NationStates Jolt Archive

For a couple of months now, I've had a Orb-Weaver Spider (similar to this one (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/Orb_weaver_white_bckgrnd02.jpg/800px-Orb_weaver_white_bckgrnd02.jpg)) maintaining a large web outside my front door. Unfortunately, the outside of the apartment building is being painted very soon, and this would surely result in the destruction of the web and probably the spider along with it. Since I'm a bleeding heart tree-hugging liberal, and I appreciate the spider's effectiveness in keeping pests out of the house, I have taken it captive tonight and intend to release it again in the same place once the maintenance work is done.

At the moment I'm keeping it in a mesh cage normally intended for small reptiles. The cage is about a foot and a half tall, two feet wide, and a foot and a bit deep. I've added a couple of sticks stuck upright in clay to provide anchor points for a web. I've been using a spray bottle to lightly mist the mesh walls to provide water for the time being, until the spider builds a web.

I've got a live cricket on standby, waiting for the spider to build a web. So far, it has only been sitting still on the roof of the cage, although I think it might have been drinking or drying it self off after I applied a bit of water. Other than that, no movement.

Is there anyone out there skilled in keeping spiders with any advice?

I suspect leaving it alone for a bit might help - as far as it knows something major has just happened and it's probably staying rather still until it feels safe.

Once it's used to its new surroundings, and given it can't go too far, it will probably start building a new web.

So turn off the lights, go to sleep and check status in morning.

I suspect leaving it alone for a bit might help - as far as it knows something major has just happened and it's probably staying rather still until it feels safe.

Once it's used to its new surroundings, and given it can't go too far, it will probably start building a new web.

So turn off the lights, go to sleep and check status in morning.

That's what I figured. Thanks! :D

Ah, just as I finished typing the above, there is movement.

**goes to watch**

It is plotting your demise. :(

*Orb Weaver attacks and devours TLO*




EDIT: Dammit LG, you and your nimble typing fingers!

Good idea. I hope it can successfully re-establish itself. :)

My daughter, who is an arachnophile from the git-go, has a few words of advice. Barringtonia is correct as far as he goes, but you might want to add a bit of fake foliage (you can get it at the pet store - it's safe, clean and parasite-free - and, if you get hit by the urge to rescue spiders again it will come in handy) for her to hide in and put a shallow dish of water to help humidify the enclosure (although spraying her occasionally is good). Generally, orb-weavers do better with small crickets - you can get these at PetSmart or PetCo for about ten cents each. One a week should be more than ample. Be aware that if it is female, it's probably already mated and you may end up with an egg sac.

My daughter warns that this could be addictive - she started out with spiders from the wild and now has a collection of 9 tarantulas, including a Mexican Red Knee and a Rose Hair.

*Orb Weaver attacks and devours TLO*




EDIT: Dammit LG, you and your nimble typing fingers!

:D

an orb is not likely to make a meal of that cricket, they prey mostly on light airborne foods such as mosquito and fruit fly, among others of course.

spiders only build webs when they are certain that they are in a firm, safe location, so though it is a glass container, any vibrations or excessive wind will cause the spider to seek a new web location, so much that it will never build a web if conditions remain the same.

best to simply let it outside, a spider is a hard thing to care for, though placing it in the kitchen or bathroom would work as well as many spiders prefer darker warmer areas.

For a couple of months now, I've had a Orb-Weaver Spider (similar to this one (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/Orb_weaver_white_bckgrnd02.jpg/800px-Orb_weaver_white_bckgrnd02.jpg)) maintaining a large web outside my front door. Unfortunately, the outside of the apartment building is being painted very soon, and this would surely result in the destruction of the web and probably the spider along with it. Since I'm a bleeding heart tree-hugging liberal, and I appreciate the spider's effectiveness in keeping pests out of the house, I have taken it captive tonight and intend to release it again in the same place once the maintenance work is done.

At the moment I'm keeping it in a mesh cage normally intended for small reptiles. The cage is about a foot and a half tall, two feet wide, and a foot and a bit deep. I've added a couple of sticks stuck upright in clay to provide anchor points for a web. I've been using a spray bottle to lightly mist the mesh walls to provide water for the time being, until the spider builds a web.

I've got a live cricket on standby, waiting for the spider to build a web. So far, it has only been sitting still on the roof of the cage, although I think it might have been drinking or drying it self off after I applied a bit of water. Other than that, no movement.

Is there anyone out there skilled in keeping spiders with any advice?

Thought I'm no liberal I do tend to ovoid killing animals and bugs when unnecessary and helping them if I can. Spiders can live a very long time in mesh cages before requiring any food. Just drop in a few bugs for it and she'll do the rest. It's unbelievable what places spiders can live and survive in.

My daughter, who is an arachnophile from the git-go, has a few words of advice.


Thanks! I started as a mild arachnophobe, myself, but have become much less so over the last couple of months.


Barringtonia is correct as far as he goes, but you might want to add a bit of fake foliage (you can get it at the pet store - it's safe, clean and parasite-free - and, if you get hit by the urge to rescue spiders again it will come in handy) for her to hide in


I have some of that also, but I was afraid of over cluttering the cage which is already pretty small; outside the webs get quite huge, after all. Perhaps if I trimmed of a small length and use that?



...and put a shallow dish of water to help humidify the enclosure (although spraying her occasionally is good).


I had thought about putting some wet (but not dripping) paper towel on top of the cage for this purpose, or so at least the spider can reach it through the mesh.


Generally, orb-weavers do better with small crickets - you can get these at PetSmart...


That's exactly where I went. :D


My daughter warns that this could be addictive - she started out with spiders from the wild and now has a collection of 9 tarantulas, including a Mexican Red Knee and a Rose Hair.

They are absolutely fascinating creatures.

