How close were my fingers to grabbing this little chap?
Nov 30th 2008, 1:31 am
#1
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How close were my fingers to grabbing this little chap?
Ans: About half an inch. Underneath the cover of our swimming pool filter this morning.
Nov 30th 2008, 1:51 am
#2
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Re: How close were my fingers to grabbing this little chap?
We've had more of them this year than we normal do. Squashed one on the pool patio area the other day.
I did have a huntsman run up my arm once when cleaning out the skimmer. That came as a bit of a shock.
I did have a huntsman run up my arm once when cleaning out the skimmer. That came as a bit of a shock.
Nov 30th 2008, 4:45 am
#3
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Re: How close were my fingers to grabbing this little chap?
LOL the correct question should have been - how close was this little chap to grabbing your fingers! Close shave there. I dont know why they like pools - the only time one of us has been bitten was DS at swimming training when the redback was clutching the lane ropes!
Nov 30th 2008, 5:43 am
#4
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Re: How close were my fingers to grabbing this little chap?
We don't have a pool, but we do have lots of red backs in the garden.
Nov 30th 2008, 6:07 am
#6
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Re: How close were my fingers to grabbing this little chap?
I had one in my letterbox this morning. I am just glad I looked inside rather than just sticking my hand in to grab the post 
Nov 30th 2008, 7:34 am
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Re: How close were my fingers to grabbing this little chap?
Nov 30th 2008, 9:33 am
#8
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Re: How close were my fingers to grabbing this little chap?
Did he have to go to hospital, was he ok? I thought these were deadly (we have loads in the garage) but ive heard people saying that they've been bitten by them and were ok.
Nov 30th 2008, 10:01 am
#9
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Re: How close were my fingers to grabbing this little chap?
My son was bitten by a redback.. in a National Park in Exmouth.. it was a rather small one and we think male..
He had no adverse reactions and was fine (apart from a bit of shock when finding out that he was bitten by a deadly spider species!)
The males have the venom I understand but their fangs arent long enough to puncture the skin ... whereas a nice huge juicy female will do the job each time..
Em x
PS this is just stuff I have researched and read... can't vouch that it is completely spidererly correct.. just what I have been told
He had no adverse reactions and was fine (apart from a bit of shock when finding out that he was bitten by a deadly spider species!)
The males have the venom I understand but their fangs arent long enough to puncture the skin ... whereas a nice huge juicy female will do the job each time..
Em x
PS this is just stuff I have researched and read... can't vouch that it is completely spidererly correct.. just what I have been told
Nov 30th 2008, 12:17 pm
#10
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Re: How close were my fingers to grabbing this little chap?
Yup, spent the evening in the hospital feeling very queer but we didnt think it got a real hold on him otherwise he would have been much sicker. The spider was later seen quite drowned!
Nov 30th 2008, 7:34 pm
#11
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Re: How close were my fingers to grabbing this little chap?
Here's some more info http://www.avru.org/health/health_redback.html
The biggest thing to be aware of with the red back is that the first aid treatment is the opposite to what you would do for other spider bites.
