Camel Spiders: would you have one for a pet?

CH (MAJ) William Beaver — Sat, 20 Jun 2015 23:52:49 -0400

I've heard some guys speak fondly of camel spiders and say they would have one as a pet. I guess because they probably owned tarantulas before. What about you? Want a camel spider for a pet? Your thoughts on these lovely little critters?

Response by COL Charles Williams made Jun 21 at 2015 12:04 AM

COL Charles Williams — Sun, 21 Jun 2015 00:04:54 -0400

NOOO

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 21 at 2015 12:36 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 21 Jun 2015 00:36:37 -0400

I once watched a Soldier armed with a SAW run like a little girl with one of these right behind him.
I think the camel spider just wanted to stay in his shadow for shade.

Response by LCpl Mark Lefler made Jun 21 at 2015 12:55 AM

LCpl Mark Lefler — Sun, 21 Jun 2015 00:55:28 -0400

yeah, how about no.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 21 at 2015 1:46 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 21 Jun 2015 01:46:49 -0400

No way watched a guy get sent to Ramstein due to one knowing a big hole in his face. Hate them kill them all.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Jun 21 at 2015 1:59 AM

Capt Seid Waddell — Sun, 21 Jun 2015 01:59:46 -0400

The best way to pet a spider is with the heel of your boot.

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Jun 21 at 2015 9:49 AM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Sun, 21 Jun 2015 09:49:31 -0400

I don't do spiders, snakes and anything that depends on sucking blood to survive.

Response by PO3 David Fries made Jun 21 at 2015 10:04 AM

PO3 David Fries — Sun, 21 Jun 2015 10:04:19 -0400

Even were I inclined to keep something as inherently evil as those, my wife would make me kill it, then kill me for bringing it into the house.

Response by SPC Candace Leach made Jun 21 at 2015 10:32 AM

SPC Candace Leach — Sun, 21 Jun 2015 10:32:34 -0400

Nope

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 21 at 2015 10:39 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 21 Jun 2015 10:39:31 -0400

Nope never

Response by SPC Ei McS made Jun 21 at 2015 11:25 AM

SPC Ei McS — Sun, 21 Jun 2015 11:25:21 -0400

Yuck! No!

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 21 at 2015 1:30 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sun, 21 Jun 2015 13:30:17 -0400

I have heard 14 soldiers running and screaming like girls when they saw a camel spider in their tent.

Response by MAJ Keira Brennan made Jun 22 at 2015 12:12 AM

MAJ Keira Brennan — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 00:12:46 -0400

OH HECK NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 24 at 2015 10:04 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 Jun 2015 22:04:44 -0400

sure... we'll bring back the Wednesday night camel spider fights.

BTW... Camel spiders belong to the class Arachnida, but while all spiders are arachnids, not all arachnids are spiders. Another common name is wind scorpion, but it’s not a scorpion, either. The camel spider is of the order Solifugae, which is Latin for “those who flee from the sun. They aren’t even venomous. Their jaws are their primary weapon. After seizing a victim, they turn it to pulp by chopping or sawing the bodies with their jaws.

http://www.livescience.com/40025-camel-spiders-facts.html

Camel Spiders: Facts & Myths

Camel spiders are not spiders, and they don't eat camels — or people. These arachnids became infamous after the Gulf War.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 5 at 2015 6:21 AM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 05 Jul 2015 06:21:07 -0400

Delicious!!!

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 4 at 2015 10:20 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 10:20:56 -0400

I would have no problem with a tarantula as a pet. They're actually rather playful. I even had a black widow as a kid. Not as pettable, but as long as you left her alone, she was perfectly content hanging out in her web and eating whatever you threw into the jar with her.

These guys? No frickin' way. They're way too aggressive, territorial, mobile, and just plain mean.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Aug 4 at 2015 1:40 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 13:40:36 -0400

In Desert Storm I was preparing to sleep when 14 soldiers in the next tent started to scream like girls as a camel spider decided to crawl into the tent. It sounded like WWE as they were tipping over furniture and cots looking for this spider. It gave me great amusement and a reason to laugh as they charged the spider and retreated in mass.

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 9 at 2018 4:28 PM

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 09 Mar 2018 16:28:32 -0500

What do you do with this weird looking hand cut it off? Or pop it?

Response by SSG Jessica Bautista made Mar 10 at 2018 9:12 AM

SSG Jessica Bautista — Sat, 10 Mar 2018 09:12:53 -0500

For the record, the second photo is the result of a bite from a brown recluse.

Response by PO1 Tony Holland made Oct 12 at 2018 1:11 PM

PO1 Tony Holland — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 13:11:53 -0400

Best viewed on the bottom of your boots.