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The Straight Story

(48,121 posts)
Fri Mar 22, 2013, 10:05 AM Mar 2013

Huge asbestos-infested tarantula 'on the loose' in Cardiff

(Ireland)The discovery was apparently made by asbestos removal experts Kuston Vorland on Tuesday afternoon, with Wales Online saying the Cardiff Reptile Centre believe the suspected Chilean rose tarantula could now be twice the size of its shed skin.

The skin was originally found after experts moved into a darkened loft area of an asbestos-contaminated abandoned house in the Roath area of Cardiff.

Surveyor Katie Parsons-Young says she lifted up a floorboard in the 19th century building, only to discover a large hairy leg in the darkness.

She told Wales Online: “We had lighting in there so we moved the lighting to the other area of the attic where I was and could see there was something...I was the first in. I sort of saw a leg, screamed and went.”

The website reported that the majority of the team fled the building after the discovery, while a handful of braver souls stayed behind to pick up the skin - which they are said to have believed was a dead tarantula at the time.


http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/uk/huge-asbestosinfested-tarantula-on-the-loose-in-cardiff-29146860.html

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Huge asbestos-infested tarantula 'on the loose' in Cardiff (Original Post) The Straight Story Mar 2013 OP
Now, there's a story that should inspire dozens MineralMan Mar 2013 #1
WTH! warrior1 Mar 2013 #2
Giant cigarette-smoking, asbestos-covered tarantula says... Poll_Blind Mar 2013 #3
LOL! MineralMan Mar 2013 #4
All kinds of things House of Roberts Mar 2013 #5
LMAO! Aerows Mar 2013 #6
I was gonna say, "Paging Capt Jack." n/t X_Digger Mar 2013 #7
time to get out the flamethrower quinnox Mar 2013 #8
I had a member of my extended family in Wales die from mesothelioma a few years ago slackmaster Mar 2013 #9

MineralMan

(146,192 posts)
1. Now, there's a story that should inspire dozens
Fri Mar 22, 2013, 10:17 AM
Mar 2013

of parodies. Someone's pet tarantula in Wales escaped and found its way into an attic. Later, people discover its shed skin. Panic ensues. It's ENORMOUS! It's a SPIDER! It's on the loose!

And even WORSE, it might have some asbestos on it! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!

Here's what Wikipedia has to say about these fairly common pets:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chilean_rose_tarantula

Gramostola rosea are relatively docile, low maintenance, and inexpensive, so they are popular as pets. A terrarium should be at least triple the spiders' legspan in length, with a retreat for hiding. G. rosea can be kept in relatively low humidity; overflowing the water dish one or two times a week should provide ample humidity for this species. They are quite happy living at temperatures of around 25-30°C (77-86°F), with a diet of four to six crickets every three weeks (or one locust per week). The G. rosea's feeding schedule is rather erratic, however; the spider can fast for weeks to months at a time. Fasting is sometimes an indication of an upcoming moult.

Grammostola rosea are usually skittish, running away from danger rather than acting defensively, but they may also raise their front legs and present their fangs in preparation to defend themselves. They can act especially defensive for days after moulting; this may be innate in the spiders behavior. As with the majority of tarantulas from the Americas (New World tarantulas), they have small spine-like urticating hairs on their abdomen that they kick off or release when threatened as a defense.[2]

In February 2009 a British man was treated for tarantula hairs lodged in his cornea.[2] The hairs were thrown from the man's pet G. rosea while the man was cleaning its tank. Medical authorities urge owners to wear protective eyewear when handling a G. rosea.[2] Keeping in mind that urticating hairs can cause medical problems, handling the tarantula is not a concern if handlers wash themselves afterwards and remain cognizant of the hazards.


 

slackmaster

(60,567 posts)
9. I had a member of my extended family in Wales die from mesothelioma a few years ago
Fri Mar 22, 2013, 11:29 AM
Mar 2013

He was 42 years old. His exposure to asbestos happened over two decades when his father was working at a shipyard. His father's clothes were always covered with stuff, including asbestos, when he came home from work.

The father is still alive and has never had any kind of cancer.

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