Jumping Spider Care Guide

Discover the captivating world of pet jumping spiders, where enjoyment, education, and personal satisfaction coexist. These spiders are remarkably easy to care for, but understanding the fundamentals will ensure your pet's well-being and longevity. This guide serves as a comprehensive resource for beginners, covering essential aspects such as care, behavior, and habitat requirements. Feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns along your journey.

Jumping spiders often display outgoing and curious personalities, and some even seek human interaction. Handling your spider can be safe if specific guidelines are followed. Ensure your hands are clean and free of chemicals. Handle your spider on the floor or over a table to prevent falls and injuries. Additionally, make gentle and slow movements to avoid startling the spider.

During exploration and jumping, jumping spiders create a "bungee line" of silk as a safety measure. If you lose sight of your spider after a jump, you can often locate them by feeling for this silk line near their last known position.

It's important to remember that all jumping spiders have the ability to bite as a means of catching prey. Fortunately, they are extremely hesitant to bite humans and prefer to flee when feeling threatened. The chances of being bitten are very low, especially if you move slowly and treat the spider respectfully. In the rare event of a bite, know that it is not life-threatening unless you have an allergic reaction (similar to a bee sting). Seek medical attention if issues arise from the bite.

Adaptability and Popularity

Jumping spiders possess a remarkable ability to adapt to various environmental changes, making them suitable for both experienced hobbyists and beginners alike. They thrive in small enclosures, making them ideal for those with limited space. Their vibrant colors, intricate patterns, and engaging behavior contribute to their popularity as exotic pets.

Temperaments of Jumping Spiders

Jumping spiders make delightful pets due to their high intelligence and interactive nature. Each spider possesses a unique personality, ranging from shy and skittish to calm and observant. As one of the most friendly spider species, jumping spiders rarely bite unless handled roughly. Despite handling hundreds of these spiders, I have only been bitten a few times, which I attribute to improper handling techniques. The bite sensation was akin to a pin prick, and I suspect it served as a warning rather than a venomous attack.

Behavior and Intelligence

Jumping spiders captivate hobbyists with their fascinating behavior. They're renowned hunters with exceptional eyesight and UV light perception, employing various tactics to capture prey. Known for their intelligence, they use tools and communicate through body movements. Observing and studying their behavior can be a rewarding and educational experience.

Jumping Spider Diet and Feeding

Jumping spiders require a diverse selection of live feeders such as mealworms, fruit flies, fly spikes, and roaches. The size of the prey should correlate with the spider's age and size. Slings should be fed three times a week, while adults can be fed once or twice weekly. It's advisable to offer a variety of feeders and consider raising them at home.

For young spiders, mini mealworms, green bottle flies, and spikes (maggots) are excellent options. Be sure to remove uneaten mealworms overnight as they can injure the spider. Spikes and flies, however, are safe to leave overnight. As the spider grows, you can provide larger food items such as blue bottle flies, small mealworms, Dubai roaches, and occasionally, small waxworms or butterworms as treats.

Avoid offering wild-caught prey, beetles, or crickets due to the risk of parasites and injuries. If you must provide crickets, purchase them from a reliable source and do not leave them with the spider overnight.

Feeding frequency should be adjusted based on age and gender. Young spiders should be fed every other day, while older spiders can be fed twice a week. Female spiders tend to consume more than males, so don't be concerned if your male doesn't eat as often.

Water & Misting

Jumping spiders need water to survive. The safest way to provide hydration is by using a fine-mist spray bottle to mist one side of their enclosure. Ensure you use purified or distilled water instead of tap water, as chemicals like chlorine in tap water can harm spiders. Mist your spider's enclosure once daily. If your spider's abdomen appears shrunken or wrinkled, it may be dehydrated and hungry. Before offering food, apply a small amount of honey-water to the end of a q-tip to encourage the spider to drink.

Molting

Jumping spiders typically molt around 9 times before reaching adulthood, with regals often molting an additional one or two times. When your spider is about to molt, it will construct a larger and thicker hammock than usual and spend most of its time there while refusing food. At this stage, it's best to stop feeding your spider unless you offer fruit flies or bottle flies, which won't harm it during the molting process.

Spiders require an increase in humidity to shed their exoskeletons effectively. Misting them several times a day or placing them near a humidifier can help prevent mismolts. It's crucial to avoid disturbing the spider while it's molting and until it exits its hammock on its own. After a molt, their bodies remain soft, making them susceptible to life-threatening injuries or bumps.

If it appears that your spider is stuck in its old exoskeleton or has lost an appendage during the molt, it's advisable to keep the humidity high and gently transfer it to a small container with a moist paper towel. Spiders can regrow lost legs in subsequent molts, and many adult spiders can function well with one or more missing legs.

In the absence of mating, adult female spiders possess the remarkable ability to lay eggs. If your spider produces an infertile egg sac, it is advisable to allow her to remain with her nest. During this period, which typically lasts one to two weeks, the female spider may either consume the eggs or abandon the nest entirely. To ensure her well-being, continue misting near the nest and providing food as usual.

Enclosure and Maintenance

Jumping spiders, known for their arboreal nature, thrive in enclosures that are taller than they are wide. Unlike other spiders that construct webs for catching their prey, jumping spiders craft hammocks for sleeping and molting. To preserve these delicate structures, select enclosures that open from the front or bottom, enabling access without disrupting their hammocks.

Creating a suitable environment is paramount for their well-being. Prioritize a tall terrarium with multiple access points to prevent inadvertently disturbing their hammocks. Enhance their habitat with tree-like structures for climbing, a variety of textures for exploration, and greenery to simulate their natural surroundings. Ensure proper ventilation, but make sure the holes are small enough to prevent escape.

While decorative elements like branches and leaves may add aesthetic appeal, they can make it challenging to locate your spider, as they often seek shelter in curled leaves and similar structures during rest.

For young spiders (slings), deli cups are suitable until they reach instar 5 or 6 (i5-i6). At this stage, house them in an acrylic enclosure measuring approximately 3x3x3 inches. Larger enclosures may result in a failure to thrive. As they become sub-adults and adults, enclosures ranging from 4x4x6 inches to 6x6x9 inches are ideal.

Provide cross-ventilation (holes on both sides) within the enclosure to prevent stagnant air and mold. Incorporate ample decor for climbing and hiding places, ensuring that all items are pesticide, cleaner, and dye-free to avoid introducing toxins into their environment.

To clean the enclosure, remove any leftover prey and carcasses. Use a damp paper towel (water only) or q-tips to wipe surfaces clean of excrement. For deeper cleaning, diluted vinegar or a small amount of blue Dawn dish soap may be used. However, in these cases, provide a temporary enclosure and rinse the enclosure thoroughly before returning your spider. Avoid using chemical cleaners or fragrances near the spider enclosure.

Temperature and Lighting

To ensure jumping spider well-being, maintain specific environmental conditions. Provide temperatures between 69°F and 83°F using an adjustable space heater. Maintain humidity levels between 50-60% (most species) or 75-80% (tropical species) using a deep substrate, sphagnum moss, and regular misting. Avoid direct spraying.

Optimal lighting for jumping spiders requires a 12-hour on/off cycle. Use an LED lamp with a smart plug or timer. Avoid heat-emitting lamps. For larger collections, LED strip lighting paired with shelving units is ideal.

Conclusion

The pet jumping spider hobby offers an enriching experience that combines entertainment, education, and personal growth. With proper care, your jumping spider can thrive and become a captivating companion. Remember, their well-being depends on providing a suitable environment, nutritious diet, and your commitment to their care. As you embark on this journey, we encourage you to embrace the wonder and beauty of these extraordinary creatures.