A Word of Warning

[TheRamiRocketMan]

I opened up some new crickets a few weeks back to give to Musket and Crunch, no big deal.

How I missed it is a mystery to me, however when I went to tip the crickets into their feeding room a large red-back spider fell out as well. I was shocked for a few seconds, before its jet-black fat abdomen disappeared down a lizard throat.

I contacted the manufacturers to let them know but I'm just making sure people know that this can happen. I don't know how and when the spider could have gotten in and it is fortunate that neither me, nor Musket or Crunch were hurt in anyway (Musket quite enjoyed the experience).

Anyway, check your feeder boxes!

 

[Rankins]

Sounds like a black widow. Thankfully it didn't bite you or your dragon. But it sounds like the dragon got a rare treat Eating the venom won't hurt the dragon...the venom is just proteins and enzymes that are destroyed by stomach acid.

 

[kingofnobbys]

Unlike all my neighbours places. I have no seen a red-back spider under my house , in my garden or in my shed for quite a few years , I suspect the horde of wild resident wild water skinks have eaten them all.

I wouldn't be surprised if they are quite immune to the venom in a red-back's bite ( which is similar to the American and European black widow spiders' venom ) , nor would I be surprised if beardies are immune to the venom too or if they eat red-back spiders in the wild.

None the less = I suggest you keep an eye on your beardie for then next week or so as the spider's venom is a neurotoxin.

Kinda related
http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Reptile-Health/Spider-Bitten-Lizard/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3513237/Another-deadly-brown-snake-loses-duel-giant-female-redback-spider-liquefies-DRINKS-prey.html