3 Common Misconceptions About Jumping Spiders

[Nicole C G]

So I have seen a few things that are generally agreed upon that differ from my experience with my Jumping Spider, so I made this list of misconceptions.

1. They always make very thick nests before they molt
Most people’s Jumping spiders make thick, almost fully opaque nests before molting. Most people believe this is always the case, enough to where they would insist a spider isn’t in premolt if the nest is thin. However, this isn’t always true. Some jumping spiders make thin nests, almost resting nest like, however they may indeed be in premolt. Mine did this. Mori made a little nest, I could tell it was there because it was a little blurry, but it wasn’t thick. She indeed was in premolt and molted 10 days after making the nest.

the angle where the nest is most noticeable

2. Being unable or having a hard time to climb walls is always a sign of age
Everyone has heard or experienced jumping spiders losing their grip due to old age. After a jumping spider’s final molt, their traction begins to give out. However, age isn’t always the case for having a hard time climbing! Another cause can be Injuries to their feet. My jumping spider used to be practically unable to climb the plastic walls of her enclosure. And she is a juvenile! However, after she molted, she has no problems climbing the walls and even the roof of her enclosure. So it’s possible she had injuries on her feet, or perhaps was just not strong enough?

walking on wall after molting

3. They always make nests as soon as they feel comfortable in their new enclosure
Most jumping spiders will make nests as soon as they feel comfortable in their enclosure. However, sometimes they won’t make a nest until they need to molt. My jumper felt so comfortable in her fake flowers, that she didn’t make a single nest until she needed to molt.

Sleeping without a nest

 

[Edan bandoot]

I think them being a beginner species is overblown aswell, they're alot more fragile than most tarantulas.

 

[Nicole C G]

I think them being a beginner species is overblown aswell, they're alot more fragile than most tarantulas.

It’s true, they are quite delicate. This is however my first pet, however I am naturally more cautious with animals. I’ve also done a lot of research. Without that I wouldn’t recommend for someone who wants to hold it, like a child or someone who likes to pet their pets. Or someone who has a hard time being gentle. For example, I have a rule for myself: never open the enclosure without knowing exactly where the spider is. If I didn’t do this, I could accidentally let them lose, or worse, it could be on the underside of a decoration like a rock and the jostling of the enclosure could crush it. This same rule applies while spraying the enclosure. Someone young or careless could easily make this mistake, as it’s not directly mentioned anywhere.

 

[Lucky123]

So I have seen a few things that are generally agreed upon that differ from my experience with my Jumping Spider, so I made this list of misconceptions.

1. They always make very thick nests before they molt
Most people’s Jumping spiders make thick, almost fully opaque nests before molting. Most people believe this is always the case, enough to where they would insist a spider isn’t in premolt if the nest is thin. However, this isn’t always true. Some jumping spiders make thin nests, almost resting nest like, however they may indeed be in premolt. Mine did this. Mori made a little nest, I could tell it was there because it was a little blurry, but it wasn’t thick. She indeed was in premolt and molted 10 days after making the nest.
View attachment 396702
the angle where the nest is most noticeable

2. Being unable or having a hard time to climb walls is always a sign of age
Everyone has heard or experienced jumping spiders losing their grip due to old age. After a jumping spider’s final molt, their traction begins to give out. However, age isn’t always the case for having a hard time climbing! Another cause can be Injuries to their feet. My jumping spider used to be practically unable to climb the plastic walls of her enclosure. And she is a juvenile! However, after she molted, she has no problems climbing the walls and even the roof of her enclosure. So it’s possible she had injuries on her feet, or perhaps was just not strong enough?
View attachment 396700
walking on wall after molting

3. They always make nests as soon as they feel comfortable in their new enclosure
Most jumping spiders will make nests as soon as they feel comfortable in their enclosure. However, sometimes they won’t make a nest until they need to molt. My jumper felt so comfortable in her fake flowers, that she didn’t make a single nest until she needed to molt.
View attachment 396701
Sleeping without a nest

Sometimes the plastic is just super smooth and even young jumpers can have a hard time, when an enclosure gets old you notice tiny dots and threads on the sides which are a result of build up of webbing from all the times he attached a safety web, these alone can help a older jumper climb his enclosure.
Also if you look real close I think there is a nest in that picture, when they nest in the open or next to the glass you can easily see the nest but they often like to nest in folds like the petals, they still make the nest but they only need to hold the petals together and make an opening therefore a lot less webbing is used and it is harder to see, in the wild you almost never find jumper nests where you can see them, often they are inside curled up leaves or between wooden boards etc. When/if the jumper in the pic outgrows their enclosure and you ever move her, try opening the petals of that flower you will find that there is silk on the inside. They almost never sleep outside of some sort of protection.

 

[Nicole C G]

Sometimes the plastic is just super smooth and even young jumpers can have a hard time, when an enclosure gets old you notice tiny dots and threads on the sides which are a result of build up of webbing from all the times he attached a safety web, these alone can help a older jumper climb his enclosure.
Also if you look real close I think there is a nest in that picture, when they nest in the open or next to the glass you can easily see the nest but they often like to nest in folds like the petals, they still make the nest but they only need to hold the petals together and make an opening therefore a lot less webbing is used and it is harder to see, in the wild you almost never find jumper nests where you can see them, often they are inside curled up leaves or between wooden boards etc. When/if the jumper in the pic outgrows their enclosure and you ever move her, try opening the petals of that flower you will find that there is silk on the inside. They almost never sleep outside of some sort of protection.

Perhaps you are right. You are talking about the pictures of the white flower yes? Maybe she has, I was mostly going off of the fact she would sleep in a different place every night, and sometimes just under a leaf that I could clearly see there was no web.
Also about the climbing the walls, what I mean is that the moment she left her nest after molt, she could climb the walls whereas before she could not.

 

[Lucky123]

Perhaps you are right. You are talking about the pictures of the white flower yes? Maybe she has, I was mostly going off of the fact she would sleep in a different place every night, and sometimes just under a leaf that I could clearly see there was no web.
Also about the climbing the walls, what I mean is that the moment she left her nest after molt, she could climb the walls whereas before she could not.

yeah I am not sure why that happened, very interesting, I have never seen a young jumper struggle before a molt and then after she could do it.

 

[Nicole C G]

yeah I am not sure why that happened, very interesting, I have never seen a young jumper struggle before a molt and then after she could do it.

My only guess is that her feet were ever so slightly damaged? Enough to keep her from walking on that slippery plastic but not everything else? Maybe accidentally walked on something sticky?

Unrelated,
4. Jumpers only hunt during the day
Apparently, jumping spiders can hunt at night! My window attracts hundreds of bugs of many sizes. In fact I was discussing this with my sister a few nights ago “if a jumping spider lived here boy would it have a nice dinner”
And bam, there’s one! It’s actively hunting and eating right now at 10:30! (Pool light in the background)

 

[Lucky123]

My only guess is that her feet were ever so slightly damaged? Enough to keep her from walking on that slippery plastic but not everything else? Maybe accidentally walked on something sticky?

Unrelated,
4. Jumpers only hunt during the day
Apparently, jumping spiders can hunt at night! My window attracts hundreds of bugs of many sizes. In fact I was discussing this with my sister a few nights ago “if a jumping spider lived here boy would it have a nice dinner”
And bam, there’s one! It’s actively hunting and eating right now at 10:30! (Pool light in the background)

They can but only if there is light, they are incredibly visual hunters and will not be able to catch prey if they cant see it.

 

[Nicole C G]

They can but only if there is light, they are incredibly visual hunters and will not be able to catch prey if they cant see it.

Of course! Forgot to add that part. Thanks!