Question 1

Do they bite?

Accepted Answer

My answer to this is, yes, but no.
Everything bites.  Dogs, cats, people, etc...but that doesn't mean that they will.  Bites are actually very uncommon.  Jumping spiders are not aggressive.  Most people who think of the term "jumping spider," think of some aggressive attack spider who is going to come after you.  If they are going to bite, it is to catch prey.  If they are afraid their first instinct is going to be to run and hide, not to bite.  I have been handling jumpers for many years and I have never been bitten.    For the few people who I know of being bitten, it was an accidental bite, usually from mishandling, and it was described as a tiny pinch that left a small swollen bump.   Unless you are severely allergic to insect bites I would not be worried.  
(UPDATE: I have since been bitten once, and if you want to read about it, see my blog post, "Have I ever been bitten?"  good stuff there.)

Question 2

how long do they live?

Accepted Answer

A jumping spider's maximum lifespan is about 2 years.  But in my experience, a healthy spider will live for about a year and half.  
I am also not going to sugar coat things.  They are fragile, and there isn't a lot of info and it's not like you can take a spider to vet, trust me, I tried.  Sometimes they will be fine one day, and the next, gone.  At the end of the day, they are still tiny fragile creatures.  Not to deter you from the hobby, the time you get with them is very special.

Question 3

Are the easy to care for?

Accepted Answer

Jumping spider care is very easy and also inexpensive.  But just because it is easy, does not mean you can be lazy or lax.  The care they do require is essential to their health as well as their morale.  If you are not prepared to do it correctly, please do not get one.

Question 4

What do they eat?

Accepted Answer

They eat BUGS!  They are hunters and the ones who live around your area are actually doing pest control for you and you don't even know it!  I feed my spiders a variety of insects, mainly blue bottle flies, house flies, fruit flies for the babies, waxworms as treats, and crickets as a last resort (because I despise them.)

Question 5

Where can I learn more about jumping spiders?

Accepted Answer

I have actually found the search engines on the internet to be very disapointing if you are looking for info.  It almost seems like jumpers have been kept secret, which is understandable.  They are not for everyone, and not everyone deserves them.
You can follow me on several platform, including facebook, instagram, and tik tok.  
I also have a group on facebook called "Ophelia, the monster Extended Family."  It is a group for customers to post and share pictures of the spiders they received, so they can watch them all grow up together.  Lots of Q&A going on there too.  A lot of the people answering beginner questions started out with a spider from me and have graduated to Experts, and are more than happy to participate in educating people who are curious.  And your not allowed to be an asshole.  Which seems to be common in a lot of husbandry groups.  People there are encouraged to ask questions, even if they think they are stupid questions.  There are no stupid questions when it comes to proper spider care.

Question 6

I have a male and a female, should I breed them?"

Accepted Answer

This is a tricky question to answer, because we all have to start somewhere, and someone would have likely answered "no" to me if it was me asking at one point.  But if you are going to breed, BE RESPONSIBLE.  Be prepared for hundreds of babies.  Your spider will likely lay multiple clutches.  Penny has laid 7 healthy clutches with at least 100 babies.  If you are not prepared to find homes for all of these spiders, don't breed them.  It is a lot of work.  It is time consuming.
If you got a male and a female from me, please do not breed them together unless you know the lineage.  I keep track of my lines, just ask and I am happy to answer.  There are plenty of other great breeders out there, and I am happy to refer you to some of them.  My spiders are likely related to one another, and if they were bought at the same time they are probably from the same clutch, which means they are brother and sister.  Some people will say this is perfectly ok, and argue that it works differently for inverts, but inbreeding is not healthy, it can lead to genetic issues, especially if you keep inbreeding the same line.  If there is a particular trait you are trying to preserve, just ask and i will try to refer you to someone who has a similar line.
If you are new to caring for jumpers, I would suggest not jumping into the breeding process until you are more experienced with basic individual care.  Or caring for multiple jumpers through a life cycle.  If you are still asking basic questions about how to get your first jumper to eat, or the molting process, then you should not be breeding yet.
Do your research, and ask questions.

Question 7

I decided keeping a jumper is not for me.  Can I set my spider free outside?

Accepted Answer

If a spider is not local to your area, then no.  Do not release any spider outside that is not in its native habitat.  It probably will not survive, and it can cause problems with anything that lives local.  
If a spider captive bred, I would also not release it.  Captive bred spiders may not understand how to live in the survival mode that wild spiders live in.  They do not know predators, they do not have to search for food the same way.  While some may adapt and do fine, others will not.
If you get a spider from me, and come to the conclusion you don't want it anymore, DO NOT RELEASE IT OUTSIDE .  If you do, I'm gonna be really pissed off because these spiders are like my children.  Do not release my spider children out into the dangerous wild.  They will be scared and confused.  Instead please contact me.  I will be happy to take it back.  I won't refund your money, but my kids are always welcome home.

Question 8

I lost my spider, what do I do?"

Accepted Answer

It is inevitable.  If your going to take your spider out of its enclosure, your at least going to have a scare at least once, even if its only for 5 seconds.  Don't panic.  They don't go far.  They are probably tucked away very very close to where you lost them.  They're probably laughing at you as you frantically tear the room apart.  
Very carefully check yourself to make sure its not on you.  
The most I can say is to carefully look in the surrounding area, in little nooks and crevices and on the sides of things.  Look for the drag line, its probably still connected.
If you don't find your spider right away, don't worry.  They come out when they are hungry.  Keep your eyes open.  Their instinct is to climb up, so the walls, and the corners.  They will seek out light.  Windows, lamp shades, etc.  I never lost a spider I did not find.  Some after a minute or two, some a month later.

Jumping Spider

Frequently asked questions