How to move a wild Phormictopus cancerides from danger

[Louise Aeonium]

Hi Everyone – I'm new to the boards and I don't have a spider (apart from those house spiders running free!) but I wonder if you could help me with moving a tarantula to safety please?

We're lucky to be going on holiday to the Dominican Republic next month, home to the Hispaniolan Giant Tarantula (Phormictopus cancerides). We've visited many times before and I frequently see dead ones on the road track in the hotel grounds. Unfortunately, the staff seem to kill them as a matter of course.

Last year, as the groundsmen were sweeping up the sandy beach, they disturbed a spider from his/her hiding place. They thought it would be a good photo opportunity for the tourists who had crowded around to see it. The groundsmen threw sand at it and deliberately provoked it to make it stand on its hind legs to defend itself. Presumably it must have shed a cloud of urticating hairs as a defence response. I told them not to and tried to give them money to ask them not to kill it and would they just move it to the undergrowth away from people? They refused and kept saying that it was DANGEROUS! I tried to tell them this wasn't true as I'd read a lot about their natural history. Yes, they're capable of delivering a painful bite but the venom won't kill you (unless you're allergic). I found this really upsetting and want to be prepared to rescue a spider if this happens again.

What would be the best way to move the spider away from the people so that I can release it near some rocks and vegetation where it can hide?

Now comes the tricky part: I'm ashamed to say that I'm a bit scared of large spiders! I wish I wasn't and I'm trying to desensitise myself by leaving pictures of large spiders around the house to surprise me! I'm improving but I don't know what I could do in a similar situation. I think they're beautiful and I admire them greatly and would never do anything to harm one.

When it comes to moving an angry spider, dressed in beach clothes, (me, not the spider) I was wondering if it could be gently coaxed into something like a cardboard box or waste paper bin with a stick? Presumably it would want to move towards the dark? If I managed to get it into a box, would it want to climb out immediately or would it prefer to stay at the bottom (if I put something in there for it to hide in?) I would probably have to walk 2-5 minutes to find a secluded release site. That's a long time when you're not used to these eight-legged friends but I think I could do it if I knew it wasn't going to rush up the sides of the box. I don't think 'rushing' is in their nature is it?

I would like to benefit from your experience of moving these arachnids and I'd love to hear any advice or suggestions you might have to help me protect these magnificent and beautiful creatures.

Thank you very much!
Louise

 

[Walker253]

If you had a plastic tub with a lid, it would work well. Put the tub over it, slide the lid under it, and snap it shut. At the other end, pop the top and use a stick to move it out. Obviously a clear or opaque container would work a little better so you could see it a little. That's what I would do.

 

[Nightstalker47]

The staff have probably been instructed to clear them out, or kill them. Large defensive spiders aren't welcome at hotel resorts. Obviously the vast majority of people don't want them there, which is sad. So attempting to sway they're view on the matter would be quite difficult

But I don't blame them, most tourists probably alert the staff as soon as they see them. And they are likely terrified. So it could really negatively affect the hotel reviews.

There's not much you can really do about that. Maybe try and educate the staff, and explain that they aren't particularly dangerous spiders. If left alone they usually keep to themselves.

However, I could easily picture large mature males roaming around the resort, which would defintely freak most people out. They don't know how dangerous they are, and probably assume it's far worse then it really is. Typical human behavior.

Your best shot at saving them would probably be to discreetly relocate any spiders you might come across. Don't alert the staff, take matters into your own hands, it's pretty much the best you can do.

 

[Andrea82]

I just wanted to say that i think you're awesome for trying to rescue these big, quite defensive spiders! Especially since you are afraid.

For a safe way to catch and release, @Tomoran has this vid on Phormictopus

 

[darkness975]

Hi Everyone – I'm new to the boards and I don't have a spider (apart from those house spiders running free!) but I wonder if you could help me with moving a tarantula to safety please?

We're lucky to be going on holiday to the Dominican Republic next month, home to the Hispaniolan Giant Tarantula (Phormictopus cancerides). We've visited many times before and I frequently see dead ones on the road track in the hotel grounds. Unfortunately, the staff seem to kill them as a matter of course.

Last year, as the groundsmen were sweeping up the sandy beach, they disturbed a spider from his/her hiding place. They thought it would be a good photo opportunity for the tourists who had crowded around to see it. The groundsmen threw sand at it and deliberately provoked it to make it stand on its hind legs to defend itself. Presumably it must have shed a cloud of urticating hairs as a defence response. I told them not to and tried to give them money to ask them not to kill it and would they just move it to the undergrowth away from people? They refused and kept saying that it was DANGEROUS! I tried to tell them this wasn't true as I'd read a lot about their natural history. Yes, they're capable of delivering a painful bite but the venom won't kill you (unless you're allergic). I found this really upsetting and want to be prepared to rescue a spider if this happens again.

