One of the best things about jumping spiders as pets is that you can actually hold them. Not in the way you "hold" a tarantula (carefully, nervously, waiting for it to bolt), but genuinely interact with them. A settled jumping spider will walk onto your hand, explore your fingers, and sometimes just sit there watching you with those big anterior median eyes.
That said, there's a right way and several wrong ways to go about it. Worth going over properly.
Can you actually hold jumping spiders?
Yes. Most commonly kept species, particularly Phidippus regius and P. audax, tolerate handling well once they're comfortable with you. Some individuals actively seem to enjoy the warmth of a hand. Others would rather be left alone. You'll learn your spider's temperament pretty quickly.
The word "tolerate" is doing some work there. Spiders don't bond with you the way a dog does. What they do is learn that your hand isn't a threat, that it's warm, and that nothing bad happens when they're on it. Whether that constitutes "enjoying" handling is a question for philosophy rather than arachnology.
When not to handle
There are times when picking up your spider is a genuinely bad idea:
- During or just after a moult. Their exoskeleton is soft and vulnerable for at least 48 hours after moulting. Even gentle handling can cause damage to the new cuticle. Wait until you can see that their colouring has fully returned and they're moving normally.
- If they've just arrived. Give a new spider at least a week to settle into its enclosure before attempting handling. Let it build a retreat, eat a couple of meals, and generally calm down.
- If they're showing threat postures. Raised front legs and an open-chelicerae display means "go away." Respect that.
- If you've recently used hand cream, sanitiser, or insect repellent. Chemicals on your skin can irritate or harm them. Wash your hands with plain water and let them dry before handling.
The technique
Place your open hand, palm up, in front of the spider. Don't grab, don't chase, don't corner them. Just present your hand as a surface they can choose to walk onto. Most of the time they will. Jumping spiders are curious animals. A warm, slightly textured surface (your skin) is interesting to them.
If they don't walk on immediately, you can gently nudge them from behind with your other hand or a soft paintbrush. "Nudge" means light contact on the back legs, not poking. They'll usually walk forward onto whatever surface is in front of them.
Once they're on your hand, stay calm and move slowly. Quick movements trigger their prey-tracking instincts and they'll either freeze or bolt. Let them walk from hand to hand. If they reach the end of your fingers, place your other hand in front of them as a bridge.
The height problem
This is the single biggest safety concern with handling jumping spiders, and it's the one people underestimate most. They jump. It's in the name. A spooked spider on your hand can launch itself a surprising distance, and if you're standing up, the fall to a hard floor can injure or kill them.
Always handle sitting down, over a table or bed. A carpeted floor is less dangerous than tile or wood, but the safest approach is to keep the drop distance as short as possible. Over a table with a soft cloth on it is ideal.
Don't handle near open windows or doors. A jumping spider that gets outside in a UK winter won't survive.
How long should handling sessions last?
Short. Five to ten minutes is plenty for most spiders. Some keepers go longer, and some spiders seem fine with it, but there's no benefit to marathon sessions. The spider is away from its retreat, its water source, and its controlled environment. Keep it brief.
Watch for signs they've had enough: repeatedly trying to jump off your hand, increasing speed of movement, or heading for your sleeve (they're trying to find somewhere dark and enclosed). When they want to go back, let them.
Handling slings and juveniles
Slings (baby spiders) are tiny, fast, and fragile. Handling them is possible but much riskier. They're harder to keep track of, easier to accidentally squash, and more likely to escape. Most keepers wait until their spiders are at least sub-adult before attempting regular handling.
If you do handle a sling, do it inside the enclosure or over a small, enclosed space. A bathtub with the drain covered works. Losing a 3mm spider in your living room is an experience you only want to have once.
What if they bite?
Jumping spiders can bite. They rarely do. In years of keeping and handling, I've been bitten twice, both times because I accidentally pinched a spider while fumbling with an enclosure lid. It feels like a small pinprick. No swelling, no lasting effects.
If you do get bitten, don't panic and don't fling the spider. Gently place them back in their enclosure and wash the bite site with soap and water. Jumping spider venom is not medically significant to humans. The worst you'll get from a Phidippus bite is a tiny red mark that fades within a day.