🕷️ Choosing Your First Jumper

A Beginner’s Guide to Finding the Right Jumping Spider (Without Getting Bit or Bored)

So, you’ve seen the videos. Maybe it was a fuzzy spider waving at the camera with its adorable front legs, or one doing a perfect mid-air leap from twig to twig. Whatever it was, you’re spider-curious — and honestly, who could blame you?

Jumping spiders (Salticidae) are the kittens of the spider world. Curious. Clean. Full of personality. And surprisingly… kind of cute?

But if you're just getting started, the world of jumpers can be a bit overwhelming. There are hundreds of species, confusing enclosure setups, and a thousand conflicting opinions online.

This guide is here to help you cut through the noise — so you can confidently choose your very first eight-legged friend

🧡 Step 1: Meet the Jumpers

Let’s start with the basics.

Jumping spiders (known by science nerds as Salticids) are a family of spiders known for:

• Their big front eyes
• Their incredible leaping ability
• Their curious, interactive personalities

They don’t spin big webs. They don’t lurk in corners. Instead, they actively explore, stalk, and hunt prey with surprisingly intelligent behavior.

Popular beginner species:

• ***Phidippus regius* (Regal jumping spider)** The easiest to come across. Large, fluffy, and comes in orange, white, and bold black morphs.
• ***Phidippus audax* (Bold jumping spider)** Smaller and darker with bright chevron markings.

For most beginners, Phidippus regius is the best bet — they're an easier species to care for and are widely available from reputable breeders.

📦 Step 2: Where to Get One

Now that you know what you’re looking for, the next step is finding a spider who’s healthy, ethically bred, and ready for a new home.

🛍️ 3 ways to find your first jumper:

1. Online Breeders
2. Search terms: “Jumping spider UK” or “Phidippus regius for sale”
3. Check reviews! Look for sellers who breed in clean conditions and provide full care details.
4. They often ship in custom-safe containers.
5. Exotic Pet Expos
6. Fun to browse, but be cautious. Ask sellers about species, age, feeding habits, and whether they breed their own stock.
7. Spider Communities
8. Our very own Eight Hairy Legs Community!
9. Reddit: r/jumpingspiders
10. Discord: “Jumping Spider Enthusiasts”
11. Facebook groups often have trusted hobbyist breeders
12. Make sure to do proper research into if the seller is an ethical breeder

⚠️ Avoid: Wild-caught spiders or sketchy sellers with no info or cramped conditions.

Wild caught spiders, while convenient, have a risk of carrying parasites and may die due to stress from the change of environment. Additionally, spiders are vital to the ecosystem and pesticides have caused a decline in their population and removing anymore from the wild risks damaging the ecosystem.

🎯 Step 3: Know What You’re Getting

What size?

• Slings (spiderlings): Very tiny, fragile, and are not ideal for beginners.
• Juveniles: Easier to care for, still plenty of growing to do.
• Sub-adults/adults: Great for new keepers — less molting stress.

🔍 Step 4: Check for Health

When you receive your spider (or pick it out in person), here’s a quick health checklist:

• ✅ Clear, alert eyes
• ✅ Full set of legs (missing limbs can regrow but take time)
• ✅ Round, healthy abdomen (not shriveled)
• ✅ Active, curious behavior
• ✅ No mites or visible parasites

If your spider arrives in a “death curl” (legs tucked under body) or isn’t responding after a few hours — contact the seller immediately.

🧠 Step 5: Temperament & Personality

Yes — spiders have personalities.

Some jumpers are bold and interactive. Others are shy and prefer observing you from their silk hammock.

You can’t always predict temperament in advance, but some indicators:

• Regius tend to be confident explorers and confident.
• Audax are often energetic but more skittish.

Whatever their vibe, respect their space and let them build trust. They’ll often get more interactive over time.

🧼 Step 6: What You’ll Need (Starter Checklist)

Before your jumper arrives, make sure you have:

Want help setting it up? Check out our guide: [Setting Up Your Jumping Spider’s Enclosure →]

🧃 Step 7: What NOT to Do

Just a few quick beginner traps to avoid:

• 🚫 Don’t use tall, narrow jars with no climbing space
• 🚫 Don’t feed wild-caught bugs (parasites and pesticides!)
• 🚫 Don’t mist too often (mold kills fast)
• 🚫 Don’t poke them during a molt
• 🚫 Don’t expect to immedietly handle them — they’re not toys and are rather skittish

You’re officially a spider enthusiast now!