Whiskas Posted February 22, 2009 Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 That water spiders ate baby goldfish! I had a large bucket/plastic container with around 15 young goldfish from this years spawning and they were growing well when one day i noticed a spider hanging out on top of the water - didn't think much of it. Went out again a few days later and the spider was still there, quite a good sized brown thing. I dont particularly like spiders! so i poked it with a stick, it attacked the stick then dove under the water. The spider has been living there for near on a month and the baby goldfish were around 1cm, some more, some less - now only 4 babies are left, no bodies to be found and the spider has now gone or rather i haven't seen it the last week or so. Wish i had realised sooner! Damn him! the babies were some really nice shubunkins!! Hope the spider doesn't come back next year!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted February 23, 2009 Report Share Posted February 23, 2009 I didn't know that! Mind you, I guess it makes sense. One would assume a water spider would eat what's in the water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted February 23, 2009 Report Share Posted February 23, 2009 Sorry about your losses. Fish eating spiders, you must have some big spiders over there Ewwwwwwwwwww Caper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gecko Posted February 24, 2009 Report Share Posted February 24, 2009 Wow, never really realised they would do that. I'd be more cautious with spiders around my fish, that's for sure. Then again, the spider would be the least of my worries since I have a kitten who loves fishing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stella Posted February 24, 2009 Report Share Posted February 24, 2009 presumably Dolomedes aquaticus. Beautiful spiders - big chunky furry things. Kinda disturbing when trying to get a better look at a spider, and it jumps in the stream and swiftly floats away! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zev Posted February 24, 2009 Report Share Posted February 24, 2009 Is this the same as the one Rozski posted here? viewtopic.php?f=17&t=36937 Stripes on the thorax look the same, but I could be wrong, and she will have to tell us how big it was! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stella Posted February 24, 2009 Report Share Posted February 24, 2009 similar body shape, but Dolomedes aquaticus are much hairier and greyer I think. Not too good on telling them apart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whiskas Posted February 24, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2009 dunno much - actually nuthin - about spiders! O hang on yes i do - they can eat baby fish! lol It was a decent size a guesstimate would be 5cm across (when splayed) or maybe a lil more (they always seem HUGE when you dont like them! So i scaled down the size i remember it to be) and a browny tan colour, wasn't very hairy that i noticed (not like a tarantula or anything anyways) - i guess you could say it was pretty :-? Went out to take a pic the day i realised all the baby fish were gone and the spider was gone too, otherwise could have been of more help. If it turns up again i will get a pic and post it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stella Posted February 25, 2009 Report Share Posted February 25, 2009 Dolomedes aquaticus: A rather lovely spider I saw a couple of weeks ago. She only allowed me one photo then sailed away down the stream! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mj Posted March 1, 2009 Report Share Posted March 1, 2009 lesson to be learn't ... cover all your "tanks" my first experience of this was a good 14 years ago ...put my goldfish in a glass while cleaning the tank ,.. looked back, glass empty, looked down, cat licking its lips Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.