"Spider" in a shrimp tank   2/9/17
Hello,
<Greetings!>
I've read Your great *FAQs on Aquatic Insects *but I've stumped on my local discus board on this spider-like looking insect. Do You have any idea what it really is?
<A spider. While there are a very few aquatic spiders, such as the European species Argyroneta aquatica, this doesn't seem to be one of them. It is probably just a spider that has fallen into the tank and wants to get out. Place it on a floating plant or leaf at the surface and see what it does. If it tries to go back into the water, that'd be odd! My guess is that it'll be quite alright on the surface, and if you compare it to photos of spiders native to your home country, you will probably find it is a typical house or garden spider. The white colour reminds me of the White Crab Spider (Misumena vatia) but an arachnid expert in your home country would surely be better able at identifying this spider than me!>
It is alive and moving freely when underwater, you can see it on a video on YouTube
https://youtu.be/66IV1o3v11Y
<Hope this helps. Cheers, Neale.>