Fascinating Jumping Acrobats – Jumping Spiders and Their Care

Jumping spiders (Salticidae) have increasingly captured the attention of terrarium enthusiasts and beginners alike in recent years. Their most striking feature: large, forward-facing eyes that give them remarkable visual acuity. This keen eyesight is one of the main reasons for their adept hunting behavior: instead of building webs, they actively lie in wait for their prey and jump on it with precision. This tremendous jumping power has not only earned them the German name “Springspinnen” (literally “jumping spiders”) but also a steadily growing fan base among animal keepers.
Additionally, compared to many other spider species, jumping spiders can appear almost “playful.” They hop nimbly from branch to branch, quickly climb up glass panes, and twist their front bodies as if seeking eye contact with the observer. This lively, inquisitive nature makes them especially appealing to watch—and helps many people overcome the fear they might have of larger or more sedentary spiders like tarantulas.

Why keep jumping spiders as pets?
If you’re looking for a small, exotic animal that doesn’t take up much space and exhibits fascinating behaviors, jumping spiders are an excellent choice. They are considered ideal for beginners because they:

• Are compact and active: In contrast to large tarantulas that often just sit in a corner, jumping spiders are almost constantly on the move and explore their surroundings very thoroughly.
• Remain relatively easy to care for: Most species don’t require a large, complexly heated terrarium and do well at normal room temperatures
• Are active during the day: Because they move around and hunt in daylight, you can watch them without having to wait until late at night for them to become active.

They typically live about one to two years, making them a “manageable” commitment timewise. This is especially interesting for people who want to see if keeping jumping spiders truly suits them.

Space-saving care – Perfect for apartments
Jumping spiders do well in small terrariums, a major advantage in apartments where space is limited. While some exotic reptiles need a large tank that takes up a lot of room, a single jumping spider can already be housed in a relatively small, vertically oriented jumping spider terrarium or a well-ventilated enclosure. The key is that the spider has sufficient climbing and hiding spots and a suitable microclimate.
These minimal space requirements also make jumping spiders appealing to those with limited room but who still want a very active pet. The financial outlay is also manageable: substrate, a few branches, plants, and the right jumping spider accessories are all you need to keep a colorful terrarium resident happy.

BioFaunaCubes and their benefits
Anyone researching how to keep jumping spiders will sooner or later come across our BioFaunaCubes. These special mini-terrariums are designed to give small invertebrates—including spiders, insects, amphibians, or tiny geckos—a habitat that meets their needs. They feature:

• Optimized ventilation: Mold and stagnant moisture are easier to avoid in a BioFaunaCube because its well-thought-out ventilation systems provide good air circulation. This is especially important for jumping spiders, which need a moderate but not stuffy climate.
• Compact size with height: Since jumping spiders love to climb and often place their silk retreats up high, they benefit from upright terrariums. The BioFaunaCubes “M” and “L” are designed so that you have more vertical space than floor area.
• Easy handling: A sturdy, secure closure makes it simple to manage. Feeding and misting are straightforward, which is a great relief for beginners.
• Modular system: If you later want to keep more than one jumping spider, you can place several BioFaunaCubes side by side or stack them. Each spider gets its own compartment, eliminating conflicts.

This smart combination of size, ventilation, and user-friendliness has made our BioFaunaCubes a favorite among many terrarium enthusiasts. Especially for housing individual jumping spiders, things become much simpler because you don’t have to hunt around for a suitable enclosure.

Species-appropriate setup: How to do it
Although jumping spiders require little space, a few basic rules are crucial to ensure they feel comfortable. In a BioFaunaCube or a similar jumping spider terrarium, you should pay attention to:

• Substrate: Coconut fiber or a special terrarium substrate keeps humidity stable without becoming too wet. A layer of one to two centimeters is often enough, though it’s advisable to use more substrate if you include cleanup crew and plants.
• Climbing elements: Branches, pieces of cork bark, or other structures provide the spider with support. Since jumping spiders like to sit high up, you should equip the upper area of the terrarium with hides or platforms.
• Plants (real or artificial): Sturdy live plants or high-quality artificial plants enhance the terrarium’s appearance and serve as cover for the spider. Real plants can also help maintain comfortable humidity.
• Ventilation and humidity: A moderate humidity of around 50–60% can be easily maintained by occasional misting. Overdoing it can lead to mold growth. However, the good ventilation in BioFaunaCubes ensures moisture dissipates quickly if you mist sparingly.
• Temperature: Daytime room temperatures of about 22–26 °C (72–79 °F) are sufficient for many jumping spider species. A slight drop at night is fine and mirrors natural conditions.

