SouthernCross
Fish Addict
I just HAD to take pictures of this for you guys! 
If you don't like enormous spiders, now might be the time to click back... 
Before I get to the pictures -
Huntsman spiders are VERY common here in Australia. Despite their appearance they are relatively harmless - hence I was okay with getting up close! We get loads in our house every year, usually we just leave them be because they chase down annoying insects that have found their way inside. This one in particular had been around for about three weeks. I once had one living in my shower for nearly 6 months - he even got a name, Harry Huntsman,. This one isn't as big as previous ones we've had.
I woke up this morning and found this one had come upstairs and had obviously become taken with my small betta tank which sits on my desk in my bedroom!
Thought it would be an excellent opportunity to practice my macro photography skills, and that you guys would probably get a kick out of it too, especially if you don't get spiders like this in your countries. Gotta love Australia!!! 
This is what I found when I got up, my betta is not too traumatized thankfully
Good shot of the spider!
Then, unfortunately I got a bit too close and I startled him. These spiders can MOVE FAST. He ran all over the tank in every direction, until he found the hole letting the power wires out and crawled inside the tank! I'd forgotten about the hole, and had a heart attack,, but I knew my fish would be safe, they don't like water, my main worry was how was I going to get him out!
So, with a pen I flicked off the back lid, and found him crouched inside on the filter pipes:
Got VERY CLOSE for this one!
After taking more shots, I decided I wasn't comfortable leaving him in the tank (knowing me I'd forget he was there and when I went to feed tonight he'd jump on me and scare the crap out of me!) So I poked at him with the pen some more -
First he ran under the pipework! You can just see his legs:
But with a bit more prodding (and him touching the water and not liking it!) he ran out and across my desk and disappeared into the corner amongst some shopping bags! Hopefully he'll leave my tank alone. I'd hoped to catch him and put him outside but he's hiding now, so maybe later.
Hope you've enjoyed my spidey pictures! Anyone put off coming to Australia?
Anyone else with stories involving creepy-crawlies and their tanks?
Cheers
SC
If you don't like enormous spiders, now might be the time to click back... Before I get to the pictures -
Huntsman spiders are VERY common here in Australia. Despite their appearance they are relatively harmless - hence I was okay with getting up close! We get loads in our house every year, usually we just leave them be because they chase down annoying insects that have found their way inside. This one in particular had been around for about three weeks. I once had one living in my shower for nearly 6 months - he even got a name, Harry Huntsman,
. This one isn't as big as previous ones we've had.I woke up this morning and found this one had come upstairs and had obviously become taken with my small betta tank which sits on my desk in my bedroom!
Thought it would be an excellent opportunity to practice my macro photography skills, and that you guys would probably get a kick out of it too, especially if you don't get spiders like this in your countries. Gotta love Australia!!! This is what I found when I got up, my betta is not too traumatized thankfully
Good shot of the spider!
Then, unfortunately I got a bit too close and I startled him. These spiders can MOVE FAST. He ran all over the tank in every direction, until he found the hole letting the power wires out and crawled inside the tank! I'd forgotten about the hole, and had a heart attack,
, but I knew my fish would be safe, they don't like water, my main worry was how was I going to get him out! So, with a pen I flicked off the back lid, and found him crouched inside on the filter pipes:
Got VERY CLOSE for this one!
After taking more shots, I decided I wasn't comfortable leaving him in the tank (knowing me I'd forget he was there and when I went to feed tonight he'd jump on me and scare the crap out of me!) So I poked at him with the pen some more -
First he ran under the pipework! You can just see his legs:
But with a bit more prodding (and him touching the water and not liking it!) he ran out and across my desk and disappeared into the corner amongst some shopping bags! Hopefully he'll leave my tank alone. I'd hoped to catch him and put him outside but he's hiding now, so maybe later
.Hope you've enjoyed my spidey pictures! Anyone put off coming to Australia?
Anyone else with stories involving creepy-crawlies and their tanks?
Cheers
SC
When I find bugs in the house I toss them to the oscar.
thanks for sharing, its nice to hear a funny story once in awhile 
) I would have been running in the opposite direction. Likewise with a red-back or a whitetail spider (although these are much smaller but still very venomous). I would say the huntsman spider is our equivalent of the most common house spider. At least in my region. As kids we all learn very early on which spiders and snakes are the most dangerous, and what to do if you meet one. Actually, for anyone who's interested, the link below is some of the main spiders found in our country - with the deadliest ones pointed out. You can see my huntsman on there too:
