Jumping Spiders

an extreme close up of a Jumping Spider

Are you looking for a unique pet that will bring joy and entertainment to your home? If so, then you should consider getting a Jumping Spider! These small, eight-legged insects are becoming increasingly popular as family pets.

Jumping Spiders are members of the Salticidae family and are known for their ability to jump up to 50 times their own body length. They come in a variety of colors and sizes, ranging from a few millimeters to several centimeters in length.

Jumping Spiders are arachnids that are native to 6 of the 7 continents. They are one of the few spider species that can jump. They are small, very fast, and can jump through tight spaces.

Jumping Spiders are venomous, but their venom is too weak to have any impact on humans. Typically when they see people they will either run or jump away. This is one of the reasons why it’s difficult to take them out of their enclosure. Once they are out, because they’re so fast and small it can be difficult to find them if they start jumping.

Jumping Spiders are active during the day and prefer to live in warm, humid environments. They make great pets because they don’t require much maintenance or care. All you need is a small terrarium with some substrate, like peat moss or vermiculite, and some hiding places like rocks or bark.

Children love to watch them jump in their enclosure. Finding them can be a fun challenge too! Jumping Spiders love having a hiding spot where they can rest safely, it’s always best to start looking for them in their hiding spot.

Jumping Spiders are very easy to care for, and only need a basic cleaning. They can be kept in a terrarium, or even in a regular home aquarium. They eat many different bugs that are smaller than they are, and don’t need to be fed everyday.

Jumping Spiders aren’t too expensive, unless you consider their short lifespans. Typically a tiny Jumping Spider for around $10, and larger ones will cost between $20 and $30 from most sites online.

Jumping Spiders are also quite easy to feed. They eat small insects like fruit flies, crickets, and moths. You can buy these insects from pet stores or online. It’s important to make sure you provide your spider with a variety of food sources so they get all the nutrients they need.

If you’re looking for a unique pet that is low maintenance and entertaining, then a Jumping Spider might be the perfect choice for you! They are fascinating creatures that will bring joy and excitement to your home. Plus, they make great companions for first time pet owners. So why not give one a try?

Jumping Spiders Information

  • Average Length: Less than 1 inch
  • Average Weight: 13.5 mg
  • Skin Appearance: Fuzzy, covered with short straight hair
  • Skin Colors: Black, yellow, green, tan with markings 
  • Grooming Needs: Low
  • Shedding: Molts 5 to 6 times
  • Sensitive to Touch: No
  • Biting Tendency: No
  • Tolerance to Heat and Cold: No 
  • Good Pet: Yes
  • Safe with Children: Yes
  • Good with Other Pets: No
  • Suitable to live in an Apartment: Yes
  • Good for Less Experienced Pet Owners: Yes
  • Weight Gain: Normal
  • Health Concerns: Deformations
  • Average Life Span: 2 years

Physical Appearance of Jumping Spiders

a close up of a Jumping Spider on a flower

Jumping Spiders are small spiders that are less than 1 inch long. There are over 6,000 species of these tiny spiders. Because there are so many, they are the largest family of spiders. They have a fuzzy body covered in dense hair.

Jumping Spiders are usually black but they can be brown, gray, tan or white. Jumping Spiders may have gray, white, yellow, red, blue or green markings on their body.

The males have stronger front legs than females, but this isn’t always easy to see.

These spiders have 4 pairs of eyes (8 eyes total). While all spiders have 4 pairs of eyes, the arrangement of their eyes is unique in Jumping Spiders. They have 4 eyes on the face with two large eyes in the middle. The other 4 eyes are on the top of their head – 2 large eyes and 2 smaller ones. The unique arrangement of their eyes lets them see different things in all directions.

Temperament of Jumping Spiders

Depending on the species Jumping Spiders will have different temperaments. While some are intelligent and friendly spiders, most are shy. Generally they are not very social and will run away or jump when their owners try to interact with them. For the most part they don’t like being handled and will avoid it if they can.

a close up of a Jumping Spider on a plant

Jumping Spiders have excellent reflexes and jumping abilities.

Jumping Spiders are safe for humans because they don’t bite their owners unless threatened. If they bite it won’t hurt because their bite does have venom but it doesn’t hurt humans. In most cases their fangs are too small to break your skin. The few times people report feeling anything they’ve said “it only feels like a pinprick”.

Jumping Spiders should be housed alone because keeping more than one together can cause fights. In extreme cases they will fight to the death. Females and males kept together will often end with the females eating the males.

If you want them to breed them, keep males and females together for just long enough to mate. Separate them after they have mated to prevent them from killing each other.

Their Compatibility with Children

As mentioned before Jumping Spiders don’t like being handled. Children can watch your Jumping Spiders move around or jump in their enclosure but shouldn’t be allowed to handle them. Jumping Spiders can jump away and escape or in extreme situations may bite your children.

Living Space for Jumping Spiders

a close up of a Jumping Spider looking at the person taking their picture

Jumping Spiders don’t need large enclosures. They are tiny and can be housed in small glass jars or plastic containers. The enclosure should be well-ventilated. If you are using a plastic container, make a few holes to allow for airflow into their container. The enclosure should be secured to keep your spider from escaping. A mesh lid can be used because it will secure the tank and allow ventilation.

What we recommend for Jumping Spiders is a half gallon aquarium. They’re a good size making them better than jars or a random plastic container, but also not too big or expensive. You’ll be able to put some decorations in it for your Jumping Spider without crowding them.

For baby Jumping Spiders the holes in their enclosure should be tiny. The small holes will stop the spiders from escaping and keep insects like fruit flies from entering their enclosure.

Cage Size

Jumping Spiders need space to jump and having a tank with decent height is important. A half gallon tank or plastic container that’s 1 cubic-foot should be large enough.

