Why do people always assume this!!!?????

[The_Thunderer]

I guess I'm one of the few that really like all kinds of creepy-crawlies, etc. I've had them all and wanted to raise them all... BUT, the woman I said my vows to 14 years ago does NOT like all of them and barely puts up with my snakes. So, I have to "live within the boundaries". LOL.

I DO, however, get frustrated when I get calls from every Tom, Dick and Mary about how they've got a huge (________) in their house and if I can get rid of it for them. Call me about snakes? Fine. Call me because an extra large cockroach is in your house behind your bookcase? Don't bother... LOL.

 

[snakemom1961]

Spiders and bugs of any sort have never bothered me. Now mice and rats...OMG!
You'll see me scream like a little girl when I see them. I can't even handle the f/t to feed the snakes. I have my daughter do that...lol

 

[starsevol]

I don't mind bugs.
I like mice, and even wild mice don't freak me out...but I have never had them in my house and don't want them in my house....
I have pet rats and ADORE them....

but spiders....well....I am not a fan..
but since they eat other bugs (including mosquitoes that literally have killed more people than ANY OTHER ANIMAL) ...I won't kill a spider.

Mosquitoes I hate. They transmit disease and parasites...and can be deadly.

 

[ZoologyGirl]

People always assume that because I got my degree in zoology...that I know EVERYTHING about EVERY animal in existance. It's highly annoying.

 

[Tula_Montage]

I too am absolutely petrified of spiders, BUT I LOVE LOVE LOVE big hairy ones called Twinkle Toes Shes my baby girl.

I had around 13 tarantulas at one point. Now I only have Miss Rainbow Toes and Kalypso. Both I have raised from teeny tiny little spidieling dots.

I can't stand house spiders or spiders that I am not acquainted with. ESPECIALLY ones that feel the need to just jump out at you.

 

[tom e]

I always find that once people know I love snakes, they assume I want to hear their snake-killing stories!!! I HATE THAT!!!!!!!!!

Yep, with smug grins on their faces. I hate that too..

Elle I never get tired of pictures of your spiders, but if I found one in my bathroom, I'm quite sure I'm move.

 

[tyflier]

People always assume that because I got my degree in zoology...that I know EVERYTHING about EVERY animal in existance. It's highly annoying.

Well...that's because there are a LOT of Zoologist/Biologist types that would CLAIM such nonsense. I got into an argument (yea...online...) with a guy one time. He was showing off a picture of a Yellow Belly watersnake that he took, and was telling everyone it was a nasty Cottonmouth and that he was in danger. When I politely informed him that he was wrong, he went off on a tirade about how he knew what he was talking about because he had a degree in wildlife biology and zoology. The entire substance of his argument was that he had a degree, and I did not, so therefor he must be right and I must be wrong.

So I posted pictures of a Yellow Belly watersnake and several pictures of Cottonmouths. He, obviously and reluctantly, agreed that my ID was accurate (along with 5 or 10 other field biologists and field herpers) and that he was wrong. I informed him that proper identification of venomous reptiles in the field didn't require a zoology or biology degree...it requires a keen eye and a passion for the animals...both of which I have and both of which are FAR more important to proper ID in the field than a biology degree. He took down his pictures...I laugh at him...

But I digress...

I am scared to death of spiders and flying insects. Now...I can view them and photograph them if I am prepared for them but...don't let one surprise me.

Funny story...TRUE story...I was road cruising with a friend of mine and we found a STUNNING adult Mojave Desert Sidewinder. This was his first intentional rattlesnake encounter. I moved the rattler off to the side of the road, and laid down on my belly about 3' from it, face to face, and started snapping pictures. I lowered my camera for a moment, and caught a small spider crawling towards me. I jumped up off the ground and ran away, screaming about spiders.

My buddy got a kick out of that. Between fits of laughter, he managed to ask me how it was possible that I was comfortable laying on my belly 3' from the sharp end of a ratlesnake, but a spider he couldn't even see made me scream like a little girl. I couldn't tell him. I couldn't tell you. Spiders, arachnids, and most other "creepy-crawlies" give me the heebie-jeebies. I wouldn't exactly say I am scared of all insects and arachnids, because I do appreciate spiders and scorpions, and I can deal with them, very up close and personal...with preperation. But flying insects...I'm a wuss. Unless it is one that trout eat. Than I can deal with it...

