Jumping spiders are obligate carnivores that eat live invertebrate prey. In captivity, the keeper is responsible for providing food that’s safe, nutritious, and appropriately sized. Here’s what works.
🦗 Staple Feeders
These are the feeders that form the core of a jumping spider’s captive diet. They’re nutritious, widely available, and manageable to keep.
🍬 Treats and Supplementals
These feeders are fine occasionally but shouldn’t form the bulk of the diet — either too high in fat, too low in nutritional completeness, or too risky to use regularly.
- Waxworms — high fat, low nutrition. Limit to once every 2–3 weeks
- Mealworms (larger) — tough chitin shell; occasionally fine for adults
- Bluebottle pupae — convenient, long shelf life in fridge, good nutrition
- Springtails — useful for very young spiderlings when fruit flies are too large
Wild insects may carry pesticides, parasites, and pathogens. Even if collected from a “safe” area, the risk isn’t worth it. Captive-bred feeders only.
💧 Hydration Through Feeders
Well-hydrated feeder insects provide a meaningful portion of your spider’s water intake, particularly for spiderlings. Gut-load your feeders with moisture-rich food (orange slices, cucumber, apple) in the 24 hours before offering them. This is especially important in drier enclosure setups.