It is plotting your demise. :(


*Orb Weaver attacks and devours TLO*


**fetches Mithril shirt and Light of Eärendil**

I hv suces wth teh spidr, pls com qwik to see, espcily if ur fat, com qwik now

Hmmm, I suspect a ruse...

**fetches Mithril shirt and Light of Eärendil***Throws a box of angry Vikings with New Year's hangovers at Loyal Opposition and then spray paints Loyal Opposition the color gold to make them think that he/she is a giant gold statue. Also, gives vikings diamond edged swords so that they might hurt Loyal Opposition through though armor as nothing is stronger then a Viking with a diamond axe.;)*

My daughter, who is an arachnophile from the git-go, has a few words of advice. Barringtonia is correct as far as he goes, but you might want to add a bit of fake foliage (you can get it at the pet store - it's safe, clean and parasite-free - and, if you get hit by the urge to rescue spiders again it will come in handy) for her to hide in and put a shallow dish of water to help humidify the enclosure (although spraying her occasionally is good). Generally, orb-weavers do better with small crickets - you can get these at PetSmart or PetCo for about ten cents each. One a week should be more than ample. Be aware that if it is female, it's probably already mated and you may end up with an egg sac.

My daughter warns that this could be addictive - she started out with spiders from the wild and now has a collection of 9 tarantulas, including a Mexican Red Knee and a Rose Hair.I see spiders in your hair.

The spider's body language has changed. When first caught, the spider held its legs together so there only appeared to be four and was bunched up against the body. Now, while there still isn't much movement, the legs are in the "normal" position where all eight are clearly visible.

So, either beginning to relax, or becoming more confident in the planned coup.

The spider's body language has changed. When first caught, the spider held its legs together so there only appeared to be four and was bunched up against the body. Now, while there still isn't much movement, the legs are in the "normal" position where all eight are clearly visible.

So, either beginning to relax, or becoming more confident in the planned coup.

Or it was being a little coy at first but now it likes the look of you and wants to get laid?

**fetches Mithril shirt and Light of Eärendil**

No Sting?

Ah... I remember the days of the Door Guardian...

Basically, he (or she?) kept a web on the outside of my front door's large glass windows. EVERY TIME, there were 30+ insects (many of them mosquitos!) caught in the web. Unfortunately, even spiders like the Door Guardian don't make it through winter, and the offspring chose other places.

I salute you, my late multilegged friend!

I can't offer much in the way of advice since my spider friend just stays in my bathroom and never bothers anyone. I like it there. If it gets out, I make it go back in. Either way, I'm glad you're protecting the little guy.

My daughter warns that this could be addictive - she started out with spiders from the wild and now has a collection of 9 tarantulas, including a Mexican Red Knee and a Rose Hair.

FTW!

I have one of those myself

I love having spiders around to keep the insect problem under control. We live in an apartment which means no matter how clean you might keep your place, roaches will always be around. Having some arachnids around to mitigate the problem is a good thing.

FTW!

I have one of those myself

I love having spiders around to keep the insect problem under control. We live in an apartment which means no matter how clean you might keep your place, roaches will always be around. Having some arachnids around to mitigate the problem is a good thing.I'm not sure I understand. Is it running free in your flat? If so, how do you avoid accidentally squishing it?

Also, why not a small rodent instead? I know mammal regeneration is a fair sight less impressive, but they eat a lot more, move a lot faster, are easier to notice, and tend not to sit perfectly still while oblivious humans crush them.

When I do maintainance work, my spiders scramble for survival :p Those that are unfortunate are caught and disposed of, as they seem adequate in keeping their population top notch around the house.

Unfortunately I can't really offer any advice since I've never tried taking care of spiders, but I'm thinking about trying it one day. I'd just like to say that...

SPIDERS ARE SO CUTE!

*hugs a spider*

I'm not sure I understand. Is it running free in your flat? If so, how do you avoid accidentally squishing it?

Also, why not a small rodent instead? I know mammal regeneration is a fair sight less impressive, but they eat a lot more, move a lot faster, are easier to notice, and tend not to sit perfectly still while oblivious humans crush them.

Oh sorry... I didn't diferentiate. Speedy (the tarantula) is in an aquarium of sorts. The ones I refered to that catch bugs are just regular spiders we avoid killing.

And actually, we do have a rodent. My wife has a rat.

Unfortunately I can't really offer any advice since I've never tried taking care of spiders, but I'm thinking about trying it one day. I'd just like to say that...

SPIDERS ARE SO CUTE!

*hugs a spider*

Jumping spiders are adorable.

http://www.uky.edu/Ag/CritterFiles/casefile/spiders/jumping/jumping.htm

Oh sorry... I didn't diferentiate. Speedy (the tarantula) is in an aquarium of sorts. The ones I refered to that catch bugs are just regular spiders we avoid killing.

And actually, we do have a rodent. My wife has a rat.Oh OK. Do they get along? - In my, admittedly limited, experience rats aren't all that fond of tarantulas.SPIDERS ARE SO CUTE!

*hugs a spider*Uh.. Cute? They''re nothing but legs, hair & a tender bag o' goo. - which I suppose is a pretty good argument for not hugging them, if you really do think they're cute.

Oh OK. Do they get along? - In my, admittedly limited, experience rats aren't all that fond of tarantulas.

Dunno. They're never in contact with one another.

Unfortunately I can't really offer any advice since I've never tried taking care of spiders, but I'm thinking about trying it one day. I'd just like to say that...

SPIDERS ARE SO CUTE!

*hugs a spider*Congrulations you, by accident, have hugged Shelob and shall soon be eater for you are the weakest link. Goodbye...

*Waves goodbye to Constantinopolis as Shelob wraps him inside webbing and carries him off.*