Jumping spiders are among the most rewarding invertebrates you can keep. With their oversized personalities, curious eyes, and surprisingly gentle nature, they’ve captured the hearts of exotic pet enthusiasts worldwide. This guide gives you everything you need to get started right.
🕷️ Why Choose a Jumping Spider?
Unlike many exotic invertebrates, jumping spiders are diurnal and highly interactive. They will track your movements with their remarkable forward-facing eyes, curiously tilt their heads, and even appear to recognize their keepers over time. They are compact, low-odor, and require minimal space — making them ideal for apartment dwellers or first-time exotic pet owners.
Jumping spiders have the sharpest vision of any spider their size. Their primary eyes function almost like telephoto lenses, capable of resolving detail at up to 8× their body length.
🏠 Housing Essentials
Jumping spiders are arboreal — they prefer to be up high. Taller enclosures are favored over wide footprint terrariums, as these spiders love to build their silk sleeping hammocks near the top.
Minimum Enclosure Size
For a single adult, aim for at least 8”×8”×12” (W×D×H). Many keepers use ventilated acrylic enclosures or converted deli cups for spiderlings, graduating to larger setups as they grow.
Cross-ventilation is key. A mesh top combined with side vents prevents stale air and maintains healthy humidity gradients — humid at the bottom, drier at the top where your spider sleeps.
🦗 Feeding Your Spider
Jumping spiders are active hunters that take live prey. Feeding enriches them mentally as well as physically — watching them stalk and pounce is one of the great joys of keeping these animals.
Recommended Feeders
- Fruit flies (Drosophila) — ideal for spiderlings and juveniles
- Bottle flies — excellent for sub-adult and adult spiders
- Crickets (small, appropriately sized)
- Waxworms — as an occasional treat (high fat, not a staple)
- Blue bottle pupae — convenient and easy to store
Never feed wild-caught insects. They may carry pesticides, parasites, or pathogens that can be lethal to your spider. Always source feeders from reputable breeders or pet stores.
🩺 Understanding Molting
Molting — the process of shedding the old exoskeleton to grow — is one of the most stressful and critical events in your spider’s life. During this period, they are completely vulnerable.
Signs your spider is preparing to molt include: decreased appetite, lethargy, sealing themselves inside their hammock, and a darkening abdomen. This pre-molt period can last days to weeks. Do not disturb them or offer food during this time.
After molting, wait at least 5–7 days before offering food again. The new exoskeleton needs time to harden fully. Feeding too soon risks injury from prey items.