Found a jumping spider! What is it? (+I made a thing!)

[dev0042]

Yeeeesh! This all happened so fast!

Firstly, hello all! I'm new. Also this is my first time owning a spider. A bit of back story, I live in northern KY, USA. I recently moved houses to a more rural area. I had a thought to decorate my room in the house using natural things found in the area. I have a creek in my backyard etc. Cheap. I love the outdoors and fishing/hunting. Maybe a fish net on the wall or creek stuff type vibes. I also considered new pets. I was interested in aquariums and terrariums - and thus jumping spiders - as well as fish. I studied a bit on jumping spiders. Months ago, I found only one jumping spider for sale retail in my area and they wanted $40. I thought about it, but I didn't have the funds and stuff. Still busy moving; broke. Prefer a breeder anyway. I also heard many people finding them in the wild which could be an option. I had not seen any jumping spiders locally though. Welp, turns out they're in my the area new-to-me.

Yesterday, I find this little guy in my basement on my door. I put him in a temporary container with some wood and small bugs while I started working on their new home. I recall getting some vases from a thrift shop to decorate my new room with. I'm kind of a nerd - so I started thinking about enclosure design and 3D printing something. That 3D model is what I came up with. I have no idea if it will work - even long term - or anything. There are 0.8mm slots throughout the base - I hope the spider cannot slip through. Yet, oxygen can still get in. But the idea there was I could easily add a bit of water around the brim and it would leak under the glass. Ease of access. I made a slot behind the feeder dish to hold some cotton to suck up the water and retain it longer? Also, I wanted a feeding dish as I read other owners enjoyed that for obvious reasons. (Looks like my new spider does too!) To add food, I can tilt the glass one way to access the feeder dish. I'm not exactly comfortable handling the spider at this time. More afraid I'd hurt it! So I collected the stick, rocks, and gravel, from the creek in my backyard and crafted it today. I cleaned and baked everything in the oven beforehand. Everything secured to a degree with an aquarium grade super glue. I used a wood puck for the stick to keep it upright. The eagle is a charm passed down from my grandpa. Just some flair? Idk. I also saw online a spider hideaway housing thing so I printed that which lead me down a magnetic rabbit hole. So there is that and a random stick? Probably over thinking it. I tend to do that.

I was just kind of excited about the new spooder and build; I wanted to share. I put a moth in there and the spider snatched it right up within minutes. Although, I know nothing about this spider. I know there are different breeds of jumping spiders and things. My best guess is it a Regal-type and female? It is black with a orange dot and accents. Any guesses of it's age? It seems really small. Or rather smaller than other jumping spiders I have seen. I was also just curious if anyone sees any pitfalls in this enclosure?

(The 3D model .stl is available. I can post it to Thingiverse if anyone is interested. The vase use is 100m in diameter. The model can be scaled or exported as step etc. (customizable). Just let me know!)

 

[Motherofspiders112707]

I think it’s Phiddipus Audax, or a Bold jumping spider! I just looked I up the details you gave and that’s what species came up. From what I just read, yours hasn’t matured yet because the spots turn white as they age! Looks like it has another molt to go before that happens.

with Regal’s, the females are usually tan, white or orange with pinkish-purple fangs. The males are always black with white accents and greenish-blue fangs.

Also, the wild caught jumpers are way more social and will willingly hop on you to be held. I speak from personal experience! Captive-bred ones are very shy when it comes to handling and it takes time for them to get used to being held, so you should be able to hold this one pretty soon!

 

[viper69]

Venting??

 

[NMTs]

That's a cool design, but I would suggest that you find an acrylic vase/canister to use instead so you can drill some holes in it for ventilation. I understand that there are slots in the base which allow air to pass, but without additional holes near the top of the enclosure, there is no airflow and the air inside will become stagnant - which is dangerous for your spider. If you can find one with the same size opening, you could just swap it out.

