A former arachnophobe has revealed that she has not only overcome her fear but now keeps more than 30 spiders at home as pets.
Hayden Shea, from Orange County, California, admits that her friends think she is “crazy” for her obsession with eight-legged creatures.
Previously, the Starbucks barista was afraid of them, but now she loves spending time with the creepy crawlers.
He started collecting spiders two years ago and already has seven different species in his apartment, including Regals, Audax, Hyllus Diardi, Fartilis, Apache, Tux and Mimicus.
Hayden Shea, from Orange County, California, admits her friends think she’s “crazy” for her obsession with the eight-legged creatures.
The Starbucks barista used to be afraid of them, but now she loves spending time with these creepy crawlies.
He started collecting spiders two years ago and already has seven different species in his apartment.
Hayden explained that she has “too many” spiders to name them all, but revealed that her personal favourites include seven-month-old Honey, as well as Snowball, Halo and Emerald, each just one year old.
He also admitted that three-year-old Iris is the apple of his eye.
“I decided to start keeping them after I kept seeing (posts about spiders) on Instagram,” he said.
“And I finally got over my phobia after my boyfriend’s dad caught one for me!”
Explaining how she interacts with her unusual pets, Hayden explained: “I take them for a walk around the house at least once a week, but I’ve never taken them out in public.”
‘I have an irrational fear that someone will hurt them on impulse, since most people are afraid of spiders.
‘Some members of my family think it’s cool and others are scared of it and think it’s weird. Some think I’m crazy.
She continued: ‘(My spiders) are very intelligent compared to most other spiders, as well as very curious and generally friendly!
Speaking about how she interacts with her unusual pets, Hayden explained: “I take them for a walk around the house at least once a week, but I’ve never taken them out in public.”
“I like to call them ‘arachnopuppies’ because they’re kind of the dogs of the arachnid world,” she said.
‘I like to call them “spider pups” as they are practically the dogs of the spider world.
“If a spider likes you, it will sleep on you, watch you, listen to you, and turn its head curiously… and it might let you pet it depending on how much it trusts you!”
Hayden also makes sure to spend plenty of time with her pets each week, adding, “I spend time with them constantly.”
‘It takes me about three hours to feed the babies every two days.
‘And then I take them out to create content every day. I hold them and hug them a lot!’
Her partner also continually encourages her to get more spiders.
“My partner has always been very supportive,” she shared.
“He was the one who suggested I stay with the spider his dad caught. They stay in my room and my boyfriend’s room while we live at his parents’ house.”
Hayden also makes sure to spend plenty of time with her pets each week, adding, “I spend time with them constantly.”
Hayden’s spiders can live up to three years and will have between 10 and 11 molts throughout their lives.
Hayden spiders can live up to three years and will have between 10 and 11 molts throughout their life.
Mature females lay eggs regardless of whether they have mated or not.
He added: “They don’t bite unless they feel extremely threatened and their first instinct is to run rather than attack if they are scared.”
Their eyes also move when they look around, but this is only visible in some species.
“I wouldn’t trade myself or my arachnoid pups for anything in the world.”
