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Spidey Senses (mander.xyz)

submitted 4 days ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] [email protected] 34 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (24 children)

I think so, too. They all seem to have eight legs, more than two eyes, which don't look like compound eyes, a cephalothorax/two body segments rather than three, a lack of antennae, etc. It would probably be easier to tell looking at them head-on so we could see their chelicerae.

Edit: turns out the pedipalps are more of a giveaway.

Man, I wish spiders didn't creep me out so much. They're very cool, but my ancient lizard brain isn't having it.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (5 children)

Get a pet jumping spider. They don't eat much, don't need a large enclosure, you can handle them, and their venom is not significant to humans (they don't really bite anyway).

My partner has two of them on her desk, and catching them exploring or sunning themselves is a little happiness boost every time.

Here is one chilling out.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 23 hours ago (4 children)

Thanks for the suggestion. I just might do that. They're very cute.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

Fair warning, they have the same problem as rats... They live just long enough for you to get really attached to them. Lifespans are about 1 year for males, and up to 3 for females.

But, if you like them, you can always get a tarantula, which can live much longer.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

Hmm. I do think I'd make a good, unusually benevolent, eldrich god. On the other hand, I still miss my beta fish that died 5 years ago. No telling how I'd react to the rise and fall of a spider family line, dozens of generations in length.

Tarantulas are cool, but I'd worry about dropping it. I know they typically don't bite, and that their bites aren't dangerous. Still, I don't know if I could relate to it positively after that. It's not rational. I've gotten mild dog bites and cat scratches from pets playing too rough, and those are much more dangerous. Tarantulas still pas the cuteness test, but I think the spider bias affects them more than jumping spiders.

I don't think I've ever been uncomfortable having a jumping spider on me unexpectedly. It's fun to watch them hunt. Watching the retinas in their big eyes move to track things is fun. It makes them seem more like adorable cartoon characters.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

I know they typically don’t bite, and that their bites aren’t dangerous.

Fair warning, they may not be "dangerous", but from the tarantula breeders I've talked to, some can "pack a whallop" which to me means painful as all fuck.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 14 hours ago

Good to know. I definitely don't want that. I should just go see a migration and enjoy them from a safe distance.

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