Our newest pets

[tracilicious]

A few weeks ago, as we were cleaning the bottom of the sandbox, we discovered a gorgeous female black widow spider and a few egg sacs. We all wanted to get a closer look, so Michael caught her in Indi's bug jar and we brought her inside. We destroyed the web and killed the egg sacs, and had every intention of doing the same thing to the spider after the kids were in bed, but after spending some time watching her spin her web and move her graceful legs, I couldn't bring myself to do it. So, we named her Ursula. She's in a very kid-proof jar. Indi could open it, I'm sure, but he knows how dangerous she is and he has utmost respect for her. Jade can't open it, and she's kept out of reach of the kids anyways. So no one is in danger or anything.

I might be crazy, but I'm totally in love with her. She's so beautiful. We feed her a cricket every few days and it's fascinating to watch her eat. Last week we found a male black widow, and decided to complete our collection. We dubbed our spindly male Triton. The only problem is that he won't eat. He's built a paltry web. We put a cricket in with him, but he didn't touch it, so we gave it to Ursula. I don't know how much longer he can go without eating. We're considering putting him in with Ursula so they can mate, but I don't really want her eating him afterwards. Or maybe I do...might be kinda cool.

This week we're going to upgrade her habitat to something a bit bigger, but still equally escape proof (and duct tapable to prevent entry). I'll post pics in a week or so when we get our new camera.

[Disneyphile]

Wow!

As creeped out as I am by bugs, I have to say that's a beautiful story, so respectful of nature, and really fascinating!

Congrats on your new little family members. It'd be interesting if you took them to the vet for a check-up.

[scaeagles]

Completely different story in my house, traci. We had one in the garage, so I squished it. Then I went inside and said "now if I could only get rid of the other venomous blood sucking female in this house that sucks the life out of her mate I'd be doing really well". The wife punched me several times.

[CoasterMatt]

visible mojo, Leo

[BarTopDancer]

YUK!

[RStar]

Originally Posted by BarTopDancer

YUK!

Ditto.

Spiders are about the only thing that creep me out.

[€uroMeinke]

Pictures!

[Kevy Baby]

Cool story T. I appreciate your respect for nature: you understand that she is poisonous and protect your kids (and you and the hubby) without making the spider villainous. Thank you!

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Spiders are very cool looking but there is no way I'd keep a black widow around, "kid-proof jars" or not. I'd keep a bug pet though, that would be neat, especially for the kids. There are plenty of cool looking spiders that can't kill you or your children....

[tracilicious]

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

Spiders are very cool looking but there is no way I'd keep a black widow around, "kid-proof jars" or not. I'd keep a bug pet though, that would be neat, especially for the kids. There are plenty of cool looking spiders that can't kill you or your children....

I get what you're saying here, and think you have a valid opinion. If I thought I were putting my kids at any risk then I wouldn't be doing it. Actually, I feel like I'm lessening their spider danger. Black widows are everywhere here, their chance of running into one is high. Now even Jade sees the spider and says, "Spider bite! Make Jade sick!" Granted, black widows are not aggressive spiders, so their chances of being bitten are low, but still, I'm glad they recognize the potential danger.

This spider in a taped up jar is by far not the most dangerous thing in my house. We have 350 pounds of dog that could easily kill a child if they so decided. I'm trusting that they won't, they're very gentle dogs, but they could, and it does happen. Indi has real tools (saws, hammers, nails, screwdrivers, etc.) that he plays and builds with. He cuts vegetables with sharp knives. We have a pool with a big fence, but he's very smart and I'm sure he could find a way over it if he really wanted to.

He's four and half and he understands the proper way to use those things, so it's no more a risk to him than it is to me. Jade can't understand, so we take measures to ensure her safety. Like keeping Ursula in a non-breakable jar that she can't open in a place that she can't get to.

Btw, we put Triton in with Ursula and he got eaten.