Keeping and Caring of Fighting Spiders

As kids, most of us kept our fighting spiders in match boxes. Why ? I guess the reason is match boxes were readily available during that time and it was free. What about the present days ? We kept them in containers instead and seldom keep them in match boxes as you hardly find one nowadays !

I find that keeping fighting spiders in match boxes pose a harsh living condition on them. They don't lived long and often being attacked by ants or died of thirst. We were kind of ignorant when we were kids and doesn't give a hack on how to keep a fighting spider.

Presently, most of us keep fighting spiders in containers with holes and change the leaves when it gets dry. Below is a picture from Koppao showing his fighting spider containers.

I used to keep my fighting spiders in containers until recently I have changed it to house them in pet containers. Keeping fighting spiders in containers need to change the leaves quite often and its kind of a hassel . I have discovered that if the stem of a leaf is placed in the water, the leaf could stay fresh for a longer period. This discovery prompted me to change to a pet container where its height is tall enough to accomodate a small container of water for the leaves. Another advantage of a pet container is it provides good air flow for the spider. Alright, here are the pros of using a pet container.

1. The leaves could stay fresh for a longer period. Fresh leaves mimic a natural habitat for the spider.

2. Minimise the cleaning of the container.

3. Ample air ventilation. Good airflow ensures the spider would be lively and it also help in healing the spider's injury after a fight.

4. Bigger space.

5. Good visibility of the spider.

6. Expose to natural sunlight. Spiders need some sunlight for them to digest their food and also to maintain their colours. You will notice that if you keep the fighting spider in a dark surrounding, its colour would become dark very soon.

What about the cons ? I guess the only disadvantage of using a pet container is the trouble of bringing the spider out.

Below are a series of pictures showing the setup of a pet container for keeping a fighting spider. Remember to keep only one male fighting spider in one container. You could add in a female fighting spider as a mate for the male spider.

A mini glass aquarium tank is an ideal substitute for a pet container as well. It provides a much clearer visibility of the spider. Here are some of my pet containers currently housing my fighting spiders.

Fighting spiders do not need to be fed regularly. I read from somewhere that if a spider is fed too much, it will die of indigestion. I would recommend to feed the fighting spider once every 2 to 3 days. A bloated abdomen indicates the spider has ate too much and a thin abdomen tells you its time to feed the spider. I feed the fighting spiders with pinhead crickets, fruit flies, flying ants, mosquitoes, ants and green flies ( http://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_flies/GreenLongLeggedFly1.htm )

Heard that feeding mosquitoes filled with blood, green flies and the head of a big housefly to your fighting spider increase its vitality and strength. To a certain extend I do agree with it as I guess they contain traces of blood.

Another important element to keep your fighting spider alive is water. Spiders need to drink water very often else they would get dehyrated and died off. Let your spiders drink water once in the morning and once at night. For me, I spray water twice a day into the pet container.

*** Contributed by Trevally ***

Where to Catch Fighting Spiders

Fighting spiders could be found almost everywhere where there are green bushes. You can find them at HDB estates, parks, gardens, nature reserves and forests. In response to the question posted in the Lowyat forum asking which type of plants / trees could find fighting spiders, I've decided to compile a list of them. Haha, I do not know most of the names of these plants / trees, nevertheless a picture tells a thousand words. Stay tune for more updates on the type of plants where you could find fighting spiders.

*** Contributed by Trevally ***

How to Catch a Fighting Spider

How to catch a fighting spider ? There are many ways used to catch a fighting spider but I'll just describe the below few methods.

1) The Traditional Kop Method

This method of catching fighting spider was used by many children in the olden days. I remembered during my childhood time, most of my friends employed this method to catch fighting spiders. The hit rate was not 100%. Many times, we crushed the spiders to death or the spiders managed to escape. The below video shows how to catch a fighting spider with the kop method.



2) The Scissor and Plastic Bag Method

I would say this is the most secure method of catching fighting spiders. The hit rate would be near to 100% and most of us used thise method to catch spiders. You need a big transparent plastic bag which could cover the whole leaves. When you spot the target, gently move the leaves into the plastic bag. Let the plastic bag covers as much area of the leaves as possible so that if the spider trys to jump out of the nest, it would land itself into the plastic bag. With a good pair of sharp scissor, cut gently at the stem and closed the mouth of the plastic bag with the leaves in it. Hooray, you have caught a fighting spider with this method.

To the more experienced veterens, a pair of scissor would be sufficient.

3) The Container Method

This method of cathing spider is considered a 'plants friendly' method. You don't need a scissor and you don't plug leaves. What you need is just a plastic pill container or any other containers that you think is suitable. When you spot the spider, move the container towards the spider and coach it to jump into the container. Its not an easy task and you have to be very patient and quiet. A noisy movement would usually send the spider jumping off. If you guys happen to catch spiders in hdb estates, parks and nature reserves, this is the best method as you don't destroy the plants. However, its not wise to hunt in those places as you might get fine by park rangers and NPark officers !

4) The Spider Jumps OnTo Your Hand Method

Well, let the video explains it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kr6CqLG_aG4


5) The Shaking Method

This method of catching fighting spiders is abit of hilarious. You place a large piece of white cloth or big carboard box under a tree. You then shake the branches and those spiders and insects would fall and landed onto the cloth or box. Don't be surprise, sometimes you might land yourself with afew fighting spiders from this method !


*** Contributed by Trevally ***

Different Types of Pows for Fighting Spider

When I was young playing fighting spider, we gave names to those fighting spiders with different fighting styles and colours.

Here's a list of names given to fighting spiders with respect to its colour.

Kim Pow - Fighting spider with irediscent golden colour on its head and abdomen. Hearsay this type of fighting spider isn't that fierce and just got its skin changed (molt).

Green Pow - Fighting spider with irediscent green colour on its head and abdomen. This type of colour is commonly found in fighting spider.

Blue or Lam Pow - Fighting Spider with irediscent blue colour on its head and abdomen. Hearsay this type of fighting spider is truely a fierce fighter with a brave heart. Not commonly found in fighting spider's colour.

Black or Orh Pow - Fighting Spider with no or slight colour on its head and abdomen. Hearsay this type of fighting spider is fierce and mostly belongs to the Kop or Sup Pow.

Here's a list of names given to fighting spiders with respect to its fighting style.

Sup Pow - This type of fighting spider has no fighting style. It would crawl slowly then pounce directly on its opponent with strong bite. Usually very little or no arms pushing occur. This type of fighting spider is very fierce but is also easily prone to injury during a fight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6IzwDaWuLQ

Kop Pow - This type of fighting spider charges at its opponent with a fierce pose. Its first attact is usually a bite on its opponent follow by arms pushing and biting. A very fierce fighting spider.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6Gn4y_Heg4

Gostan Pow - This type of fighting spider will usually observes its opponent while moving backwards before engaging into a fight. Hearsay its a good fighter.

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

Fair Fighter - This type of fighting spider fights with arms pushing and follow by biting its opponent.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhn6TmWnr7E

IceCream Pow - This type of fighting spider fights with arms pushing and would run away less then 5 seconds.

There are still other names given to the fighting spiders that doesn't fall within the fighting style and colour category.

King Kong Pow - A very big size fighting spider. I yet to see one and I guess this is the raja labah labah I'm searching for.

Kang Bu Pow - A male and female fighting spider caught in the same nest. Hearsay its a good fighter if you caught this type of fighting spider.

Brothers Pow - Two or more male fighting spiders caught in the same nest. Hearsay only one male fighting spider could fight and brothers don't fight each other.

*** Contributed by Trevally ***