Mexican redknee tarantula
Toddy Cooper kept this female tarantula as a pet for over 10 years. She is called Hortense after the spider in the children's novel, Charlotte’s Web.
Hortense raised considerable funds for a charity when revealed as Bournemouth’s biggest spider at his two sons' school fete one summer. A few pennies would gain entry to a tent, where Toddy happily displayed Hortense, used to being handled and climbing all over him, while Toddy answered questions such as, "What does she eat?" "Not small children but locusts," was the reply to squeamish squeals from small children.
Hortense raised considerable funds for a charity when revealed as Bournemouth’s biggest spider at his two sons' school fete one summer. A few pennies would gain entry to a tent, where Toddy happily displayed Hortense, used to being handled and climbing all over him, while Toddy answered questions such as, "What does she eat?" "Not small children but locusts," was the reply to squeamish squeals from small children.
Object Summary
- Accession Loan No.
- 40/2023/54
- Collection Class
- Arthropods
- Common Name
- Mexican redknee tarantula
- Simple Name
- spider
- Production Town
- Production Country
- United Kingdom
- Production Person Initials
- Arthur Errington ‘Toddy’
- Production Person Surname
- Cooper
- Production Year Low
- Production Year High
