What Do Jumping Spiders Eat? A Complete Feeding Guide for Healthy, Happy Spiders

Jumping spiders are among the most fascinating pets you can keep. Their curious personalities, incredible eyesight and active hunting behaviour make feeding time one of the most enjoyable parts of owning them. Unlike web-building spiders, jumping spiders actively stalk and pounce on their prey, making every meal an exciting display of natural behaviour.

Whether you've just brought home your first jumping spider or you're looking to improve your care routine, this guide explains exactly what jumping spiders eat, how often they should be fed, and which foods are safe to offer.

What Do Jumping Spiders Eat?

Jumping spiders are carnivores that feed exclusively on live insects. In the wild, they hunt a wide variety of small prey, relying on their exceptional eyesight to locate and ambush their next meal.

Popular feeder insects include:

• Green bottle flies
• Fruit flies (ideal for spiderlings)
• House flies
• Blue bottle flies
• Small crickets
• Bean weevils
• Small roaches
• Waxworms (as an occasional treat)

Offering a varied diet helps provide enrichment and encourages natural hunting behaviour.

Best Live Food for Jumping Spiders

Different feeder insects are suitable depending on your spider's size and age.

Fruit Flies

Fruit flies are the perfect choice for young spiderlings and smaller species. They are easy to culture, inexpensive and allow tiny spiders to hunt safely.

Green Bottle Flies

Green bottle flies are one of the favourite foods of many adult jumping spiders. They fly around the enclosure, encouraging natural hunting behaviour while providing excellent nutrition.

House Flies

House flies are another excellent staple food. They are active, easy for spiders to spot and generally well accepted.

Small Crickets

Small crickets can be fed occasionally, but they should never be left in the enclosure unattended. Crickets can bite or stress a spider, particularly during moulting.

Bean Weevils

Bean weevils are excellent for juveniles and smaller species because they move slowly and are easy to catch.

How Often Should You Feed a Jumping Spider?

Feeding frequency depends on the spider's age.

Spiderlings

• Every 1–3 days
• Small live prey such as fruit flies

Juveniles

• Every 3–5 days
• Slightly larger prey as they grow

Adults

• Every 5–7 days
• One appropriately sized insect is usually enough

Every spider is different. Some have larger appetites than others, and females may eat more before producing egg sacs.

How Much Should You Feed?

A good rule is to choose prey that is roughly the same size as your spider's abdomen or slightly smaller.

Avoid feeding insects that are significantly larger than your spider, as they may injure or stress it.

After feeding, the abdomen should appear comfortably rounded but not overly swollen.

Can Jumping Spiders Eat Dead Insects?

Generally, no.

Jumping spiders are visual hunters and are stimulated by movement. Most will ignore dead insects completely.

Live prey encourages natural hunting instincts and provides mental stimulation.

Foods You Should Never Feed

Avoid feeding:

• Wild-caught insects that may have been exposed to pesticides.
• Bees or wasps.
• Large locusts.
• Large crickets.
• Insects collected from gardens treated with chemicals.
• Anything contaminated with mould or decay.

Using commercially bred feeder insects is the safest option.

Do Jumping Spiders Need Water?

Yes.

Although they obtain some moisture from their prey, fresh water should always be available.

The easiest method is lightly misting one side of the enclosure so small droplets form for the spider to drink from. Avoid soaking the enclosure, as excessive humidity can encourage mould.

The exact humidity requirements vary depending on the species you keep.

Signs Your Jumping Spider Is Hungry

A hungry jumping spider may:

• Actively patrol the enclosure.
• Watch moving insects closely.
• Immediately pounce on offered prey.
• Have a noticeably slimmer abdomen.

However, spiders don't always eat immediately. A healthy spider refusing food isn't necessarily a cause for concern.

Why Isn't My Jumping Spider Eating?

There are several common reasons:

Preparing to Moult

One of the most common reasons. Many spiders refuse food for days or even weeks before moulting.

Recently Moulted

Freshly moulted spiders need time for their new exoskeleton to harden before eating again.

Already Full

If your spider has recently eaten, it may simply not be hungry.

Low Temperatures

Cool conditions can reduce activity levels and appetite.

Stress

Moving into a new enclosure or recent handling may temporarily reduce feeding.

Should You Remove Uneaten Food?

Yes.

If your spider doesn't eat within a reasonable period, remove the feeder insect.

Never leave crickets or large insects inside the enclosure during a moult, as they can injure a vulnerable spider.

Creating the Perfect Feeding Environment

A well-designed enclosure makes feeding easier and safer for both you and your spider.

Look for:

• Excellent ventilation.
• Easy access for introducing feeder insects.
• Secure magnetic doors.
• Plenty of climbing surfaces.
• Safe hides for resting and moulting.

Natural décor, cork bark and climbing branches also encourage natural behaviours.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can jumping spiders eat mealworms?

Small mealworms can be offered occasionally, but they are not usually the best staple food because they spend much of their time burrowing.

Can jumping spiders eat waxworms?

Yes, but only as an occasional treat due to their high fat content.

How long can a jumping spider go without food?

Healthy adult jumping spiders can often go one to two weeks without eating, especially before moulting. Spiderlings should be fed more regularly.

Do jumping spiders eat every day?

Most adult jumping spiders do not need daily feeding. Feeding every 5–7 days is usually sufficient.

Can I overfeed a jumping spider?

Yes. Continually offering food can lead to an overly large abdomen. It's generally best to allow your spider to digest its meal before offering another.

Final Thoughts

Providing the right diet is one of the simplest ways to keep your jumping spider healthy and active. Offering appropriately sized live insects, maintaining fresh drinking water, and feeding on a regular schedule will help your spider thrive.

A well-designed enclosure also plays an important role in successful feeding by providing a secure environment where your spider can hunt naturally. If you're looking to upgrade your setup, explore our range of jumping spider enclosures, magnetic hides and enclosure accessories to create the perfect home for your eight-legged companion.