Specialised care for baby jumping spiders from first instar to juvenile
So your egg sac hatched... Now what?
You’ve gone from 1 fuzzy jumper to 100+ squiggly spiderlings overnight — and now you’re a full-time spider parent.
Raising spiderlings (also called slings) is one of the most challenging, time-intensive, and rewarding parts of jumping spider care. From first molt to their first housefly, each stage requires careful feeding, clean enclosures, and lots of patience.
This guide walks you through the entire process, from first instar through to juvenile — and how to keep them all alive, healthy, and (mostly) separated.
After hatching from the egg sac, spiderlings go through instars — stages between molts. Each molt brings them closer to adulthood.
Most cannibalism occurs between 2nd–4th instars, so spacing and feeding are key.
You’ll first notice a cluster of white or translucent babies — these are 1st instar spiderlings.
After 5–10 days, they’ll molt into 2nd instar — now mobile, darker in color, and ready to be raised individually.
Now the work begins.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 30–50ml vial or deli cup | Transparent with mesh or pinhole lid |
| Paper strip or tiny twig | Climbing + webbing |
| Dry interior | No substrate or moisture pool |
| Label | Date of sac / instar / ID code |
💡 Pro tip: Use a paintbrush or soft straw to gently move slings. Never poke or shake them.
Feeding is the trickiest (and most important) part of sling care.
If they won’t eat, they may be preparing to molt — wait 2–3 days and try again.
Slings will molt every 2–4 weeks, depending on temperature and food.
After each molt:
💡 Track each molt and feeding with a simple log:
#Sling014
2nd Instar: Sept 15
Molt to 3rd: Oct 4
Feeding: 2x D. melanogaster, Oct 6
Once slings reach 3rd or 4th instar, they’ll need a bigger space.
Make sure enclosures are:
Some keepers experiment with keeping slings together — but it’s risky.
👉 Always be prepared to separate quickly.
| Task | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Feed slings | Every 2–3 days |
| Remove old prey | After 24h |
| Mist or offer droplets | 1–2× per week |
| Check for molts | Weekly |
| Upgrade enclosures | Every 1–2 molts |
| Clean vials | Every 4–6 weeks or as needed |
| Symptom | Possible Issue |
|---|---|
| Refuses to eat >5 days | Pre-molt or stress |
| Molt failure | Humidity too low or disturbance |
| Shriveled abdomen | Dehydration or not eating |
| Cannibalism | Not separated or underfed |
| Webbed at bottom | May indicate stress or imbalance |
Once spiderlings reach 5th instar+ and are confidently feeding on D. hydei or houseflies, they’re ready for rehoming.
🛑 Never release slings into the wild — always rehome ethically.
Raising spiderlings isn’t just cute — it’s serious spider stewardship.
With the right setup, food, and attention, you’ll watch them grow from dust-sized babies to curious juveniles. It takes time, space, and discipline, but the reward is seeing a tiny life thrive under your care.
Take it slow. Be patient. And remember: every sling is a tiny, fuzzy miracle.
Your nursery just got a whole lot cuter. 🕷️🍼✨