Quote:
Originally Posted by MitchM
On top of your cheato?
I think it might just be a house spider that somehow wound up there.
Mitch
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That's my guess as well. It looks like a common jumping spider that we can find in Canada. I've only seen black and green ones in Saskatchewan, but it looks a lot like that one in the picture.
Perhaps more revealing though is that this spider doesn't have any traditional evolutionary traits of an aquatic bug. The legs are far too short and the tips not large enough for it to float on the water like other water bugs. Also, the large abdomen on the spider suggests that it still uses its silk like most other spiders and is not a water-dwelling creature. Also, if it were a water-spider it probably would have retreated into the sump had you come close and my guess is that it didn't - probably because it doesn't like getting wet
Most likely it was hanging around in your sump area and saw a pod on the top of your chaeto and jumped in an attempt for food. Its silk tether may have let go and it might have got stuck on your chaeto which is why you were able to find it.
Don't flush it though! Put it in a jar or something and set it free. Spiders are sweet. Especially jumping spiders! If anyone's interested here's a vid of one in action:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxbuysNGLOM&feature=fvw