2 ms·

Made a mess from bursting into laughter from this. Cheers

hilbert42 4y ago
Ages ago, I got a similar reaction (and also the exact opposite) when I posted my encounters with these critters (can't remember if on HN or elsewhere): https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redback_spider https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redback_spider https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_funnel-web_spider https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_funnel-web_spider, https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atrax https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atrax One of my staff had lots of Atrax robustus in his backyard and over a period he brought several to work and they became the Electronics Department's 'pet' (but we only kept one at a time). We put him (with A. robustus the males are more deadly and agressive than the females) in a large empty coffee jar with rocks and dirt filling about a third the jar and with air holes in the lid which were just big enough to fit a pencil through. We kept him fed on slaters (woodlice) and crickets and he took pride of place on my office desk. Typically, they'd live for 18 months to two years. They were talking points for visitors to my office (some were horried but most just curious). When I'd come in of a morning and switch the lights on he'd rear up on his hind legs with fangs thrust out. I'd occasionally respond by sticking one of those red 'Copperplate' pencils though an air hole and he'd attack it. The venom could be clearly seen running down the outside of the pencil. I kept that badly pocked-marked pencil as a souvenir for some years but unfortunately I've since lost it. Also, I was 'lucky' enough to have the organization's union rep as one of my staff. Often, he'd come into my office for a discussion and he'd jokingly preface our convention to the effect 'We expect your cooperation in this matter or we'll let him loose when you're not looking.' For some reason, that post horrified several UK readers. :-)

Ages ago, I got a similar reaction (and also the exact opposite) when I posted my encounters with these critters (can't remember if on HN or elsewhere): https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redback_spider https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redback_spider https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_funnel-web_spider https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_funnel-web_spider, https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atrax https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atrax One of my staff had lots of Atrax robustus in his backyard and over a period he brought several to work and they became the Electronics Department's 'pet' (but we only kept one at a time). We put him (with A. robustus the males are more deadly and agressive than the females) in a large empty coffee jar with rocks and dirt filling about a third the jar and with air holes in the lid which were just big enough to fit a pencil through. We kept him fed on slaters (woodlice) and crickets and he took pride of place on my office desk. Typically, they'd live for 18 months to two years. They were talking points for visitors to my office (some were horried but most just curious). When I'd come in of a morning and switch the lights on he'd rear up on his hind legs with fangs thrust out. I'd occasionally respond by sticking one of those red 'Copperplate' pencils though an air hole and he'd attack it. The venom could be clearly seen running down the outside of the pencil. I kept that badly pocked-marked pencil as a souvenir for some years but unfortunately I've since lost it. Also, I was 'lucky' enough to have the organization's union rep as one of my staff. Often, he'd come into my office for a discussion and he'd jokingly preface our convention to the effect 'We expect your cooperation in this matter or we'll let him loose when you're not looking.' For some reason, that post horrified several UK readers. :-)