Imagine a spider that can leap 50 times its body length and has vision that would make an eagle jealous! Ever wondered why these tiny jumping arachnids are taking over the internet and our hearts?
Discover the top 10 jumping spider species that make perfect pets! These intelligent hunters with stunning colors belong to the Salticidae family and are completely harmless to humans.
If you’re fascinated by unique arachnids, check out how jumping spiders as pets have taken the pet world by storm!
Key Points:
- Jumping spiders have the best vision of any spider
- Most jumping spiders live 1-2 years
- They are not dangerous to humans
- They use silk as a safety line when jumping
- Many species make great beginner pets
1. Regal Jumping Spider (Phidippus regius)
The Regal jumping spider is the rockstar of the spider pet world. When I first saw one at my friend’s house, I couldn’t believe how it seemed to follow our movements around the room!
Size: Females grow to 18-22mm, males are smaller at 10-15mm.
Why people love them: Talk about chill vibes! These spiders are like the cool kids who never get flustered. Their chelicerae (fancy word for mouthparts) shine like tiny disco balls with beautiful green or blue colors.
“Regals are perfect first spiders because they’re large enough to observe easily and generally have calm temperaments,” says Dr. Wayne Maddison, spider researcher.
2. Bold Jumping Spider (Phidippus audax)
The Bold jumping spider is the daredevil of the bunch. With their tuxedo-like black body and white spots, they’re dressed to impress! My neighbor has one that literally jumped onto her finger when she opened its enclosure—bold indeed!
Size: Females reach 13-20mm, males 8-15mm.
Why people love them: They’re the curious cats of the spider world, always exploring and checking things out. Just like that friend who’s always up for an adventure!
3. Peacock Jumping Spider (Maratus volans)
If Spider-Man went to a rave, he’d look like the Peacock jumping spider. These little show-offs have gone viral faster than a cat video! The males dance like they’re auditioning for “Australia’s Got Talent.”
Size: Tiny at only 4-5mm.
Why people love them: Just search #peacockspider on TikTok and you’ll see why they’ve stolen the internet’s heart. Dr. Jürgen Otto’s videos of these spiders have millions of views, more than some pop stars!
4. Zebra Jumping Spider (Salticus scenicus)
The Zebra jumping spider rocks those black and white stripes better than a referee at the Super Bowl. I spotted one on my window last spring, hunting like a tiny tiger.
Size: Small at 5-7mm.
Why people love them: These little ninjas are the neighbors you didn’t know you had. They’re probably patrolling your windowsills right now, keeping the bug population in check!
5. Tan Jumping Spider (Platycryptus undatus)
The Tan jumping spider is like that friend who always blends in at parties. Their flat bodies look like tree bark or leaves—nature’s camouflage experts!
Size: Medium at 10-13mm.
Why people love them: They’re the roommates you actually want to have. They pay “rent” by eating annoying insects and mind their own business.
6. Asian Giant Jumping Spider (Hyllus diardi)
The Asian giant jumping spider is the gentle giant of jumpies. When I saw one at an exotic pet expo last month, I couldn’t believe how massive it was compared to other jumping spiders!
Size: Very large at 15-25mm.
Why people love them: They’re like the IMAX version of jumping spiders—bigger, better, and easier to watch. Perfect for folks whose eyes aren’t what they used to be (looking at you, fellow screen zombies!).
7. Pantropical Jumping Spider (Plexippus paykulli)
The Pantropical jumping spider is the world traveler with more passport stamps than most humans. These guys have gone global faster than a viral meme!
Size: Medium at 8-12mm.
Why people love them: They’ve adapted to life everywhere from Miami to Mumbai. Talk about world-class survival skills!
8. Johnson Jumping Spider (Phidippus johnsoni)
The Johnson jumping spider struts around in a red-bottomed outfit that would make Christian Louboutin jealous. That bright red abdomen is nature’s version of a warning light!
Size: Medium at 10-15mm.
Why people love them: Their striking red color is like a tiny stop sign that makes you pause and appreciate their beauty. My cousin in California has them all over her garden and sends me photos whenever she spots one.
9. Adanson’s Jumping Spider (Hasarius adansoni)
The Adanson’s jumping spider is the international spy of the spider world—they’ve infiltrated homes on every continent except Antarctica! They’re probably watching us right now…
Size: Small at 5-8mm.
Why people love them: These little globetrotters adapt faster than college freshmen at their first party. They’re survivors with style!
10. Canopy Jumping Spider (Phidippus otiosus)
The Canopy jumping spider is like that friend who changes their hair color every month. Sometimes copper, sometimes gold—they keep you guessing!
Size: Large at 13-20mm.
Why people love them: They’re the fashion-forward trendsetters of the spider world. Even my spider-phobic aunt admitted they were “kind of cute” when I showed her photos.
Jumping Spider Care Basics
Taking care of these eight-legged cuties is easier than keeping a houseplant alive! Trust me, I’ve killed cacti, but my jumping spider thrived for almost two years.
| Care Need | What To Do |
|---|---|
| Enclosure | Use a container 3-5 times bigger than your spider |
| Temperature | Keep between 70-80°F (21-27°C) |
| Humidity | Keep between 50-75% |
| Food | Feed 2-3 small insects each week |
| Water | Provide a small water dish or mist the enclosure |
“What makes jumping spiders special is their intelligence,” says spider expert from the American Arachnological Society. “They solve problems and learn from experience in ways other spiders can’t.”
How to Identify Jumping Spiders
Spotting a jumping spider is like finding Waldo if he had eight legs and puppy dog eyes:
- Big front eyes (they have 8 eyes total)
- Short, stocky bodies
- Quick, jerky movements
- The ability to jump long distances
- No web (they hunt instead of trapping prey)
For help with spider identification, visit Bug Guide, a great resource for identifying all kinds of bugs.
Are Jumping Spiders Dangerous?
Dangerous? Please! These tiny critters couldn’t hurt a fly… well, actually they could hurt a fly, that’s their dinner! But humans? We’re as safe around them as a hippo in a mud bath.
After the 2023 Spider-Man movie featured a jumping spider sidekick, pet stores couldn’t keep these little guys in stock! The “Spider-Mania” continues in 2025, with jumping spider merchandise popping up everywhere from Target to TikTok.
For more detailed information about jumping spider taxonomy and evolutionary history, check out the World Spider Catalog. This site has information about all known spider species, including the entire Salticidae family classification.
Jumping spiders make our world better by eating pests and showing us that even tiny creatures can be smart and interesting! As my grandpa used to say, “Good things come in small packages—especially when those packages can jump!”
