Horrid spiders in Singapore

[janie77]

Hi,

We're thinking of relocating to Singapore for 18 months because of my husband's work.

I have terrible fear of spiders and do not like other creepy crawly type things. Will we see such things in our house/garden if we live in the town or are the really big, hairy ones just in the countryside??

Also we would be bringing our pet spaniel, so I wondered if there were other issues with poisonous things, apart from me just being terrified of the sight of them.

And my husband hates snakes - are they common?

Maybe this is not a place we should move??!!

Can anyone help me please?

Thank you!!

[whatalark]

Wellll.... I was living in the Holland area few years back and one evening as I was about to step into the kitchen... what did I see but a 2-foot-long snake resting on the floor. Yelled for the hubby who's scared stiff of snakes and then we called the cops.

The police here seem to be used to disposing of snakes and such. Biggest spider I ever saw here was on the windshield of our car, all spindly (but thick-ish) legged and about the size of a man's hand. What a nightmare. This was in the evening as we were parked in Jurong somewhere for the weekly grocery shopping.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Couple of years ago they found an 8' python on the 10th floor of a Housing Board Block. Black spitting cobras are rather common as are the occasional python. Lots of tree snakes (non-venemous types about as big around as your little finger and maybe .5 m long). Only thing is, with snakes you will rarely ever see one as they are usually long gone before you see them (their hearing & heat/motions sensors much better than your sight).

Spiders are another thing, have some rather nice ones here:

Singapore Spiders

Snakes can be found here:

Snakes

[jpatokal]

Gee, you guys are a helpful lot

Given that Singapore's a jungle island in the tropics, there are actually amazingly few bugs of any description, because all public areas are regularly sprayed with pesticides. (I still find it utterly incredible that I've never seen such much as a single fly in the hawker centers, esp. when you consider how many the average Malaysian hawker has.)

That said, if you're going to live in a house with a garden, you will get some critters, esp. if it faces the nature reserves or any other not-regularly-sprayed place. The easy solution is to move to an apartment.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Just think how helpful they would consider us if they came here and fell in love with the old "British" Colonial Black & Whites? I lived in them for 15 years in Seletar Airbase (The old British Airbase). Then, upon seeing all the critters that abound on this island (you have got to get out more!) I'm sure they would like us even more for lying to them.

Even some of the condo in the outlying areas around Chinese Gardens, Japanese Gardens, etc. have their share of wildlife (and I don't mean SPG's). As an avid cyclist (mountain bike) I've seen my fair share of critters here.

[Yang Pertama dan Utama]

Spiders and other creepy crawlies exist everywhere. How about atteding a workshop specifically for people who hate spiders?

Maybe look in the papers for such groups? Lots of people have overcome their fear towards spiders with great success.

Most spiders are small, and they get killed when you slap them against your legs, hands etc. I used to catch and play with these things when I was growing up as a teenager in New Zealand.

Hi,

We're thinking of relocating to Singapore for 18 months because of my husband's work.

I have terrible fear of spiders and do not like other creepy crawly type things. Will we see such things in our house/garden if we live in the town or are the really big, hairy ones just in the countryside??

Also we would be bringing our pet spaniel, so I wondered if there were other issues with poisonous things, apart from me just being terrified of the sight of them.

And my husband hates snakes - are they common?

Maybe this is not a place we should move??!!

Can anyone help me please?

Thank you!!

[kk_lass]

Hi janie77,
Gee, I also do not like spiders, snakes or other creepy crawly type things.. like cockroaches, or stuffs that sucks my blood – mosquitoes.

I think there is low possibility that you will encounter those if you are staying at Flat or condominium or apartment, like jpatokal mentioned. Especially at high-rising place. As long we keep our place clean, I do not think we are creating a conducive home for them to breed.

In my years of staying in Singapore, I will say Singapore is quite a clean and modern place – that is why it is called Clean and ‘Fine’ country.

And the chance of encounter a snake – maybe when I visited zoo, reservoirs.. (or maybe I am not really an outdoor person.. ).

Spiders – do not really see it at my home, office or school.. Maybe there are some, but I was lucky I didn’t encounter any really big or hairy ones..

Cockroaches are what I commonly see as we have rubbish chute in our place, or you pass through hawker centers (where food/meals are sold) especially at night (think they are active at night?), some can fly! Yeeeck!! Mosquitoes can be quite a health threatening at certain seasons of the year. However, fret not. There are many methods to keep them away.

18mths is worth coming to give it a try.
You never know till you r really in Singapore.
You can indicate your preferences and dislikes when you are searching for your accommodation. Then if you and your husband are not pleased with your first option, you can have many other available options to choose from.

Will welcome to come to Singapore.
Cheers,

[Rich D]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the geckos - far more prevalent than spiders or snakes (of which I have seen only 4 in 10 years even out on my mountain bike - not sure how many saw me first though!)

I don't think you need worry about spiders or snakes Janie77 but be prepared for small lizards called geckos which poop everywhere and the omnipresent cockroaches, wherever you choose to stay.

Living on the 10th floor or above will drastically reduce the chance of finding mossies in your living space but leave anything sugary out for more than a couple of minutes and you'll have ant trails no matter where you are.

[chixchix]

being a local myself, I dont believe that there is such creepies everywhere..yeah once in a while it was in the papers..but SG is so clean,, things like that are not common.. but mosquitos are ..

[sundaymorningstaple]

You can delude youself if you want. You must have grown up in an HDB Estate. There is a lot of wildlife if you just open you eyes to something besides displays in Orchard Road. Matter of fact, even on Orchard Road I've seen some awfully large rats in the bushes/greenery that line the sidewalk in front of the shopping centre next to OT and the Thai Embassy. Take a leisurely stroll around some of the ponds on the local golf courses and check out the very large Monitor Lizards. Oh yeah, can also see a fair number of snakes on most of the courses here in Singapore if you are on the 1st flight in the mornings just after sunup.

[chixchix]

oh God ,thats shocking hahaa

[EADG]

I've read that there are actually scorpions here too - anyone ever seen one here?

I love this excerpt from your link SMS:

Singapore Tarantula

".....Nocturnal. Hides in silk-lined spaces....known as..."Bird-Eating Spiders"

[sundaymorningstaple]

I've read that there are actually scorpions here too - anyone ever seen one here?

I love this excerpt from your link SMS:

Singapore Tarantula

".....Nocturnal. Hides in silk-lined spaces....known as..."Bird-Eating Spiders"

I wasn't going to say that even though there are scorpions here and I have seen them where I lived in Seletar Camp all those years (rarely seen) but can be found if you know where to look. I've never seen one without actually looking to find them (trekking around the island deliberately to find some of the more elusive wildlife here (remember, I'm an ole farmboy).