What Do Jumping Spiders Eat?
WouterThe jumping spider is one of the most popular pet spiders. It’s small, easy to care for and has a variety of feeding habits.
There are numerous species of jumping spiders. Some of them eat pollen, nectar, mold, yeast and dead organisms. Other species go after bugs and arachnids.
Jumping spiders do not spin webs. They do however, pounce on insects. Their great vision helps them spot prey.
As a general rule, the smaller the prey, the better. Mealworms are an ideal meal for young jumping spiders. However, they can cause damage to older spiders.
Young spiders need a more diverse diet than adult spiders. In addition to mealworms, you may also want to feed them cockroaches or crickets. Crickets can cause problems if they are too close to molting.
You should feed your jumping spiders at least two insects a day. For the more adventurous, you can add live food, such as feeder bugs, to the mix. If you have an indoor terrarium, it’s important to keep the temperature warm enough to allow your spiders to hunt effectively.
When keeping a jumping spider, it’s also important to provide it with a variety of lighting. While not essential, bright lighting allows the spider to find and eat its prey.
In addition to eating, spiders have a foregut where food can be stored. Some spiders have serrated chelicerae which can move back and forth to shred their prey.
The best part about owning a jumping spider is that it’s incredibly inexpensive to acquire. And, as a bonus, they are remarkably easy to care for.
