Shipping delicate spiders

[Peter_Parker]

Does anyone know a good way to ship delicate spider species eg. Nephilia spp., widows, etc. (web building spiders in general)? I saw a sticky post earlier about how to ship tarantulas, but true spiders seem to be less stocky and more delicate. I got a shipment in today and the spiders were all basically orb weavers shipped in the same manner as a T would have been, but only a few of them made it . Are there any different techniques? thanks

 

[Jmadson13]

I've recieved some widows securly wrapped in a burrito fashion inside a small dram cylinder. This seemed to have worked well and would be achomplished in such a fashion as first lining the inside of the container and moistening the paper towels, then inserting the spider into the cradle and folding over the top or just wadding a few more moist towels on top. Even some of my Tarantula spiderlings have arrived in this manner. Very gentle on them I'd imagine.

 

[Peter_Parker]

Ok, we can try that method then. I just don't want the spider to end up crushed agains the sides of the jar by the paper towel, or for it's delicate legs to break off.

 

[Jmadson13]

extra towels on top are probably warrented you want a firm but gentle hold on the spider and you'll probably have to experiment over time. I didn't mention how important additional box padding is though, I actually use 100% cotton fiber as a padding material and have yet to have a problem. This is how I package my fragile goods, why not my spiders?

 

[Peter_Parker]

Yeah, the cotton padding is probably better than the conventional newspaper. Where do you get it? Craft store?

 

[cacoseraph]

I've recieved some widows securly wrapped in a burrito fashion inside a small dram cylinder. This seemed to have worked well and would be achomplished in such a fashion as first lining the inside of the container and moistening the paper towels, then inserting the spider into the cradle and folding over the top or just wadding a few more moist towels on top. Even some of my Tarantula spiderlings have arrived in this manner. Very gentle on them I'd imagine.

that sounds like how i ship pretty much everything... and i've never had a death, that anyone has told me

i shipped a 3-5i L. hesperus that way... the baby was freaking tiny

 

[Peter_Parker]

Yay, this advice was taken (plus putting them on overnight shipping), and all the spiders came alive and well! hooray for me