Job Discussion Forums

Albert Cribbins · Joined: 19 Aug 2012 Posts: 79 Location: Sichuan

Hi all,

Can't find an off topic thread for taiwan, so hoping someone can answer here. If I'm renting or in a provided room on a higher floor, or in a nice hotel, how much chance is there of seeing any of these giant horrible spiders?

I come from England, and we have house spiders, but none as big as these. In all seriousness how likely are FT's to come into contact with these in their own homes? I lived in south china and never saw one:(

Cheers,
Al

teacher4life · Joined: 22 Apr 2012 Posts: 121

No worries, the cockroaches usually eat them before they bite you. Rolling Eyes

ncaraway · Joined: 15 Feb 2010 Posts: 68

Deleted by author

Albert Cribbins · Joined: 19 Aug 2012 Posts: 79 Location: Sichuan

These are what got me worried Rolling Eyes

http://www.thetravelpixie.com/the-worlds-largest-spiders/

http://wanderlustandlipstick.com/blogs/bambooboulevard/2012/01/30/the-darker-side-of-taiwan/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4KZpHx0csU

Unless they are only in certain parts of the island, anyone know more?

phdinfunk · Joined: 30 May 2008 Posts: 69

I actually took that woman's old job from those links you posted, a couple of years ago and now have the same post in Puli.

I hike in the forest all the time. There are two major dangerous spiders on the island. One is related to the black widow and is in the South and endangered. The other is a type of brownish red spider who lines a hole in a rock with a web. You need to watch more for Centipedes, or snakes for that matter....

I'm the guy who goes out in front when we hike in the woods, and up and down rivers. I'm the lead when we bike through farm-dog laden countryside as well. I've stood down charging dogs a couple of times. I've cornered a boar myself (stupidly, though they're less aggressive here than in the SE USA), and I've had a cobra stand up and hood at me. I've swum in the water with a mildly poisonous Chinese Water Snake (though they eat carrion, so you never wanna get bitten).

Yes, there are some ^%@$ HUGE spiders here. But I have never seen either of the two most dangerous ones, and I'm the guy at point. You really have to think more about snakes out on the road. That day we saw the cobra, I also saw TWO more (nonpoisonous snakes).... this was on a three hour bike ride. I see one at least every third time I go out in the summer, and I invariably spot at least two dead ones on the road if I go for a 35km bike ride in the summer.

If you're not into woods, stay in the cities..... If you're into the woods, you realize how little danger most of this poses. You just don't sleepwalk. It's beautiful.

But Mother of God, the cockroaches, they're insane here. I scream like a little girl at them!

To further answer the question -- the biggest spiders I've ever seen in my LIFE were both in CENTRAL Taiwan. One was at San Yu (Seventh Day Adventist college near Puli) and the other was on a psychotic downhill singletrack I was running on my bike. The second one blew my mind so much I bowed to it like the good Hindu I wish I was (seriously, it was like the queen of all spiders).

When I lived in Sansia, I once had a 3" long praying mantis land on me while I was driving my scooter down Kite Mountain after some Qi Kung.... ...and he jumped off into the bushes as well, safe and sound.

likwid_777 · Joined: 04 Nov 2012 Posts: 411 Location: NA

When you say that they are a huntsman spider, if they are anything like they are downunder, don't worry. They get quite big, yes, but are non-venomous. I've been bitten by one, and it's just a zap and an expletive, that's it.

<This is provided the ones in Taiwan are non-venomous like the ones in Aus!!!>