Phidippus audax

About this species

Phidippus audax is a common North American jumping spider widely captive-bred in the UK hobby. Adults are primarily black with a distinctive white or orange spot on the abdomen and iridescent green chelicerae. They are bold, curious, and readily accept food from tongs, so they work well for beginners.

Important: P. audax must be housed individually. They are a solitary species and will cannibalise conspecifics if kept together.

Enclosure

P. audax requires an arboreal setup where height is more important than floor space. A 15×15×20 cm enclosure is ideal for an adult. Provide cross-ventilation, anchor points for web building (such as twigs and cork bark), and small fake plants for cover. Mist one side of the enclosure lightly every 2–3 days to provide drinking droplets. Avoid soaking the substrate.

Feeding

Jumping spiders are active hunters and P. audax has a good feeding response. A suitable feeding schedule is:

• Juveniles: fruit flies (Drosophila hydei), fed every 2–3 days
• Adults: small crickets and curly wing flies, fed 2–3 times per week

Always remove uneaten prey after a few hours. Prey items should be no larger than the spider's abdomen.

Lifespan

Females typically live 1–2 years, while males have a shorter lifespan of 6–12 months. Males mature faster and have a significantly shorter post-maturity lifespan. Providing optimal temperatures and a consistent feeding schedule will help them live as long as possible.