Substrate

an image of a Jumping Spider standing on a leaf

Jumping spiders don’t need a substrate because they will spend most of their time near the top of their home. Adding a substrate can still be helpful because the plastic floor can be slippery for spiders. Using a substrate like fine soil can even help replicate their natural living conditions. Paper towels can also be used as a substrate because they are affordable and easy to replace. Jumping Spiders don’t spin webs and will need a soft surface like a napkin to make their bed.

Decorations

As mentioned before Jumping Spiders spend most of their time near the lid of their enclosures. They don’t have specific needs for having hiding spots and shelters. A few wood surfaces and branches can still be added. These decorations will allow them to climb and move around. Avoid adding too many decorations like plants and branches. These will make it difficult to spot your spider.

Water Source

Spiders usually don’t drink water and don’t need a water bowl. Misting one of the sides of their enclosure will take care of their water needs.

Best Climate for Jumping Spiders

a Jumping Spider standing on a leaf

Place their enclosure in a warm area, ideally in a place that will receive some sunlight. Too much direct sunlight can heat the glass or plastic enclosure and cook your spider. One thing that you can do to allow them to have the sunlight they enjoy without cooking is to connect a fan to a thermostat in their enclosure.

If the temperature inside the enclosure gets above 85 you can have a small fan turn on. The fan can vent the warm air out through the mesh on the top of their enclosure. Make sure that the fan is set up away from any place your spider may be perching to keep them from getting sucked up to the mesh while the fan is running.

Temperature

Normal room temperature between 65 and 85 is good for them. They don’t need specific heating equipment like heat lamps or heat mats. If the temp gets over 90 you might want to use a small fan to help cool off their enclosure a little.

Humidity

A Jumping Spiders enclosure should be kept at a humidity level between 75% and 80%.

The Attention a Jumping Spiders Needs

Jumping Spiders don’t need human attention. The only attention they need involves giving them an ideal living space and something to eat. Jumping Spiders are fun to watch move around and jump. Some spiders may follow the hand of their owners if they move the hand along the sides of their enclosure. Handling them is not recommended because of how easy it is for them to jump away or be crushed trying to grab them.

You can take out your Jumping Spiders from their enclosure and let them walk on a desk or a flat surface. While doing this make sure to keep them in a place that will be difficult to jump away from or they may escape.

Health Issues

Molting Problems

Molting is a process where insects shed their exoskeleton in order to grow and develop. While this process is integral for insect survival, it can also cause some major problems. Insects can have molting problems due to environmental factors, diet or genetics. These issues can lead to incomplete molts, malformations, developmental delays and even death.

Incomplete molts are a common molting problem. If an insect does not shed its exoskeleton completely, the new one can become stuck. As a result, the insect will not be able to grow or develop properly. In some cases, the old exoskeleton may even suffocate the insect if it’s not removed quickly enough.

Diet can also play a role in molting problems. An inadequate or unbalanced diet can cause the insect to be unable to molt properly. Some insects are sensitive to certain foods or chemicals and these substances can interfere with the molting process.

Genetics can also cause molting issues. Some insects have genetic mutations that can cause malformations or developmental delays. These issues can lead to problems during the molting process and can even be fatal if the insect is unable to shed its exoskeleton completely or in time.

General Jumping Spiders Care

Caring for Jumping Spiders is easy because these bugs live in a small enclosure and don’t create much of a mess. They need their enclosure cleaned once a week, because their enclosure is small, it’s fast and easy to clean. Clean the walls and replace the substrate completely once a week.

Uneaten food should be removed from their enclosure after a few days.

Feeding A Jumping Spider

jumping spiders love eating crickets

Jumping Spiders can be fed a variety of insects like crickets, roaches, and moths. The insects should be smaller than the Jumping Spiders or the insects could eat your spider. Crickets are the best food for Jumping Spiders because crickets are small and available at many pet stores.

Live food can be given to them. The insects can be purchased from a pet store, online or caught around your home.

To feed Jumping Spiders drop the insects into their tank using your bare hands or tweezers. Adult Jumping Spiders can be fed every 2 to 3 days and younger spiders every day. Some spider species can survive up to one week without food.

Spiders start eating less food as they grow. Adult Spiders may sometimes ignore the food that you give them. If they ignore the food you give them they’re not hungry and you should take the food out for another day.

Related Questions:

Do Jumping Spiders have Good Vision?

When compared with other spider species, Jumping Spiders have the best vision. They have a wide range of vision and can spot objects up to 18 inches away. The unique placement of their eyes allows them to see from all directions. They can see in front, sideways, and behind their body, all at once. Their wide vision helps them catch prey and stay safe from predators.

The one thing to be aware of is that they do have poor night vision.

How Far can Jumping Spiders Jump?

While Jumping Spiders don’t have special muscles in their legs they can still jump up to 6 times their body length. When they want to jump they will contract the muscles in their legs to increase blood flow to the legs. This extends their legs and allows them to jump up to 6 times their length. Humans can only jump up to 1.5 times their length! They can jump a little over 6 inches high, not bad for something smaller than an inch.

Do Jumping Spiders Molt?

Young Jumping Spiders will molt 6 to 7 times until they become adults. Molting helps them grow. When young spiders are going to molt they will make a small nest in their sleeping area. Their abdomen will become fat and they will stop eating. After molting they will completely shed their old skin.

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Contributing Author & Social Media Expert

Maryna is an animal expert that has had dozens of animals in her life over the years. She has never found an animal that she didn't love immediately. It seems like every year she finds kittens that have been abandoned by their mom and she nurses them to health and finds homes for them. She contributes her vast knowledge about animals and family pets to our website and we're forever grateful to have her working with us. She's also an amazing graphics designer and has designed all of the social media images that we use across all platforms.