General Information
An introduction to the family Salticidae, the world's largest spider family and genuinely fun to keep.
What are jumping spiders?
Jumping spiders belong to the family Salticidae, the largest spider family in the world with over 6,000 described species found on every continent except Antarctica. They are compact, typically small spiders recognisable by their distinctive flat-faced appearance and large forward-facing eyes.
Unlike most spiders, jumping spiders do not build webs to catch prey. They are active, stalking hunters that rely on agility and sharp eyesight to locate and pounce on their food. They do produce silk, but use it primarily for building resting retreats (hammock-like sacs) and as draglines for safety while jumping.
Exceptional vision
Jumping spiders have four pairs of eyes, but it is their large anterior median eyes (the two big forward-facing eyes) that set them apart. These eyes contain moveable retinae, tube-shaped retinae that can swivel independently inside the head, giving jumping spiders the sharpest vision of any spider.
They see in colour, can judge distance with surprising precision, and will actively track moving objects, including you. When a jumping spider turns to face you and tilts its head, it is focusing its principal eyes on you to get a better look.
Why they make great pets
Jumping spiders are some of the most interactive inverts you can keep. They exhibit strong exploratory behaviour. They will investigate new objects, follow your finger, and over time appear to habituate to their keeper's presence. Their active, inquisitive nature means they are far more interactive than most spiders.
Many species, particularly Phidippus regius, are easy to handle compared to most spiders, though some species are faster and more skittish. Most of the commonly kept species will readily walk onto an open hand once they are comfortable. That alone makes them a great pick if you've never kept inverts before.
Housing: strictly solitary
Jumping spiders must be housed individually. They are solitary animals and will kill and eat each other if kept together. This applies to all species and all life stages. Even siblings raised together will eventually turn on one another. Cannibalism is not a risk that can be managed by providing more space or more food; it is a fundamental part of their biology.
Always keep one spider per enclosure with no exceptions. The only time two jumping spiders should be in the same enclosure is during a carefully supervised mating introduction, which should be brief and closely watched.
Lifespan & sexual dimorphism
Jumping spider lifespans vary by species, but as a general guide females typically live 1–3 years while males have shorter lives at around 6–12 months. Males mature faster and often die not long after reaching adulthood.
Males and females often look strikingly different from one another. In many species, males are smaller and more boldly coloured or patterned, sometimes to the point where they look like entirely different species. It means you can end up with very different-looking spiders from the same species.
Care basics at a glance
Jumping spiders are arboreal and need a tall, cross-ventilated enclosure (minimum around 20x20x30 cm, height being most important). Provide cork bark, plants, or twigs as anchor points for their silk retreats. Front-opening enclosures make access much easier.
Keep temperatures between 22–28°C and lightly mist one side of the enclosure every 2–3 days for humidity (50–70%) and drinking water. Never let the enclosure become waterlogged.
Feed appropriately sized live prey (fruit flies for spiderlings, crickets or flies for adults) every 2–3 days. Prey should be no larger than the spider's abdomen. Remove uneaten prey after 24 hours. Fasting before a moult is completely normal.
For species-specific care details, see the individual guides linked from the jumping spiders hub.