill every single one they see. These comments people make actually make me sad. I tell people that I cherish all life.

I was recently told at work that some of my coworkers don't appreciate it when I talk about my tarantulas because it creeps them out. All I can think is, do people with dogs have to refrain from talking about dogs because some people are scared of dogs? Do people with cats have to stop talking about cats because some people legit can't stand cats? Nope. I'm asked not to talk about my tarantulas though. So I've taken to posting on Facebook all the time about my Ts. People make comments quite frequently. Some are curious, some seek education, and some are creeped out and they want to tell me about their phobia related to spiders.

I'm getting ready to post a conversation I had with someone yesterday about their phobia.

So this is a conversation I had yesterday with someone on Facebook. I don't even know the person. She is friends with one of my friends. I can only assume, when my friend commented on my post, that my post became visible to friends of friends and that's how this girl ended up commenting on my post. So here's the conversation that took place on my Facebook post with a complete stranger.

I hope people can follow the conversation. I couldn't get it any other way but on three separate screenshots, but I've linked them in order.

 

[mconnachan]

I was so proud of her because she chose a cat that was estimated to be 8 months old and who had knees that would dislocate due to a birth defect. She wanted that cat because she worried nobody else would want a cat with a birth defect. We adopted him that day and he is a lovely cat.

Now that's what I call a well educated, considerate little girl, well done to your daughter, wishing her, you and the cats a happy time together, lovely story.

 

[Vermis]

So here's the conversation that took place on my Facebook post with a complete stranger.

Well, c'est la vie.

Her loss.

 

[darkness975]

I spent 20 minutes yesterday attempting to convince someone thst "daddy long legs are not the most venomous spider in the world"

They're not spiders, not venomous, and not dangerous.

 

[ShyDragoness]

Havent even had Ts that long and Im already getting tired of people thinking they all live in the same enclosure

 

[sschind]

A lot of people find it necessary to tell me how spiders creep them out and how they kill every single one they see. These comments people make actually make me sad. I tell people that I cherish all life.

That may be a better response. I don't mind it at all if someone tells me spiders creep them out. It gives me an opportunity to maybe learn them something.

I had a customer in my store once who had property in Tennessee and he told me how he used to lay plywood all around the perimeter then he would go there with a neighbor, the neighbor would use a hook to lift the plywood and he would blast everything underneath with his shotgun. I asked him why in the world he would do that (although I knew the answer) and his response was "to kill the damn rattlers" (which is exactly what I suspected) Then I asked him what made him think that this was something I would find anything other than disgusting. H e left without saying a word.

The customer is not always right.

I spent 20 minutes yesterday attempting to convince someone thst "daddy long legs are not the most venomous spider in the world"

They're not spiders, not venomous, and not dangerous.

I think the daddy long legs people are referring to when they say this are the cellar spiders and not the harvestman that many of us grew up calling daddy long legs. They are spiders and they are venomous but they certainly are not dangerous.

Daddy long legs = cellar spider

Daddy long legs = harvestman

Apparently some people even call crane flies daddy long legs

Regardless, they certainly are not dangerous no matter which one you are referring to.

 

[darkness975]

I think the daddy long legs people are referring to when they say this are the cellar spiders and not the harvestman that many of us grew up calling daddy long legs. They are spiders and they are venomous but they certainly are not dangerous.

Daddy long legs = cellar spider

Daddy long legs = harvestman

Apparently some people even call crane flies daddy long legs

Regardless, they certainly are not dangerous no matter which one you are referring to.

I know. I have seen all 3 called daddy long legs. This person was referring to Opiliones specifically.

 

[Vermis]

I had a customer in my store once who had property in Tennessee and he told me how he used to lay plywood all around the perimeter then he would go there with a neighbor, the neighbor would use a hook to lift the plywood and he would blast everything underneath with his shotgun.

I'll bet he showed those woodlice who's boss.

 

[Nixphat]

I figured she must be reading this somewhere.

I think the defanging info came from pet stores I would research (when I didn't know better), probably used as a selling point to try to get more people to buy them? Still sad

I did go on to explain to her why it's not a good idea.

My cats are front declawed. One ruined couch was enough.

To each their own, but from my understanding declawing cats is like chopping off the tips of your fingers.. Then even common things like going to the litter box can hurt their paws... But really, nothing I can do to stop you. I've pretty much come to the understanding that when you have cats (much like kids I'm sure), you don't have nice things anymore. The sooner you come to accept that, the easier life becomes

 

[Daesu]

Each to their own but imo declawing cats is worse than if you were to chop your fingers off down to the first knuckle.