Spiders

drutter wrote:

I'm not sure what type of spider it was but I did see (and kill) one large spider in the apartment building I stayed in when I first arrived. I haven't seen any large spiders since then (unless you count cockroaches as spiders, you're going to see a lot of those).

Do you think that maybe killing that spider could be why you have roaches now?  Maybe that spider was all that was keeping the roach population down to a reasonable level.

Missjodi wrote:

Am moving to DaNang Dec or Jan. Doing my research,getting prepared and such. I'd like a real answer on what to expect regarding the spider thing vietnam. Not much of a backpacker will do most of my living in western style apts in the larger cities. My questions is- how likely am I going to run into large spiders in my apartment(s)? *snip*

I was stationed in Da Nang: on the airbase, outside town, and beyond the ridge line on a hilltop firebase.

I can't remember seeing one spider the whole time I was in country.

However, I'm going to guess that the video you saw was of a building with an exterior light. There's a LOT more of those in Da Nang these days.

The lights attract bugs, and the bugs attract spiders and lizards (and frogs, etc).

So, if you have your own balcony with a light source, just keep it turned off. Also, to keep that area clear at night, if you don't have curtains across your balcony glass door, you can invest in those to further reduce the light that attracts the bugs which attract the spiders.

Another trick I've used in a house that had multiple entryways (especially in summer, when spider populations are greatest):

To avoid having spiders waiting to welcome you at your door, keep a bright light on at the door you don't use. Bugs and spiders will congregate there, and you can use the light from your cellphone to unlock the other door and let yourself in, usually without hitchhiking spiders.

If you end up with spiders IN your apartment, it will likely be because you let them in, either through an open window or at the doorway when you are entering/leaving.

Cheers!

Bazza139 wrote:

But I come from a sub-tropical (Brisbane, Australia) environment
where cane toads, Cockies, cane toads, Red-Back and Huntsman (+ Geckos) and also cane toads often reach giant proportions.

FTFY

onceuponastage wrote:

I feel the same way about cockroaches. Man, I can’t function around them. I’d take a spider over a roach any day! Bleghhhhhhhh!

Jim-Minh wrote:

Getting a web and big spider plastered across your face would set off a wild and frantic dance trying to get the damn thing off you.

Imagine how the spider feels.  He is fishing for flies and catches a whale sized monster.   

Brick23 wrote:

Godammit I had forgotten that scorpions even existed, thank gents! 

She got stung at home after already handling vegetables etc at the market. It was when she was unpacking the bags at home much later when she suddenly yelled when her hand was in the bag. I arrived in the kitchen just after a small black Scorpion exited the bag and ran across the floor. Luckily I was able to intercept it en-route to the bedroom.

Brick23 wrote:

Godammit I had forgotten that scorpions even existed, thank gents! 

When I lived out in the country scorpions were actually quite common & did come into the bedroom at least 3 times. Black ones did not seem to faze the wife much but small white ones she used to freak out!! One time a scorpion like the size of a small rat came in & I beat the shit out of it & it took some beating to kill it. I then looked at it & googled it & it was called a "whip tail Scorpion & was quite harmless they said!!!
Another time & in a good hotel Q1 Saigon, I was sort of drowsing & felt something crawling on my privates (not the wife) so put hand down to give it a scratch......WHAM!! searing pain down there & lept out of bed & there was a fn centipede had bit me right on the ball sack. blood everywhere. Wife came to the rescue & beat the bejesus out of it & came into the toilet to perform medical assistance to stop the bleeding. When we went back into the bedroom the thing had up & legged it. Wife found it half way up the curtain & this time made sure it was dead & flushed it down the toilet. That adventure still turns up in my dreams 10 years after!!
Dont even ask me about snakes when living out in the sticks, that's a whole different story.

Jlgarbutt wrote:

Goes some way to explain why cats are very timid and shy away from human contact here.
Locals think im mad whenever i stop to stroke a cat...

Dont think its to do with scorpions etc,  Its cos they know there's a good chance they will be on the menu here.

goodolboy wrote:

Brick23 wrote:

Godammit I had forgotten that scorpions even existed, thank gents! 

When I lived out in the country scorpions were actually quite common & did come into the bedroom at least 3 times. Black ones did not seem to faze the wife much but small white ones she used to freak out!! One time a scorpion like the size of a small rat came in & I beat the shit out of it & it took some beating to kill it. I then looked at it & googled it & it was called a "whip tail Scorpion & was quite harmless they said!!!
Another time & in a good hotel Q1 Saigon, I was sort of drowsing & felt something crawling on my privates (not the wife) so put hand down to give it a scratch......WHAM!! searing pain down there & lept out of bed & there was a fn centipede had bit me right on the ball sack. blood everywhere. Wife came to the rescue & beat the bejesus out of it & came into the toilet to perform medical assistance to stop the bleeding. When we went back into the bedroom the thing had up & legged it. Wife found it half way up the curtain & this time made sure it was dead & flushed it down the toilet. That adventure still turns up in my dreams 10 years after!!
Dont even ask me about snakes when living out in the sticks, that's a whole different story.

Had a dog & a snake fell into the new septic tank at the first new house I had built!! the tank was empty, we got the dog out but left the snake put!

Jlgarbutt wrote:

Glad I live in the 20th floor.. less chance of spiders, snakes, scorpions.

Wife's house in Tay Ninh... Different story, told to check for snakes before getting in bed. Not sure why they saved that piece of Info until the last night before coming back to the city.

I would love a cat.. anyone needing to re-home one let me know. Black cat especially welcome

It was Tay Ninh that the scorpions in the bed room & the snake in the septic tank happened. well Trang Bang actually.

We had lots of cats & a couple of dogs in that house in the 5 years we lived there & all died horribly strange & mystery symptom deaths that my wife put down to snake bites!

goodolboy wrote:

When I lived out in the country scorpions were actually quite common & did come into the bedroom at least 3 times. Black ones did not seem to faze the wife much but small white ones she used to freak out!! One time a scorpion like the size of a small rat came in & I beat the shit out of it & it took some beating to kill it. I then looked at it & googled it & it was called a "whip tail Scorpion & was quite harmless they said!!!
Another time & in a good hotel Q1 Saigon, I was sort of drowsing & felt something crawling on my privates (not the wife) so put hand down to give it a scratch......WHAM!! searing pain down there & lept out of bed & there was a fn centipede had bit me right on the ball sack. blood everywhere. Wife came to the rescue & beat the bejesus out of it & came into the toilet to perform medical assistance to stop the bleeding. When we went back into the bedroom the thing had up & legged it. Wife found it half way up the curtain & this time made sure it was dead & flushed it down the toilet. That adventure still turns up in my dreams 10 years after!!
Dont even ask me about snakes when living out in the sticks, that's a whole different story.

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Please add a NSFW-equivalent label to mark stories sure to upset the majority urban expats who avoid dangerous jungle areas. Protect our forum safe space.
Any discussion about bed centipedes, scorpions in grocery bags, head-height spider webs, also household-pets-as-food wet markets, you know, basically any gruesome post, needs to be flagged:
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Thank you.