Something is wrong and you’re not sure what. This page is a diagnostic companion — a calm, systematic walk through the most common issues keepers encounter and how to resolve them.
🦗 My Spider Won’t Eat
The single most common concern. Start here before anything else: look at the abdomen. If it’s round and full — your spider isn’t hungry. Give it a few more days. If the abdomen is shrunken:
- Check temperature — below 68°F suppresses appetite significantly
- Check hydration — mist one wall and wait 24 hours before trying food again
- Try a smaller prey item — oversized prey is often refused
- Move the prey item gently — still prey is often ignored
💤 My Spider Is Sealed in Its Hammock
Almost certainly pre-molt. Remove any live prey immediately and leave the enclosure completely undisturbed. The spider will emerge when it’s ready. Do not poke, tap, or open the hammock under any circumstances. The sealed hammock phase can last anywhere from 3 days to 3 weeks.
⚠️ My Spider Is on the Floor
Jumping spiders are arboreal and prefer to be elevated. A spider consistently found on the enclosure floor is worth investigating: check temperature (may be too warm at height and moving down to cool), check if the enclosure has adequate climbing structure, and ensure the spider isn’t showing other signs of illness.
A spider found on its back is almost always molting — not dying. Do not interfere. If it’s been on its back for more than 6 hours with no movement and no molt progress, lightly mist the enclosure walls (not the spider) and wait another hour before seeking advice.
🩸 Missing or Damaged Legs
Jumping spiders can survive and function with missing limbs. In most cases, a missing leg is less impactful than it looks. Limbs can regenerate at the next molt if the limb bud is intact. Keep the spider well-fed and well-hydrated to support a healthy next molt.
🔍 I See Small Moving Dots
Small moving particles around the enclosure are almost always grain mites or springtails — not a danger to your spider. Grain mites arrive with feeder cultures and reproduce in substrate. Address by reducing moisture in the lower half of the enclosure and replacing substrate if the population is large.