Jumping Spiders: Tiny, Curious, and Full of Personality

Jumping spiders are quickly becoming one of the most loved pet invertebrates — and it’s easy to see why. With their expressive eyes, curious behaviour, and surprisingly interactive nature, these tiny hunters are endlessly fascinating to observe and care for.

Whether you’re new to jumping spiders or considering adding one to your collection, here’s a general guide to understanding their behaviour, lifespan, and care needs.

🌿 General Facts About Jumping Spiders

Jumping spiders have relatively short lifespans compared to many other pets. Most species live up to around three years, though this varies significantly depending on species and sex.

Male jumping spiders, especially peacock spiders, tend to live much shorter lives — sometimes only three to four months once mature. Females usually live longer than males.

These spiders are also highly sensitive to environmental conditions. Sudden changes in temperature, humidity, or airflow can stress them, so maintaining a stable enclosure is important.

In terms of diet, jumping spiders naturally hunt flying insects such as fruit flies, house flies, and hover flies. They will also accept appropriately sized crickets.

One of the things that makes jumping spiders unique is their temperament. They are among the few spider species that can be gently handled, provided interaction is limited to short periods (generally under 20 minutes per day) to avoid stress.

When purchasing a jumping spider, it’s important to consider its age. Adult spiders — particularly males — may only live for a short time after purchase. For this reason, we cannot guarantee jumping spiders for longer than 7 days after shipping.

🏡 Caring for Your Jumper

Jumping spiders are relatively easy to care for, but they do benefit from daily observation to ensure their needs are being met.

Although small, jumpers enjoy having enough vertical space to climb and jump, along with a variety of objects to explore. Items such as small logs, pieces of bark, faux plants, and driftwood give them enrichment and encourage natural behaviours.

They are active, curious spiders that love to explore — and many keepers find interacting with their jumper outside the enclosure incredibly rewarding. Over time, your spider may begin to recognise you and show signs of trust.

Basic care usually includes:

• Offering appropriately sized food
• Light misting
• Providing safe hiding places

🕸 Enclosure Setup

Contrary to popular belief, jumping spiders do not need large enclosures. A tall container from around 12cm upwards is ideal, giving them enough vertical space to climb and jump comfortably.

If an enclosure is too large, your spider may struggle to locate its food, which can lead to unnecessary stress.

Key enclosure requirements:

• Good ventilation, with small holes (around 1.5mm) to allow airflow while preventing escape
• Secure construction with no gaps or loose fittings
• Suitable substrate, such as coco peat
  • Some species require sand for burrowing
  • Other species may rarely touch the ground at all

Jumping spiders often build their silk “hammocks” near the top of the enclosure. However, when provided with bark, leaves, or sheltered crevices, many will choose these more natural, protected locations instead.

⚠️ If your spider builds its hammock near the lid, always open the enclosure slowly and with care. Never force a spider out of its hammock, as this can cause serious injury.

Humidity should be monitored closely. Mould growth is a sign that the enclosure may be too moist or lacking adequate ventilation. If this becomes an ongoing issue, reducing misting and introducing springtails can help keep the environment balanced.

If you’ve purchased your jumping spider from us, springtails are already included in the enclosure to assist with cleanliness, mould prevention, and to help keep your new little friend happy and healthy 💚

🦗 Feeding Your Jumping Spider

Jumping spiders are capable hunters and can take down prey up to 1.5 times their own size, but it’s safest to offer food no larger than the spider’s body length.

Most jumpers do well on:

• Extra-small crickets
• Fruit flies
• Other suitable flying insects

As a general guide, offering around three small crickets every three days is sufficient. Some species have specialised diets, so always research your spider’s specific needs.

It’s completely normal for a jumper to stop eating at times. This often happens when they are:

• Moulting
• Laying eggs
• Resting in their hammock
• Near the end of their lifespan

💧 Water & Humidity

If you provide a shallow water dish, misting the enclosure once a week is usually enough.

If no water bowl is present, the enclosure should be lightly misted daily.

🚨 When to Be Concerned

Signs that your jumping spider may not be well include:

• Lethargy or lack of movement
• Refusal to eat over extended periods
• Spending most of its time at the bottom of the enclosure
• Difficulty jumping or climbing

Sadly, jumping spiders have short lifespans and may pass away even when well cared for. If this happens, please don’t blame yourself — sometimes there is no obvious cause.

💚 Final Thoughts

Jumping spiders may be tiny, but they are intelligent, engaging, and full of character. With the right setup and regular care, they can be incredibly rewarding companions.

If you’re ever unsure about your spider’s care or behaviour, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us — we’re always happy to help.