Jumping Spider Natural History & General Captive Husbandry Guide

Introduction & Natural History

Jumping spiders are fascinating and unique arachnids known for their excellent eyesight, agility, and endearing behavior. This guide will provide you with essential information to ensure the well-being and happiness of your jumping spider.

Jumping Spiders (family Salticidae) are a diverse group of spiders known for their distinctive hunting style and incredible agility. Found in various habitats across North America, jumping spiders exhibit fascinating behaviors and are renowned for their excellent vision and astonishing leaping abilities. Let's explore the natural history of these charismatic arachnids in North America. Jumping spiders are widely distributed throughout the continent, ranging from the tropics of southern Florida and the southwestern deserts to temperate forests and grasslands in more northern regions. They inhabit diverse ecosystems, including urban areas, natural forests, meadows, and even agricultural fields. Each species has specific preferences regarding its microhabitat and prey. One characteristic that sets jumping spiders apart from other spiders is their keen eyesight. They possess a pair of large, forward-facing principal eyes that provide them with exceptional vision. Their remarkable eyesight enables them to precisely gauge distances, recognize prey and predators, and even interact with their own kind during mating rituals.
 

Jumping spiders are highly active hunters that rely on speed and agility rather than building elaborate webs to capture prey. With their athletic legs, they can pounce on unsuspecting victims with remarkable precision, even leaping several times their own body length. A jumping spider's leap is powered by the sudden release of the tension stored in its legs, allowing them to swiftly move from one location to another while hunting. This remarkable ability is a marvel of evolution. Their diet consists primarily of other small invertebrates like insects, spiders, and even other arachnids. Some species are known to feed on pollen and nectar, making them important pollinators. Jumping spiders are opportunistic hunters, carefully tracking and stalking their prey before launching their lightning-fast attacks. They do not build webs for trapping prey but instead rely on their visual acuity and agility to locate and capture it. Jumping Spiders also display unique behaviors when interacting with members of their own species. Male jumping spiders often engage in elaborate courtship rituals to attract females. These displays may involve vivid body movements, patterned leg waving, and rhythmic vibrations on the substrate to communicate their intentions and readiness to mate. If successful, their courtship results in the male depositing a sperm packet onto a specialized structure called the male pedipalp. He then presents the pedipalp to the female for internal fertilization. Females of some jumping spider species construct silk retreats where they can rest and protect their eggs. The silk retreats provide a safe haven, preventing the eggs from becoming prey to predators or succumbing to harsh environmental conditions. Once the eggs hatch, the spiderlings disperse, and the process of growing into adults begins.
 

Jumping spiders also exhibit a wide range of colors, patterns, and body shapes, making them visually stunning creatures. Some species have evolved elaborate coloration and markings as a means of communication or to blend into their surroundings, making them less visible to predators or prey. While jumping spiders are generally harmless to humans, their presence can be beneficial as they help control populations of arthropods considered pests in homes and gardens. Their fascinating behaviors, vibrant appearances, and exceptional hunting skills make them popular subjects for scientific research and amateur naturalists alike.

Setting Up Their Enclosure

Your jumping spider's enclosure should mimic its natural habitat while providing a safe and comfortable living space. A small, well-ventilated enclosure with secure lids and plenty of climbing surfaces is essential. A good Substrate is important, here at TDF we use the Vivarium Naturals Arachno-Thrive Jumping Spider Substrate. This excellent substrate retains moisture extremely well. Pack down well, then hydrate. This is very important as it provides the necessary humidity levels inside the enclosure and produces water droplets on the sides of the enclosure so the Jumping Spiders can drink. It works as an automatic watering system, make sure the substrate stays hydrated. You can tell when it looks like it's drying out, just add water to maintain sufficient moisture. Always use bottled or distilled water. Useful natural décor inside the enclosure will be appreciated utilized and pooped on so we recommend using natural items that can be discarded when soiled upon. We use pieces of Vivarium Naturals Paperback Bark; we position these pieces in a diagonal fashion across the enclosure. This bark is very light weight and won’t crush anything and is also very cost effective. 