Also, it sounds like you're in a rural area where it may not be a big issue, but feeding wild-caught insects to your spider is not a good practice. They could have been exposed to pesticides or other toxins that could kill your spider. I would suggest getting some crickets, roaches, or mealworms from a pet store (or online) that were produced specifically for use as feeders - it is a much safer practice in the long run. Your spood was preying on those things before you decided to keep it, but you now have an to opportunity to minimize any risks so your new pet can live a longer, healthy life.

 

[dev0042]

I think it’s Phiddipus Audax, or a Bold jumping spider!

Thank you very much for the info and your time! That seems spot on. I'll have to research more about them etc.

Venting??

there is no airflow and the air inside will become stagnant - which is dangerous for your spider.

Very good points! Temporarily, I have setup a little fan for the guy until I decide on my solution there. I'll also lift the glass often. Thanks for catching that. I had tunnel vision.

I could drill holes in the glass, 3D printed cover/grate, etc. But that sounds like way more trouble than just buying/making something out of plastic. I would like to keep the 3D printed base. I think a plastic tube could work. I'll have to see what I can find or buy locally tomorrow.

wild-caught insects to your spider

Sound advice. I didn't think about that. Between you and I - that moth flew into my room at the worst time possible. It was asking for trouble. But I 100% agree! Adding, I fish so it's not a bad idea to have bait at the ready. Makes feeding easy. Cheap. Thank you all for helping!

 

[viper69]

Thank you very much for the info and your time! That seems spot on. I'll have to research more about them etc.




Very good points! Temporarily, I have setup a little fan for the guy until I decide on my solution there. I'll also lift the glass often. Thanks for catching that. I had tunnel vision.

I could drill holes in the glass, 3D printed cover/grate, etc. But that sounds like way more trouble than just buying/making something out of plastic. I would like to keep the 3D printed base. I think a plastic tube could work. I'll have to see what I can find or buy locally tomorrow.



Sound advice. I didn't think about that. Between you and I - that moth flew into my room at the worst time possible. It was asking for trouble. But I 100% agree! Adding, I fish so it's not a bad idea to have bait at the ready. Makes feeding easy. Cheap. Thank you all for helping!

lifting the glass?? Bad idea

honestly it sounds like you’re flying by the seat of your pants and the only one who suffers in that approach will be a dead spider

 

[Brewser]

Catch and Release is Good for the environment.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

Use deli cups with tiny holes in them or let it free.

 

[TheraMygale]

Just get those cylinder plastic ziploc containers. Or a clear cereal box made of acrylic or what not.

i would turn it upside down and add some mesh on top for now. Anything, like screen material for doors. Its not a tarantula: it will not chew through it.

sounds like its spring over there!

what you fed your jumper is a variety of white cabbage buttefly (Pieris rapae) not a moth. Nothing precious anyways, parasites of the garden. just wanted to specify that.

wild jumpers are also used to sucking water from surfaces and might not get the bowl. Keep that in mind.

i think what you did is cool and its fun to see people putting so much effort into making things for spiders.

 

[Ratmosphere]

Needs ventilation.

 

[dev0042]

Currently the ventilation issue is temporarily solved. However, today I was not able to find a plastic tube or a reasonably priced enclosure locally. Decent enclosures retail were $30+ and way too big. Or super cheap and short or waste of $5. I choose not and instead attempted to drill holes in the glass. I'm stubborn. Yet had success! Yes, It took way too much work as expected. Those holes with fans seems to work for venting and the time being. I questioned the sharp edges of the holes on the inside. But it turned out he avoided them. So it gives me time to make covers w/ mesh.

So onto Version #2! Spoiler: Active smart cooling/venting, a feeding door, (less glass lifting) a misting water delivery instead of any lower cotton and more. The entire thing will be raised a bit and I hope it turns out to be dope for the little spooder.

I did pick him up some mealworms which he seems to like. The worm escaped the feeder dish and he tracked it down.V2: Inescapable feed dish ya know++. But that is where I'm at here. I read all posts and appreciate all input. I don't reply if I do not have anything constructive to reply or are talked at. There are ways to say things. I'll see ya'll on the next post.