What would be the best way to move the spider away from the people so that I can release it near some rocks and vegetation where it can hide?

Now comes the tricky part: I'm ashamed to say that I'm a bit scared of large spiders! I wish I wasn't and I'm trying to desensitise myself by leaving pictures of large spiders around the house to surprise me! I'm improving but I don't know what I could do in a similar situation. I think they're beautiful and I admire them greatly and would never do anything to harm one.

When it comes to moving an angry spider, dressed in beach clothes, (me, not the spider) I was wondering if it could be gently coaxed into something like a cardboard box or waste paper bin with a stick? Presumably it would want to move towards the dark? If I managed to get it into a box, would it want to climb out immediately or would it prefer to stay at the bottom (if I put something in there for it to hide in?) I would probably have to walk 2-5 minutes to find a secluded release site. That's a long time when you're not used to these eight-legged friends but I think I could do it if I knew it wasn't going to rush up the sides of the box. I don't think 'rushing' is in their nature is it?

I would like to benefit from your experience of moving these arachnids and I'd love to hear any advice or suggestions you might have to help me protect these magnificent and beautiful creatures.

Thank you very much!
Louise

A catch cup with a lid is your most viable option.

 

[Louise Aeonium]

A catch cup with a lid is your most viable option.

Thank you everyone for your help and support. I think a 'catch bucket' might be more appropriate if you'd seen the size of this one's legs! I knew these spiders were big but I did have to stand and stare for a long time to make sure my eyes weren't deceiving me as to the size of this one - absolutely amazing.

You're right Nightstalker about facing an uphill battle in trying to turn the hotel's attitude to these spiders. Of course I can see why they don't want their guests to see them but if only people would realise that these spiders aren't evil and out to get them - they just want to find a mate or hide away from us. I think I might put a few flyers around the place highlighting the fact that they're not going to kill you! It's not going to change people's attitudes but if it gets through to just one person then it's a step in the right direction.

Oh and thank you Andrea, that made me smile

Louise

 

[darkness975]

Thank you everyone for your help and support. I think a 'catch bucket' might be more appropriate if you'd seen the size of this one's legs! I knew these spiders were big but I did have to stand and stare for a long time to make sure my eyes weren't deceiving me as to the size of this one - absolutely amazing.

You're right Nightstalker about facing an uphill battle in trying to turn the hotel's attitude to these spiders. Of course I can see why they don't want their guests to see them but if only people would realise that these spiders aren't evil and out to get them - they just want to find a mate or hide away from us. I think I might put a few flyers around the place highlighting the fact that they're not going to kill you! It's not going to change people's attitudes but if it gets through to just one person then it's a step in the right direction.

Oh and thank you Andrea, that made me smile )

Louise

Any idea what the DLS of the one(s) you've encountered have been?

 

[Louise Aeonium]

Any idea what the DLS of the one(s) you've encountered have been?

Oh it's so difficult to say as I'm trying to remember from a year ago and I will probably exaggerate it too! A quick search on google says that the leg length ranges from 7-8". Here's a link to a short video by someone else at one of the typical resorts there (although we stay at La Romana, not Punta Cana) - I'd say it was similar to this one:

I love the way it moves - sooooo graceful.

 

[darkness975]

Oh it's so difficult to say as I'm trying to remember from a year ago and I will probably exaggerate it too! A quick search on google says that the leg length ranges from 7-8". Here's a link to a short video by someone else at one of the typical resorts there (although we stay at La Romana, not Punta Cana) - I'd say it was similar to this one:

I love the way it moves - sooooo graceful.

That's a mature male on the hunt for females.

 

[miss moxie]

The life of a Mature Male tarantula is honestly akin to a horror movie plot. They're just out there, scouting for that booty to smash, and they usually get killed before they can smash the booty-- and if they don't die before? Well a lot of times they die after smashin' that booty.

It's a hard life.

 

[Louise Aeonium]

That's a mature male on the hunt for females.

Oh that's interesting to hear - how do you know it's a male? Is it because of the large palps and those strange protuberances on its front legs?

Miss Moxie - it sounds like quite a violent and dramatic end to his life - let's hope he enjoyed himself along the way

 

[Andrea82]

Oh that's interesting to hear - how do you know it's a male? Is it because of the large palps and those strange protuberances on its front legs?

You know, for someone afraid of spiders, you do understand a lot and have a keen eye for your surroundings. Those features you named are exactly how you can tell it's a mature male.

I do feel i need to warn you... You're already quite fascinated, you're at risk of becoming seriously interested in keeping one yourself. And once you've reached that point, it's all downhill from there

 

[darkness975]

Oh that's interesting to hear - how do you know it's a male? Is it because of the large palps and those strange protuberances on its front legs?

