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For our more Comprehensive Evidence-Based Article, follow the link below:
 

 

 

 

 

Jumping spiders are smart little hunters with big personalities and feeding them correctly is one of the most important parts of keeping them healthy.

This guide breaks down:

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  • What to Feed

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  • How Often to Feed

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  • Safe Nectar Options

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  • What NOT to Do

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  • and The Biggest Mistakes New Keepers Make

Jumping Spider Nutrition in Captivity: An Evidence-Based Feeding Guide

The Ultimate Beginner Guide to Feeding Jumping Spiders

Feeders to Use Carefully

Crickets

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Crickets can:

  • bite spiders

  • stress molting spiders

  • injure slings

Never leave crickets unattended or overnight.

Mealworms & Waxworms

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Use only as occasional treats.

Too many can lead to:

  • obesity

  • poor variety

  • unnatural diet balance

Best Foods for Jumping Spiders

Fruit Flies (Best for Babies)
 

Drosophila melanogaster

Tiny fruit flies perfect for:

  • baby slings

  • tiny species

  • first meals
     

Drosophila hydei

Larger fruit flies perfect for:

  • bigger slings

  • juveniles

  • growing spiders

Bottle Flies & House Flies

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One of the BEST feeders for juveniles & adults

Why they’re great:

  • natural hunting behavior

  • soft-bodied

  •  fun enrichment

  • lower injury risk than crickets

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Research on Phidippus johnsoni found flies were one of the most common prey types eaten in nature (Jackson, 1977).

Small Roaches
 

Great for:

  • juveniles

  • subadults

  • adults
     

Good choices:

  • small dubia roaches

  • discoid roaches

The Most Important Rule

NEVER feed wild-caught insects.

Wild bugs can carry:

  • pesticides

  • parasites

  • mites

  • diseases

  • harmful chemicals 

Even bugs from your own yard may not be safe.
 

Always use:

  • captive-bred feeder insects

  • feeder insects from reptile/invert stores

  • home-bred feeder colonies

     

What a Healthy Abdomen Looks Like

Feed the Right Prey Size
 

A great rule from research:

“Prey size tends to be one quarter to three quarters the size of the predator” (Jackson, 1977).
 

Best prey size:

about 25–75% of the spider’s body length
 

Feeding Schedule
 

Spider Stage - Feed How Often
 

Tiny slings - every 1–2 days

Juveniles - every 2–5 days

Adult males - every 5–10 days

Adult females - every 4–7 days


Abdomen size matters more than strict schedules.

Jumping Spider Feeding Guide by Rue Morgue

Healthy

  • slightly rounded

  • smooth

  • not tiny

  • not stretched tight

  • small abdomen

  • wrinkled look

  • low energy

Underfed

Overfed

  • huge tight abdomen

  • trouble climbing

  • falling more often

Do Jumping Spiders Drink Nectar?

Yes!
 

Research found many jumping spiders feed on nectar from flowers.

“Nectar feeding is widespread, if not routine” (Nelson et al., 2001).
 

Another study found spiders with access to carbohydrates:

  • grew larger

  • survived better

  • had better body condition

(Wiggins & Wilder, 2022).

Safe Nectar Options

Simple Sugar Water

Mix:

  • 1 part sugar

  • 5–10 parts water
     

Honey Water

Mix:

  • 1 part honey

  • 8–10 parts water
     

Fruit Options

Tiny pieces only:

  • watermelon

  • grape

  • blueberry

  • strawberry

  • apple

Remove fruit quickly before mold grows.
 

How to Offer Nectar Safely
 

Best methods:

  • Q-tip

  • cotton tip

  • tiny feeding ledge

  • paper towel wick

Tiny amounts only.

Never leave large sticky droplets.
 

How Often to Offer Nectar
 

Tiny slings - usually unnecessary

Juveniles - once weekly

Adults - once weekly or every other week
 

Nectar is a supplement, not a replacement for insects.

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The Best Simple Feeding Plan

Babies

  • fruit flies every 1-2 days
     

Juveniles

  • fruit flies, bottle flies, small roaches every 2-5 days
     

Adults

  • bottle flies, house flies, roaches every 4-10 days depending on abdomen size
     

Nectar

  • tiny diluted nectar once weekly

Final Takeaways

The best jumping spider diet is:

  • Safe captive-bred prey

  • Variety

  • Proper prey size

  • Hydration

  • Occasional nectar-style carbohydrates

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Avoid:

  • wild-caught bugs

  • overfeeding

  • feeding only mealworms

  • leaving crickets unattended

  • no carbohydrates

  • no prey variety

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Healthy feeding is about balance.

Sources

Jackson, R. R. (1977). Prey of the Jumping Spider Phidippus johnsoni (Araneae: Salticidae). The Journal of Arachnology, 5, 145–149.
 

Nelson, X. J., Pollard, S. D., Jackson, R. R., Edwards, G. B., & Barrion, A. T. (2001). Jumping Spiders (Araneae: Salticidae) That Feed on Nectar. Journal of Zoology, 255.
 

Wiggins, W. D., & Wilder, S. M. (2022). Carbohydrates Complement High-Protein Diets to Maximize the Growth of an Actively Hunting Predator. Ecology and Evolution, 12, e9150.
 

Additional husbandry and feeder information referenced from:

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