God forbid an unseen moth or something lands on me in the car. I've jumped out of moving vehicles to avoid unknown/unseen insects that touch me in the dark...

 

[Tula_Montage]

DYK there is a male wolf spider dangling from my dragon tree right now. And I am too scared to get up and squish it. It's HUGE :'(

 

[VickyChaiTea]

"I always find that once people know I love snakes, they assume I want to hear their snake-killing stories!!! I HATE THAT!!!!!!!!!"

You know, the same thing happens to me but with bettas. I mention how I have a lot and it's a 50/50 chance I'll get a response like "Oh, you mean those fighting fish? Yeah, I bought some before and fought them." Or "Oh, me and my friends used to fight those!"

:/

On a more relevant note, I LOVE CREEPY CRAWLIIIESSSSS <3 I have madagascar hissing roaches and I want all sorts of insects in the future.

 

[Ricky87]

I don't even get the association between snakes and spiders. Snakes don't have mysterious faces, or 8 legs scurrying all over the place. Their calm animals, and I find them very beautiful. Spiders, however, scare me to death. Any size, any shape; doesn't matter. I just really don't understand what other people see in snakes that compares them to spiders. Makes no sense whatsoever!.

I always find that once people know I love snakes, they assume I want to hear their snake-killing stories!!! I HATE THAT!!!!!!!!!

Been there!.

I DO, however, get frustrated when I get calls from every Tom, Dick and Mary about how they've got a huge (________) in their house and if I can get rid of it for them. Call me about snakes? Fine. Call me because an extra large cockroach is in your house behind your bookcase? Don't bother... LOL.

Ya, people do that to my grandfather ALL the time. He's a naturalist, and an expert on turtles, but some people will call him saying they found a turtle, and then they'll just bring it over in a box. They don't even think to leave it be, and then he's stuck spending over an hour having to go and bring the turtle to a safe place.

 

[RobbiesCornField]

Robbie, remember my spider that lives on my bike rack that you got to meet at the Alligator Farm? She's thriving and has a girlfriend, too! They are getting big!

The only reason I didn't kill her is because she's yours... if she were on my car, she'd be dead.

 

[Cornflake1]

Thanks everyone!!

Thanks everyone for sharing your stories! So it seems to be that the majority of snake lovers are not keen on creepy-crawlies!! Well I am very pleased that it isn't just me and I will make sure I share this discovery with my friends next time it gets mentioned that I should be fine with spiders etc because I keep snakes!!! So thank you all very much!! :spinner:

 

[Jenstar]

Creepy-crawlies are designated into 3 separate species in my book.
Waytu biggius.
Smashedicus FASTius.
Needa cana Raidicus.

Your freakin hilarious... lmao...

 

[Carinata]

I love spiders and scorps. I have one scorp now

 

[Mina]

Sorry to not agree with most of you, but here, while they are indeed loved, snakes are second. Tarantulas are first. We have about 300 and have been breeding successfully for about a year now. We only have 10 corn snakes, 2 RTBs, 2 rosy boas and 2 BPs.
Don't get me wrong, I love my snakes, but I have had spiders for longer.

 

[glenhead]

In my world view, things with more than four legs should not exist, with very limited exceptions. As I get older, I find that attitude more and more puzzling, yet it doesn't really change much. There are some insects I find just way beyond cool - dragonflies, mantids, ladybugs, roly polys (rolys poly? roly polies? (and yes, I know they're not insects, thank you)), and several others. I even like scorpions. However, I find it very difficult to be in the same room with a spider bigger than about 1/2 inch total, including legs. I can hardly even look at the tarantulas at our favorite exotics store. I've been known to shriek like a little girl when surprised by a big spider in the wild (and have been known to whip out my .357 magnum and shoot them, but that's another story). Centipedes evoke the same reaction, yet millipedes are pretty cool. I'm to the point that some beetles are tolerable, but others aren't, and I can't identify any rhyme or reason as to which will freak me out. Bizarre. And fer gawdsake, if I'm within hearing distance, don't step on a bug - the crunch makes me want to barf.