The jumping spider is one of the most friendly, intelligent types of arachnids you will ever meet! They make fantastic pets and are extremely fascinating to learn about – which is why they are rapidly increasing in popularity. There are several different types of jumping spiders, but this article will focus on the phidippus genus, which are most commonly kept as pets due to their larger size.

Common name: Jumping Spider

Scientific name: Phidippus audax (family Salticidae)

Appearance: Jumping spiders are known for their big eyes and furry bodies. They may even be very colorful with bands or stripes of vibrant jewel tones on their bodies. They are quite small, and considered cute by many!

Origin: Jumping spiders can be found all over the world!

Size: The body length of jumping spiders generally range from 1 to 25 mm (0.04–0.98 in)

Life span: Unfortunately, jumping spiders do not live as long as tarantulas. Their life spans are relatively short, lasting only about a year to two years. From their infancy to adulthood, a jumping spider will only shed about 5-6 times.

Attitude: Docile, friendly, active, and curious.

Defensive behavior: Like all spiders, jumping spiders are not aggressive but they will get defensive if threatened. However, they are usually friendly and docile.

 

Bite danger: Jumping spiders will deliver a venomous bite if they feel they are in danger. The bite will feel slight, like a pin prick. The venom should not do any harm to you unless you are allergic to it.

How to catch a jumping spider: Jumping spiders can be caught relatively easily with a small container or cup. While holding the container in front of the spider, you can gently coax it into the container with the other hand. The key is not to force too much and to be gentle. For a more detailed explanation, this is a great tutorial.

Handling: It is good to avoid picking up a jumping spider directly or it could get scared. Gently coax it in your hand and do not force the spider. Like tarantulas, jumping spiders do not “need” to be held and are happier being left alone. However, these spiders are more tolerant of handling than others. Just be careful not to lose your jumping spider if you take them out of the cage!

Diet/Nutrition: Jumping spiders can be fed small food items such as tiny crickets, moths, house flies, and mosquitoes. They do not need to be fed every day – every 2-3 days is fine. Don’t feed your spider anything larger than 1.5 times its size!

Housing (see our shop for more products!):

• Tank: Jumping spiders need enough space to jump around, so small critter carriers or taller acrylic tanks are best. Your jumping spider’s tank should have good ventilation with small holes. Only one spider should be in the tank at a time – no roommates!
• Substrate: Potting soil is all a jumping spider needs, since they don’t spend much time on the ground 🙂 You can also use a crumpled napkin or paper towel.
• Decor: Some sticks should be included so your jumping spider can climb and jump around. Jumping spiders also appreciate leaves to hide under.
• Humidity: Jumping spiders do not have humidity needs.
• Lighting: Jumping spiders do not need special lighting. Although they tend to enjoy sunlight, their tank should never be put under direct sunlight or else they might burn or get too hot.
• Water: Jumping spiders don’t drink water very much (once or twice a week is fine). You can either lightly mist or wipe the side of your spider’s tank with a damp paper towel or put a few droplets on the side. Do not make big puddles – it is very important NOT to get your spider wet when you do this (they could drown).
• Temperature: The ideal temperature for a jumping spider is room temperature – a temperature that you feel comfortable in.

Now you know the basics of taking care of a Phiddipus Audax! I hope you found all that helpful. Last but not least, here’s a video that proves how awesome these little guys are:

I hope you found that helpful! If you’d like to WAY more about tarantulas and how to care about them, be sure to purchase my full tarantula guide!

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Featured image via Jasper Nance / Flickr