WTF!!!! OMG is this a reef spider?????!!!!!!!!!

[TheMikey]

Originally Posted by MitchM

On top of your cheato?

I think it might just be a house spider that somehow wound up there.

Mitch

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

[Delphinus]

There are such things as underwater species of spiders however they look *nothing* like terrestrial spiders. This is a land spider that wound up on the floating mat of chaeto.

I second the nomination to set it free outside and let it do its job of catching and eating the the more annoying bugs like skeeters and flies and aphids and/or whatever else they eat.

[paddyob]

I am in Edmonton and have never seen a red spider like this crawling around. Perhaps it is a land spider... BUT maybe it came in on fruit or something from another place... I would flush it to be cautious.

[fishoholic]

EWWWWWW Did I mention how I hate spiders, even creepier to think it's a jumping one!!!!!!!! Now I'm scared to look and see if it's still there

Sorry but there will be no catching and releasing, if I see him in the sump I am going to drown that sucker! Unless someone else wants to come over (feel free to pm, as I'll probably avoid the sump area for a bit) and catch it, I will kill it if I have a chance/get brave enough to.

Hummmmm I believe Steve (Red coral) owes me a favor

[Delphinus]

Good grief. Take a piece of kleenex, pick her up and toss the whole wad outside. Show us some GRRRRRRL power!!!!

Even if she were a tropical species hitchhiked in some piece of fruit, she won't survive a night outside. I've been trying to google spider species to see what yours there can be but not getting anywhere on it. Thing is (and I'm in Calgary) I've seen some spectacularly coloured spiders around here. There's one with the same shape as this one that I've seen as both fluorescent green and another that's bright banana yellow. I forget what kind it was though. I'll have to ask my WIFE who is the resident bug expert in my family. They can pick a colour to blend into their backgrounds (ie. leafs or flowers) and this one seems to be matching its current background as best it can and I have to wonder if that's not really coincidence.

Live and let live I say. Consider this a test on your character! You can do it.

[lockrookie]

use a shop vac you my lose some cheato butit will be gone.

[MitchM]

If there were no spiders (or beetles) in this world, you would soon wish there were!
They hunt down and eat mites, insects, larvae and other nasty pests.

They are nature's Roomba's!

Mitch

[fishoholic]

Originally Posted by MitchM

If there were no spiders (or beetles) in this world, you would soon wish there were!
They hunt down and eat mites, insects, larvae and other nasty pests.

They are nature's Roomba's!

Mitch

This is very true but I dislike like the thought of getting too close to it.

Sorry guys but when I see a spider I squish it as fast as I can before I lose sight of it, just can't stand the thought of them crawling around where I can't see them

[Delphinus]

Poor things.

[fishoholic]

Originally Posted by Delphinus

Good grief. Take a piece of kleenex, pick her up and toss the whole wad outside. Show us some GRRRRRRL power!!!!

Live and let live I say. Consider this a test on your character! You can do it.

Does it count that I no longer scream to high heaven whenever I see a spider? Because trust me I used to! Now I just shudder and shake and freak out a bit and try to kill it as fast as possible so I don't have to think of it crawling on me when I'm not aware of it (I'm sure someone will say it's probably happened and I've heard you will eat a certain amount of spiders in your sleep etc.) however if I can prevent one less in my house, I will. Besides Tony I'm more of a character then have good character