Spider!

Robert M · Jan 20, 2020

I went to check on my refugium tonight and saw a SPIDER the size of my thumb crawling around like it owns the place. I nearly threw up! What the fudge is this thing? It’s huge and super creepy! I see people complain about pests before but no one ever mentioned giant spiders! If I start seeing these things crawling around my tank or this mama spider makes a giant web in my fuge, I might dynamite my tank and move to a different state to escape.

Any information on what I’m dealing with would be appreciated. Since it’s in my refugium I assume it’s dining on my pods and worms.

huckjai · Jan 20, 2020

Looks like an actual spider to me. Interesting

dvanrij · Jan 20, 2020

Dolomedes spider would be my guess... kill it with a vengeance and tenacity!!!!

Magellan · Jan 20, 2020

Kill it with fire!

Sisterlimonpot · Jan 20, 2020

Where are you located?

flsalty · Jan 21, 2020

Every time I think I've seen it all. Moths, stinkbugs and now a spider...lol

Chefwheredyougo · Jan 21, 2020

I had 3 LARGE spiders crawling around in my brute can as I was bleaching new rock. I used a ton of bleach as well. They seemed like nothing was wrong, almost like they didn't know they were in acidic water.

Robert M · Jan 21, 2020

I’m in the Boston area where I don’t see spiders larger than a small button very often. I do have a sizable bristle worm population in my fuge, so if that is what this fellow is dining on, maybe I can tolerate him as long as he mostly stays hidden and out of my DT. Most of the pics of sea spiders I found online showed spiders that were all legs—this one definitely has a huge abdomen full of bristle worm, eggs or venom (hopefully not!). I can’t rule out Dolomedes, but those seem to spend most of their time outside water or on the water surface—I think this one stays submerged or I definitely would have noticed him sooner. Also, I couldn’t find any marine Dolomedes spiders species (but doesn’t mean there aren’t some).

I just seeded my fuge with pods, phyto and macroalgae. I wonder if I got a stray spider egg in the mix...

Silent · Jan 21, 2020

That will sure make you keep your hand out of the tank lol

Gareth elliott · Jan 21, 2020

I see a clear defined thorax and abdomen, which pycnogonids (sea spiders)lack. They have no respiratory system so have to stay very thin.

There are some spiders that have developed a way to “dive” in air bubbles, but i do not see a bubble. My guess is will eventually die if stays underwater, could always add a fish down there temporarily and have it eat it lol.

If theres anyone in the house not afraid of spiders could have the net it out. And shake it outside.

Robert M · Jan 21, 2020

Gareth elliott said:
I see a clear defined thorax and abdomen, which pycnogonids (sea spiders)lack. They have no respiratory system so have to stay very thin.

There are some spiders that have developed a way to “dive” in air bubbles, but i do not see a bubble. My guess is will eventually die if stays underwater, could always add a fish down there temporarily and have it eat it lol.

If theres anyone in the house not afraid of spiders could have the net it out. And shake it outside.

Good point! If I see the guy again, I'll see if I can pull him out (or I can put my 7-year-old boy on it). Will be interesting to see if the thing can actually survive long-term in there. Who knows--maybe this thing will clean up the pests in my refugium. If so, I can start the next big reef tank fad! Spiders might be the next copepod... dose spiders from Robert's Spider Barn daily to keep your pests down, your fish happy, and your corals colorful. Ha!