Temperature and Humidity Regulation

Maintaining the appropriate temperature and humidity levels for your Jumping Spider in the enclosure is crucial for your jumping spider's health. Room temperature between 70-78F works well,  however jumping spiders LOVE 85F as a daytime high. At this temperature they really come alive with an animated charisma second only to our own children. Their color also becomes far more vibrant as well. Jumping Spiders can handle temperature swings very well. 

Avoid temps over 90F as this can cause dehydration and death. Note: higher temperatures will speed up the Jumping Spiders digestion and as a result an increase in appetite. Proper ventilation to prevent excessive humidity is crucial. Humidity without a good cross ventilated enclosure is a death sentence to Jumping Spiders. With good cross ventilation, high humidity will never cause any problems.

If you don’t utilize the Vivarium Naturals Arachno-Thrive Jumping Spider Substrate you must mist the enclosure daily to maintain a moderate humidity and create water droplets on the side of the enclosure for your jumping spider to drink. Never spray your Jumping Spider directly, this can result in a fatality. Drenching your jumping spider could smother the book lungs located under the jumping spider’s abdomen resulting in suffocation. 

Feeding and Nutrition

Jumping spiders are carnivorous and require a diet of live prey such as crickets, mealworms, wax worms which are readily available in your local pet store, or online. Ensure that the prey you offer is about half the size of your spider's body as larger prey may intimidate the jumping spider resulting in refusal to eat. Feeding frequency depends on temperature, warmer temperatures speed up their digestion therefore increases appetite. After a meal you will notice that the abdomen is robust and very rounded. When you notice the abdomen flatting out your jumping spider is ready to have another meal. Always remove any uneaten prey to maintain a clean environment. We offer live fly larvae to our jumping spiders; they are much easier to handle, and they are very inexpensive. We use small 1 ounce plastic souffle cups when offering the fly larvae. For adults we will put 3 to 4 fly larvae in the cup at a time. They will come and take them right out of the cup, and soon learn that this is their food bowl. If the larvae pupate into a brown cocoon, they will eat those as well so leave them in there. 

If or when the brown pupa hatch into a house fly, it’s a real treat to see them take them right out of the air. Priceless!

Handling and Interaction

Jumping Spiders readily learn to be handled. In fact, they learn to like it. Start out training in an open area free of couches, refrigerators, bookshelves, anything that the jumping spider can disappear behind or inside of. Carpet can be a problem as they can dig down into the fibers faster than the blink of an eye. They literally disappear, a kind of teleportation into another universe where you’re just not invited. Heed this warning my friends, heed this warning. 

Jumping spiders quickly adapt to handling and interaction with these charismatic little goobers is indeed a rewarding experience that never gets old. 

Enrichment and Stimulation

Jumping spiders are curious and intelligent creatures that benefit from environmental enrichment. You can provide stimulation by introducing new climbing structures, artificial plants, or safe objects for them to explore. This can help prevent boredom and encourage natural behaviors. 

Live plants will make the enclosure really look great. Once you add plants you now have what is called a Vivarium (Latin, literally for "place of life"; pl.: vivaria or vivariums) is an area, usually enclosed, for keeping and raising animals & plants together for observation or research. An animal enclosure is considered a vivarium only if it provides quality of life through naturalistic components such as ample living space and natural decor that allow and encourage natural behaviors thru controlling environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, and light.

Enjoying Your Jumping Spider

In addition to caring for your jumping spider's physical needs, take the time to enjoy observing their unique behaviors and interactions. Watching them hunt, groom, and navigate their environment can be a rewarding experience.

Conclusion:

Caring for a jumping spider can be a fulfilling and educational experience. By following the guidelines outlined in this book, you can ensure that your jumping spider remains healthy, happy, and well-cared for. Remember, patience and attentiveness are key to providing the best possible life for your pet jumping spider.