Arachnophobes look away now: Could an asbestos contaminated tarantula be on the loose in Cardiff? Question: What's worse than a tarantula on the loose? Answer: A tarantula contaminated with asbestos. It's a scenario seemingly designed to give arachnophobes nightmares, but it's one that an asbestos team working in an attic in Cardiff this week have encountered. According to local press reports a huge tarantula skin was discovered by asbestos removal experts Kuston Vorland on Tuesday afternoon. Although not yet confirmed, Cardiff Reptile Centre, who were shown a picture of the skin, believe the animal could be a Chilean rose tarantula. A spokesperson for the Reptile Centre said they were shown a picture of the skin in a plastic bag - and that it was definitely a tarantula - but they could not say what species it was. Wales Online reported that the skin was originally found after the team moved into a darkened loft area of an asbestos contaminated abandoned house in the Roath area of Cardiff. Surveyor Katie Parsons-Young told the website that she lifted up a floorboard in the 19th century building, only to discover a large hairy leg in the darkness. According to the website 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.. Tarantulas swell in size after shedding, meaning the creature could now be up to twice as big as the discarded skin. The fact the skin was found in an asbestos-contaminated building means the spider could still be coated in the carcinogen. If the spider is a Chilean rose tarantula it is of little threat to anyone who encounters it as they are considered calm and docile creatures. The Chilean rose tarantula's venom is weak and their bite is similar to the sting of a wasp or bee. It is not known if the Cardiff tarantula was a lost pet or if there is a breeding population in the area. Confirmation of whether the skin was indeed infected with asbestos is expected when results come back from a laboratory later this week. If found to contain traces of cancerous mesothelioma, Wales Online say it likely to be a world-first.