It’s important to provide the animal with occasional resting areas where it can retreat undisturbed. This often happens automatically when you include several hiding places. Jumping spiders will weave small “hammocks” from silk if needed or build their characteristic rest retreats in the upper area.

Feeding and daily care
One of the greatest joys of keeping jumping spiders is watching them hunt. Unlike web-building spiders that wait passively, jumping spiders actively approach their prey. They stalk it, pause briefly, then powerfully launch themselves to land on their target mid-jump.
When choosing feeder insects, you have several options:

• Fruit flies (Drosophila): They’re ideal starter food for young or small jumping spiders. Many pet stores sell special cultures with flightless fruit flies, making feeding much easier.
• Mini crickets or micro locusts: Larger spiders like something a bit more “crunchy.” As long as the prey isn’t larger than the spider’s cephalothorax, it’s usually overpowered without problems.
• Variety in the diet: Wax moth larvae, small moths, or flies can be offered occasionally for a change, providing the spider with different nutrients.

Feed about once or twice a week, depending on the spider’s size and life stage. Before molting, they usually won’t eat because they’re preparing to shed their old exoskeleton. Any leftover feeder insects should be removed so they don’t wander around the terrarium and possibly disturb the spider during its molt.
Maintenance routines are limited to regularly removing droppings and food remains, lightly misting the terrarium, and checking temperature and humidity weekly. Thanks to the compact design of our BioFaunaCubes, these tasks only take a few minutes.

Loners with charm
Though jumping spiders are highly active and curious, they are solitary creatures. Most species don’t tolerate any conspecifics in their territory. For the keeper, this means if you want to have multiple jumping spiders, each one needs its own terrarium. This is where BioFaunaCubes excel as modular enclosures in which each spider can live separately without wasting space.
If you start with just one jumping spider, you can expand later. Because the cubes can be easily placed next to or on top of each other, you can quickly create a small terrarium setup where each spider inhabits its own domain. This has both practical and aesthetic advantages.

The appeal of observation
A key argument for keeping jumping spiders is the chance to observe them almost continuously during the day. While many tarantulas or other nocturnal arachnids mainly appear at night, jumping spiders remain active in daylight. They roam their terrarium, inspect potential hiding spots, and react quickly to movements around them.
Some keepers report that jumping spiders will even jump onto their finger if approached slowly. This is partly because they see so well and follow movement out of curiosity. Naturally, you should make sure the spider doesn’t escape unnoticed or fall from a great height. Direct handling by hand is therefore recommended only for more experienced keepers who proceed with great care.

Easing worries and dispelling prejudices
Spiders still trigger discomfort in many people. However, jumping spiders can help reduce or even completely overcome such fears. Their small size seems less intimidating, and their agile, almost cheeky behavior makes them quite endearing. If a jumping spider does bite someone (which is unlikely with careful handling), it usually feels only like a mild, harmless prick.
The fear that a spider could escape and roam the home can be addressed by using an escape-proof terrarium. BioFaunaCubes are designed so that, as long as the closures are properly secured, there’s no way for the spider to slip through tiny gaps.

The BioFaunaCube © – A system that convinces
Especially in the realm of small-scale terrarium keeping, BioFaunaCubes have made a name for themselves because they are consistently tailored to the needs of small inhabitants. Instead of painstakingly converting a large terrarium and risking ventilation problems, you can rely on a proven product that already includes everything essential.
Anyone wondering if they could just use any plastic box should remember that, while jumping spiders are hardy, poor air circulation and trapped moisture can pose serious issues. A plastic box without adequate vents can quickly become a stuffy trap where mold develops. By contrast, BioFaunaCubes include ventilation inserts and slits that ensure natural air exchange, all while keeping the enclosure securely closed so that these little acrobats can’t escape.
Otherwise, fruit flies can easily escape and fly around the room when you open an unwieldy lid. With BioFaunaCubes, you can feed flies and other feeder insects effortlessly using our CritterLatch ©.