Miss Moxie - it sounds like quite a violent and dramatic end to his life - let's hope he enjoyed himself along the way

As @Andrea82 said, that is exactly how you tell.

 

[Mila]

The life of a Mature Male tarantula is honestly akin to a horror movie plot. They're just out there, scouting for that booty to smash, and they usually get killed before they can smash the booty-- and if they don't die before? Well a lot of times they die after smashin' that booty.

It's a hard life.

its even worse for male ants. theyre produced once a year, barely fed, have their body fluids sucked then after they mate their genitals explode and they slowly bleed to death.

 

[Louise Aeonium]

You know, for someone afraid of spiders, you do understand a lot and have a keen eye for your surroundings. Those features you named are exactly how you can tell it's a mature male.

I do feel i need to warn you... You're already quite fascinated, you're at risk of becoming seriously interested in keeping one yourself. And once you've reached that point, it's all downhill from there

Well I should really lay my cards on the table.... I'm a biologist/ecologist hence my fascination with these (and all other) creatures. I was familiar with the fact that you could tell a male spider by the enlarged pedipalps compared with the female but I was more used to seeing those on the small individuals which live in the UK. I've never seen palps THAT big nor the sticky-out bits on his front legs!

Just because I'm afraid of them doesn't mean I'm not curious! Your prediction may come true because I've always said that although I'm afraid to hold a domestic house spider (Tegenaria gigantea and T. domestica), I always thought I could hold a tarantula. However, I read that you shouldn't really do that as it's not in their interests, so that lets me off the hook, yes?

I can handle just about anything else: snakes, cockroaches, other British spiders etc. but I just need to get past the house spider thing... if only they wouldn't move and jump so fast!

I'm sorry to read about your bad day today. Sometimes things happen which are beyond our control.

 

[Louise Aeonium]

its even worse for male ants. theyre produced once a year, barely fed, have their body fluids sucked then after they mate their genitals explode and they slowly bleed to death.

Nice one Mila! Perhaps it would be better to be a male bumblebee then as they don't have to work, they can stop out all night and just drink for themselves. Oh and the only other thing they have to do is mate with a queen. Then they die.

 

[Vanessa]

I can't offer any advice in addition to what has already been given, but I just wanted to thank you for your kindness and empathy. And not only that, but your willingness to make the effort to educate people on an animal who is vilified from every angle.
Thank you. I assure you that you will make a difference to the lives of the tarantulas that you are going to cross paths with and save from danger. I wish there were more people like you about.

 

[Louise Aeonium]

I can't offer any advice in addition to what has already been given, but I just wanted to thank you for your kindness and empathy. And not only that, but your willingness to make the effort to educate people on an animal who is vilified from every angle.
Thank you. I assure you that you will make a difference to the lives of the tarantulas that you are going to cross paths with and save from danger. I wish there were more people like you about.

Ah thank you Vanessa - I really appreciate that. I sat on the end of the sunbed and cried after the incident! I felt so angry, frustrated and powerless! I had to walk away and compose myself. I'm determined it's not going to happen again so I think I'll have to ensure I always have a large cardboard box with me when down on the beach

 

[Andrea82]

Ah thank you Vanessa - I really appreciate that. I sat on the end of the sunbed and cried after the incident! I felt so angry, frustrated and powerless! I had to walk away and compose myself. I'm determined it's not going to happen again so I think I'll have to ensure I always have a large cardboard box with me when down on the beach

Better make that a plastic box Theraphosids can chew through cardboard.
Ah, so you're already familiar with creepy crawlies
Lots of people on here love their tarantula, but hate house spiders,so you're not alone in that. I jump too when i see one running across the livingroom floor, but that's because the first thing that goes through my mind is that it's one of mine that got out

 

[Louise Aeonium]

Better make that a plastic box Theraphosids can chew through cardboard.
Ah, so you're already familiar with creepy crawlies
Lots of people on here love their tarantula, but hate house spiders,so you're not alone in that. I jump too when i see one running across the livingroom floor, but that's because the first thing that goes through my mind is that it's one of mine that got out

So, with the above video as reference, if I were to ever so gently place a large cardboard box/bin in front of him (it won't chew through it within the time I can release it again!) would the T be a good boy and calmly walk in to it? Thus, allowing me to take him back outside to the undergrowth out of the way of drunken, hysterical revellers returning to their hotel rooms? (I sense things may not be so simple...) Could I make the box more tempting to enter if I put some vegetation in there to hide in? If only I had 'essence of female T pheromone'.

Yes, I love creepy crawlies and am never happier than when plunging my hands through buckets full of smooth mealworms at my local exotic pet centre I've been breeding mealworms for donkeys years to feed to the garden birds. I always have to buy lots more during spring as the birds' demands far outstrip my meagre supply. (I don't want to be discovered talking about non-T critters on here though for fear of being thrown out and severely reprimanded).