This is probably the most common question we get about jumping spiders, and the answer is one of those "it depends" situations that nobody likes but everybody needs to hear. The short version: most pet jumping spiders live somewhere between 6 months and 2 years. The longer version involves sex, species, temperature, and a fair bit of individual variation.
The sex gap
The single biggest factor in jumping spider lifespan is whether your spider is male or female. Females live significantly longer than males. For Phidippus regius, the most commonly kept species, females typically live 1-2 years from hatching. Males usually live around 6-12 months after reaching maturity, which itself happens faster than in females.
This isn't a captivity thing. It's the same in the wild. Male jumping spiders mature faster, spend their adult phase searching for mates, and die sooner. It's a common pattern across the Salticidae and across spiders generally. Female tarantulas can outlive males by decades. The scale is different with jumpers, but the principle is the same.
If you're buying a jumping spider and want it around for as long as possible, a female is the practical choice. Males are lovely animals with gorgeous colouration (the iridescent green chelicerae on a male P. regius are something else), but go in knowing the timeline is shorter.
Species differences
Different jumping spider species have different lifespans, though the variation within the commonly kept pet species isn't massive:
- Phidippus regius: Females 1-2 years, males 6-12 months post-maturity
- Phidippus audax: Similar to regius. Females roughly 1-2 years.
- Hyllus diardi: Slightly longer-lived on average. Females can push 2 years fairly reliably.
- Hasarius adansoni: Shorter-lived. Around 8-12 months total is typical.
These are rough figures. Individual spiders vary. Some keepers report female regius living past two years, while others lose theirs at 14 months for no obvious reason.
What affects lifespan in captivity?
Temperature is a factor that people overlook. Warmer temperatures speed up a spider's metabolism, which means faster growth but also a faster life cycle overall. A spider kept at the high end of its temperature range (say 27-28C constantly) will mature faster and likely have a shorter adult life than one kept at a more moderate 23-24C.
This doesn't mean you should keep them cold to extend their life. Cold temperatures below about 20C cause lethargy, feeding problems, and can weaken the immune system. There's a comfortable middle ground. Aim for 22-26C for most Phidippus species and don't worry about micromanaging it beyond that.
Diet matters too, though the relationship isn't straightforward. A well-fed spider will grow faster and moult on schedule. An underfed spider grows slowly and may have a shortened adult lifespan because it spent too long in poor condition getting there. Overfeeding doesn't seem to extend life, and an obese spider with a massively distended abdomen is at higher risk during moults.
Humidity, ventilation, and general enclosure cleanliness play a role as well. A spider living in a mouldy, poorly ventilated enclosure under chronic low-level stress probably won't reach its full lifespan potential, even if it doesn't die of anything obviously identifiable.
Signs of old age
As jumping spiders age, particularly after their final moult into adulthood, they gradually slow down. You might notice:
- Reduced appetite. An older spider that used to leap at every fly might only eat once a week, or less.
- Less activity. They spend more time in their retreat and less time exploring.
- Duller colouration. The bright patterns fade a bit as the exoskeleton wears.
- Clumsier movement. Jumping spiders are normally precise and confident. An older spider might misjudge jumps or seem less coordinated.
- Difficulty gripping smooth surfaces. The scopulae (tiny hair pads) on their feet wear down over time.
These changes happen gradually. There's no sudden "old age" switch. If your spider is an adult female and she's been with you for 18 months, a gradual decline in activity is expected rather than alarming.
When they die
This is the part nobody writes about but everybody eventually faces. When a jumping spider dies of old age, they typically become very still over a period of days. They stop eating entirely, move less and less, and eventually are found curled up in or near their retreat with their legs tucked underneath them. The "death curl" where the legs pull inward is a reliable sign.
It's surprisingly affecting, losing a spider you've had for a year or more. They're small animals with small lifespans, but the ones that used to sit on your hand and watch your face have a way of getting under your skin. That's normal. It's fine to feel that.
If your spider dies unexpectedly at a young age, consider whether there were husbandry issues (temperature, humidity, mould, parasites) that might explain it. Sometimes animals just die with no clear cause, but reviewing your setup can prevent the same thing happening with a future spider.