How to Culture & Maintain Healthy Food for Your Jumping Spider
Here’s something no one tells you when you get your first spider: You’re not just adopting a spider — you’re adopting their food too.
From fruit flies to crickets, roaches to worms, feeder insects are a key part of keeping your jumper healthy. But if you want your spider to thrive, you need your feeders to thrive too.
This guide covers how to keep, breed, and manage feeder insects so you’re never caught without food — or worse, with smelly escapees buzzing around your desk.
Healthy feeders = Healthy jumper.
Feeder insects are your spider’s sole source of:
If your feeders are weak, malnourished, or stressed… your spider suffers too.
That’s why you should learn to care for your bugs like pets, just a little less cuddly.
| Item | Use |
|---|---|
| Deli cups or jars | Culture containers |
| Ventilated lids | Mesh or foam tops |
| Culture medium | Buy online or DIY (see below) |
| Coffee filters | For climbing + pupating space |
| Starter flies | From a breeder or old culture |
Fill bottom of container ~1–2 cm deep with medium. Add paper or filter for climbing surface. Add starter flies. Done!
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Tub with lid | Well-ventilated, secure |
| Egg cartons | Climbing and hiding spaces |
| Food dish | Dry gut-load mix (see below) |
| Water source | Gel crystals or carrots (not open water) |
Clean weekly. Replace uneaten food every 2–3 days.
Use only non-climbing species unless you're a roach pro. Red runners and dubia roaches are beginner-friendly.
Keep in fridge and feed 1–2 per month as a treat — not a staple.
| Problem | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Mold in fruit fly culture | Too wet, poor ventilation | Start a new batch, reduce moisture |
| Flies escaping | Lid not secure | Use mesh or foam lids with tight seal |
| Crickets dying off fast | Too humid or poor food | Improve airflow and gut-load mix |
| Houseflies not hatching | Too cold | Let pupae warm up before hatching |
| Smell or mites | Dirty enclosure or overcrowding | Clean regularly and reduce numbers |
| Task | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Start new fruit fly culture | Every 7–10 days |
| Clean cricket/roach bin | Weekly |
| Replace bug food/water | Every 2–3 days |
| Hatch houseflies from fridge | As needed |
| Mist fruit fly cultures lightly | Optional / weekly |
Keeping feeder insects might seem like a chore at first — but it’s the foundation of good spider care.
Once you get the hang of it:
After all, your spider is only as strong as what it eats — and what it eats is up to you.
Welcome to the bug life. 🕷️🪰🦗