My Spider has escaped - what should I do ?

 

First of all, don't panic - this is not the disaster most people think it might be...

 

First step: ascertain that the spider has actually left its enclosure, by searching there first, very carefully and gently checking all hiding places in the tank. Then, seal the spider room - the chances are that the spider has not yet left it.

 

Next, make sure that no other animals are going to come across your escapee. Lock cats and dogs outside for the duration of your search.

 

Then, expand the search to the area surrounding the tank, looking high for arboreals, and low for terrestrials. Use a flashlight if necessary to check in all dark, warm, hidden places within the spider room. DO NOT MOVE ANY HEAVY ITEMS OF FURNITURE UNTIL YOU KNOW WHERE THE SPIDER IS, and can make sure it won't be injured by your actions.

 

If you live in the UK, like me, it is very unlikely your spider will have taken any opportunity to go outside, and will most likely stay within the confines of your warm, dry house. If a search of the spider tank room does not reveal your missing animal, expand the search into neighbouring rooms, sealing off searched areas as you go to prevent having to search them again later.

 

Eventually, after looking everywhere, you will locate your spider, and if you have acted quickly enough, it shouldn't be too much the worse for it adventure. However, it may have fallen, or not eaten for a while, or be dehydrated so check it over for problems, and then use a 3L plastic bottle top to contain, and manouvre the spider somewhere safe. Attend to its immediate needs, and then you might want to move it to a temporary holding tank...

 

Now is the time to go check over the original tank, and find out what allowed it to escape in the first place. It is obviously a good idea to fix the escape path before returning the animal to its home to prevent a repeat performance - believe me when I say that spiders remember what worked last time, and do try it again !