A well-designed enclosure isn’t just a box for a spider to live in — it’s an environment that supports natural behaviour. Jumping spiders are active, curious, and observant. Their enclosure should give them things to do.
🌳 Vertical Structure
The single most important design principle: build vertically, not horizontally. Jumping spiders are arboreal hunters. They hunt upward and downward from elevated positions, rest at the highest point they can access, and build their sleeping hammocks in the top third of the enclosure.
Anchor a piece of cork bark, driftwood, or live/artificial plant at a height that allows your spider to reach the top mesh. This gives them a natural climbing route and a launching point for hunting.
🪵 Safe Materials
- Cork bark — natural, safe, holds humidity well on the underside while staying dry on top
- Fake plants — avoid sharp edges or very fine fibres; wash before use
- Smooth stones or slate — for ground-level interest and humidity gradient
- Sphagnum moss — great substrate layer for retaining humidity at the bottom
Never use driftwood, materials, or substrate that have been treated with essential oils, wood stains, varnish, or pesticides. These can be absorbed through a spider’s leg pads and are often fatal.
💤 The Hammock Zone
Your spider will build its sleeping hammock at the highest accessible point. Design the top third of the enclosure with this in mind: leave clear space near the top mesh where the silk can be anchored at multiple points. Some keepers attach small pieces of cork bark or artificial leaves to the top mesh to give the spider good anchor points.
A common mistake is filling every inch of the enclosure with plants and decor. Leave open sightlines — jumping spiders need clear space to spot and stalk prey. A cluttered enclosure is a frustrated spider.