Jumping Spiders are known for their distinctive looks, and curious personalities. They have relatively easy care requirements, which makes them a popular choice among spider enthusiasts, both new and experienced.
Habitat: Phiddipus regius jumping spiders need a secure, well-ventilated terrarium with adequate living space. The enclosure should have cross ventilation. Jumping Spiders are arboreal and most will prefer to build their hammocks up high, thus top opening enclosures aren’t recommended, as you will disturb and possibly damage the hammock when opening it. We recommend doing research before attempting to make an enclosure, its not super hard, but there are some things that can harm or kill a spider. There’s facebook groups that offer advice, otherwise its recommended to purchase a pre-made enclosure from someone reputable.
Temperature and Humidity: Phiddipus regius jumping spiders prefer a temperature range of 70-80°F and relative humidity of 60-70%. Maintaining proper temperature and humidity levels is important for the spider's health and well-being. Lightly misting the enclosure daily is a must, so the spider can drink and molt properly. Don’t mist the spider directly, mist the sides of the enclosure. If your spider is in its hammock for more than a few days, its probably getting ready to molt, you can mist 2x a day during this time so they can molt properly. Bad molts can kill a spider. You also don’t want to disturb the spider while its preparing to molt. Mist and offer food as normal, but don’t force them to come out until they are ready. You should see them move when you mist, so you know they are doing okay.
Lighting: Phiddipus regius jumping spiders do not require special lighting, but they do need access to natural or artificial light for several hours each day to maintain their circadian rhythm.
Feeding: Phiddipus regius jumping spiders are opportunistic predators that feed on insects and other small arthropods. We start our spiders on Melanogaster fruit flies, then Hydei (bigger). Once the spiders are about i9-10, we offer small mealworms, Blue Bottle Fly larvae, or Dubia roaches, small crickets are also acceptable. You should look at your spider's abdomen to determine how much to feed, or if you should skip a meal (see feeding chart). Spiders will often eat even when they are full, if food is offered. If your spider looks too full, skip the feeding but continue to mist. Do this until the abdomen looks less swollen, then resume feeding every 2-3 days. Don’t leave mealworms or crickets unsupervised with spiders.
Handling: While younger spiders can be quite shy, jumping away from your hands immediately, they do become more curious and brave as they age. Jumping Spiders are said to be highly intelligent and some people believe they can learn to recognize their owners. You can use a soft paintbrush to gently guide your spider onto your hand. Sometimes they will jump a few times, then they usually settle down and begin exploring. Usually they will jump from one hand to another if you show it to them. Its recommended to have a clear space when handling, in case the spider jumps and misses, you can see where it landed.
With proper care and attention, Phiddipus regius jumping spiders can make fascinating and entertaining pets.
For more info, or videos of us handling the jumping spiders, feel free to visit our Facebook, or Tiktok accounts (@jurassicreptilesupply), videos updated regularly.