Jen,

You're more likely to be killed by a falling coconut or run over by a bus than have any altercation with a shark. And if you ARE worried, just swim with lots of other people - someone else is far more likely to be picked off than you! (joke)

Graham

Thought we needed a picture of one of our friendly visitors. This is perhaps not quite as big as it might be as it is missing a leg!

We have not had a problem with spiders, just a rat that decided to take up residence. Unfortunately the rat is no more.

Oooh noted thats actually not a bad idea especially if I make them all stand in like a shield type shape round me lol, now do i tell them why I want them to stand there like that or just fib ????

Jen

No just smile sweetly as you swim right next to them!!!! they'll just think you're a bit of a weirdo

I have a mortal fear of spiders. I don't know why and I know its irrational but even looking at that picture gives me the hibijibi's :scared: The first time I was in Oz I was really worried about my phobia, but I hardly saw a spider, I never saw a redback, I had a golden orb spider pointed out to me in the bush once, and I saw one or two huntsmen. The way I look at it, I fear and loath them anyway regardless of which Country I'm in, and at least my irrational fear is slightly less irrational when the spider is actually poisonous and might cause me some damage. Actually, I do get to see a redback everyday, OH has one tattoed on his back, still makes me jump sometimes when I wake up in the night and find myself looking straight at it :scared: :scared:

No cause that would be giving them the right impression lollll
It's the only time have scissors for hands would be errrrr handy lolllllllll
I think they'd leave me alone then

Jen

Ok now i feel better cause i'm not THAT bad lolllll

Jen

LOL are you trying to give me nightmares :scared:

No one has been killed by a spider in OZ in 30 years , However snakes kill around 2 people a year in OZ . In the UK 5 people are killed by bee and wasp stings a year, so your more likely to be killed by a bee or wasp sting in the UK then a snake or spider bite in OZ.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/uk_news/...re/5259198.stm

We have Huntsman spiders in the house but we leave those alone as they eat the nasties, such as mozzies and roaches.(ipom, eco mummy)

What!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You LEAVE them IN the house :scared:
How many have you got? Do you not get a bit worried if the one you left on the wall in the lounge is no longer there when you get up ?
I would be beyond hysterical........
J x

Yes, we leave them in the house. Eco mummy? I suppose so... I don't like needlessly killing animals... The thing is that spiders are territorial, so if you remove one, another will come in and take over its place. I'd rather know what I've got in my house than the unknown.
There are currently two huntsmen, one is about the size of a 50 c piece, including legs, so it's only small. He's called Rex. The other is slightly larger, about the size of a cup cake including legs and is called Trystan.
THey're very shy... you hardly see them, but sometimes you'll get up in the morning and one has parked itself in the corner of the ceiling or something. At least you can show your kids what a Huntsman looks like... If you kill them, what's the point of that?

I personally detest cockroaches so I'd rather have a Huntsman pattering around killing them and eating them.

Oooh, he's a lovely one.

I think you mean 'fortunately' the rat is no more.

We just moved to Melbourne a few days ago and are temporarily staying in a CBD apartment on the 7th floor so hopefully no spiders for the next few weeks!

We started house-hunting (to rent) yesterday and I was looking for one in every single bush or tree we passed, but saw none - I kind of want to just to get it over with, as I'm convinced they're everywhere! I've seen a couple of webs but nothing else, and I'm so scared that if I see one in the place I move into I'll want to move out, however perfect it is. I plan to explode those bug bombs you can get every few days or so!!

I lived in Melbourne for 6 months in the 90s but saw nothing apart from when we were camping/hitchhiking our way round Tassie for 3 months and we had to kill one which launched itself at our tent (Wolf spider apparently), so I know I'm going overboard, but I can't even look at pictures (even really small ones) I'm so bad...

Everyone says snakes etc are much worse but that's not the point! Am thinking of having hypnotherapy or something like that (but not where they make you touch them... erghh)

Let me know how it goes... maybe they do group sessions

That will most likely poison you. I'd rather risk the spiders.

You've named your spiders !. I love it, it's made my day !!!