Young or adult? What beginners should know
Many people wonder whether to buy a juvenile or an adult jumping spider. Juvenile spiders go through the fascinating molting phases, during which they grow and sometimes change color. Witnessing this can be extremely interesting. However, young spiders can be more delicate and sensitive to environmental factors, requiring a bit more attention.
Adult jumping spiders tend to be hardier, and their appearance is already fully developed. Some keepers prefer them because they know exactly how large and vibrantly colored the spider will be. However, their remaining lifespan will be shorter if you acquire them at a later stage.
In both cases, keepers benefit from the secure conditions that a BioFaunaCube offers. With juvenile spiders, you can easily adjust the climate as needed and check on them more frequently without disturbing them unnecessarily. For adult spiders, you’ve entered a more stable phase, and you can be sure the terrarium has enough space and climbing structures. If you’re interested in breeding jumping spiders, you can keep different life stages in multiple cubes without difficulty.

Molting: A look behind the scenes
One of the most fascinating aspects of a jumping spider’s life is its regular molting. During this process, the spider sheds its old exoskeleton to allow for further growth. Shortly before molting, many spiders stop eating and retreat to a small, silk-lined hide, often near the top of the enclosure.
Keepers should provide peace during this time. The spider is more vulnerable and doesn’t need extra feeder insects that might cause stress. Once the molt has occurred, the spider emerges after a few hours or days, often looking fresher and sometimes more brightly colored, having grown a bit into its new skin. This process takes place multiple times until the spider is fully grown.

Keeping multiple jumping spiders? – How to make it work
Jumping spiders are solitary. If you want more than one, plan on housing each spider separately. This might initially sound cumbersome, but it’s quite straightforward with BioFaunaCubes. Since the cubes are space-efficient, two, three, or even more terrariums can easily fit side by side on a narrow shelf.
Each spider thus has its own territory, and you can keep different species or color varieties without risking conflict. At the same time, you’ll create a captivating visual arrangement in your home or office: a little row of BioFaunaCubes, each with a different jumping spider. For terrarium hobbyists who enjoy variety, this is an appealing option that allows them to discover new species and color morphs.

Summary: What makes jumping spiders so special
Jumping spiders offer many qualities that make them attractive pets. Their ability to leap and their large eyes give them an astonishing presence and awareness of their surroundings. In the terrarium, they’re almost always busy climbing, hunting, and exploring. Their need for space, equipment, and sophisticated climate control is modest, so even novices quickly feel confident in taking care of them.
If you don’t want to invest a lot of effort or set up a large terrarium, a BioFaunaCube provides a direct route into this fascinating miniature world. Such a small terrarium makes it easy to provide the conditions jumping spiders need—ventilation, lighting, and climate control. Its compact form also fits seamlessly into almost any living or work environment.

BioFaunaCubes as the perfect choice
Choosing a BioFaunaCube is quickly justified for many fans of jumping spiders: there’s no need for tinkering; instead, you get a well-designed all-in-one solution. Once you’ve set up the cube, your spider can move in and become active right away. With the right combination of substrate, branches, and plants, you can create a stimulating environment for the animal.
BioFaunaCubes also score points with their design. They have a high-quality look, and the clear glass front or transparent acrylic side panels let you view the interior at all times. This keeps you close to the action: every new silk chamber, every molt, and every exciting hunting move can be witnessed up close.
At the same time, experienced terrarium keepers who value quality are also satisfied with BioFaunaCubes. Those who wish to expand their collection can simply add more cubes. Each unit is precisely designed so the terrariums can be combined—an important plus if you’ve caught the jumping spider bug and are drawn to various species.

Conclusion: Small spiders, big enchantment
Jumping spiders are tiny creatures brimming with energy. Their agile leaps, apparent curiosity about their surroundings, and their relatively straightforward care make them ideal starter animals in the world of terrarium keeping. Many spider enthusiasts love watching them climb, explore, and hunt. Even people who might otherwise be uneasy around spiders often find themselves won over by these lively, watchful little creatures.
If you plan to acquire one, it’s best to start with a suitable jumping spider terrarium. BioFaunaCubes provide a reliable solution, as they meet the needs of small invertebrates perfectly. Good ventilation, the right shape, and easy handling ensure that keeping jumping spiders doesn’t turn into a time-consuming balancing act. Instead, you can focus on what really matters: observing and enjoying the magic of terrarium life—a captivating bit of nature in miniature, right before your eyes.