Baby jumping spiders everywhere... help!

[Rdferrera]

I've had a female regal jumping spider (phidippus regius) since January. I'm aware that some spiders can store sperm and fertilize eggs months later, but she had laid so many duds I was not expecting babies anymore.

She is in a terrarium with a slotted plastic lid, some babies were able to escape. I've put the terrarium and all the babies I found into a net enclosure with my stick bug (poor thing is in for a treat...). I'm still finding babies around the house here and there, hoping not too many escaped...

Any advice on what should I do? I'm thinking about moving the stick bug out and letting the babies take over the net enclosure since it's huge (2' high x 1' long x 1' wide) and putting some flightless fruit flies in. As for Aela, the mother, I'm not too sure.

 

[Jerry]

It would be easier if you intend to keep them to individual house them in small containers it will make the much easier to feed and for you to tell if there eating

 

[Rdferrera]

It would be easier if you intend to keep them to individual house them in small containers it will make the much easier to feed and for you to tell if there eating

Thanks for the reply, I've put all the ones I've found around the room into individual 2oz sauce cups. I've tried adding fruit flies to some of them but I think they're too big... they're about double the size of the spiders. Any recommendations for food?

 

[Jerry]

I'm not sure I guess there smaller than I thought they were

 

[Wesley Smith]

Thanks for the reply, I've put all the ones I've found around the room into individual 2oz sauce cups. I've tried adding fruit flies to some of them but I think they're too big... they're about double the size of the spiders. Any recommendations for food?

Springtails could work. I accidentally got some with a trade, I’ll send you some for free if you just pay shipping. Get those little guys fed.

 

[Rdferrera]

Springtails could work. I accidentally got some with a trade, I’ll send you some for free if you just pay shipping. Get those little guys fed.

That would be great! However it looks like the fruit flies I put in last night are no longer alive, so the spiders had to have killed them. They couldn't have died that quickly on their own, could they?

 

[Jerry]

Maybe maybe not tuff to say

 

[Wesley Smith]

I've had flies die that quick when frogs don't get to them, they don't live too long to begin with. If you want me to send you springtails, just PM me.

 

[Rdferrera]

I've had flies die that quick when frogs don't get to them, they don't live too long to begin with. If you want me to send you springtails, just PM me.

That's okay I added flies to each enclosure today and I saw them eat the flies, but I appreciate your generosity!

 

[Wesley Smith]

That's okay I added flies to each enclosure today and I saw them eat the flies, but I appreciate your generosity!

No problem, just glad to hear they're eating.

 

[Jerry]

How long have you had the adult the last wild female I had laid like three sacs so she could give you a hole army of jumpers

 

[Rdferrera]

How long have you had the adult the last wild female I had laid like three sacs so she could give you a hole army of jumpers

Oh gosh that would make things interesting lol... I've had her since January

 

[Rdferrera]

No problem, just glad to hear they're eating.

Is it too late to take you up on your offer? I only ended up seeing 2 of the babies eat the flies directly, most of the flies were still alive last night and today ALL of the flies are dead... starting to think those babies were just particularly aggressive.

 

[Wesley Smith]

Is it too late to take you up on your offer? I only ended up seeing 2 of the babies eat the flies directly, most of the flies were still alive last night and today ALL of the flies are dead... starting to think those babies were just particularly aggressive.

Not at all, PM me and we'll get everything settled.

 

[Jerry]

I've got three right now two rather plump that I just collected and one that I've had since last year

 

[DevynG]

This just happened to me. What is a springtail?
Will my jumping spider die? This is the first time she has laid eggs with me. I bought her from a breeder so did not expect her eggs to be fertile.
Today the spiderlings appeared for the first time. My female seems to be very weak and she was fine and eating a couple of days ago.

 

[SpidersAreBeautiful]

This just happened to me. What is a springtail?
Will my jumping spider die? This is the first time she has laid eggs with me. I bought her from a breeder so did not expect her eggs to be fertile.
Today the spiderlings appeared for the first time. My female seems to be very weak and she was fine and eating a couple of days ago.

A spring tail is a very small organism that breaks down organic matter. They look like tiny white dots, and can be found almost anywhere. Do some research to help.

 

[SpidersAreBeautiful]

This just happened to me. What is a springtail?
Will my jumping spider die? This is the first time she has laid eggs with me. I bought her from a breeder so did not expect her eggs to be fertile.
Today the spiderlings appeared for the first time. My female seems to be very weak and she was fine and eating a couple of days ago.

She may eat some of the babies, but do not worry. As said above, seperate the babies into individual containers, and be very careful when spraying, as they can drown. Also, the mother may be aggressive, so take caution when removing babies. Be very gentle, and use a cotton tip or paintbrush to remove them. Good luck.