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

[fishoholic]

Originally Posted by BlueTang<3

I have heard of zoanthid spiders before but they don't look like yours at all.

I checked out the image of a zoanthid spider and you're right it doesn't look like the one I got. I attempted to google "reef spider" but all sorts of creepy spider pic.'s showed up and I couldn't bare to look at them

[paddyob]

And to think that there are sooo many undiscovered creatures in the ocean. There are countless things we can't imagine... and then this spider comes along. Creepy. I don't even like crabs in my tank. :P



How big is it?

[fishoholic]

Originally Posted by paddyob

And to think that there are sooo many undiscovered creatures in the ocean. There are countless things we can't imagine... and then this spider comes along. Creepy. I don't even like crabs in my tank. :P

Absolutely, however crabs I'm ok with spiders creep me out!

It's really small about half an inch.

[hillegom]

flush it

[MitchM]

On top of your cheato?

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

Mitch

[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