Jumping Spiders and Water

Jumping spiders need fresh water to drink every day, plus a humid enclosure to help with moulting and to keep them comfortable. Extra moisture is also required for a successful moult. Here is how you can provide your spider with something to drink safely and while providing a habitat-first enclosure.

Facts About Jumping Spiders

• Jumping spiders do not breathe through their mouth parts, they have a small opening on the underside of their abdomen.

• Jumping spiders are arboreal, their main source of water is from dew, rain, and their prey.

• The humidity in a regal jumping spiders natural habitat is 70-80%.

• Jumping spiders need extra moisture to drink just before they are about to moult.

Do jumping spiders get their hydration from their prey?

In the wild, prey insects make up a portion of a jumping spiders hydration, they also drink from rain drops and dew. In captivity, feeder insect care is often neglected so that the insect is dehydrated, meaning they do not pass on adequate hydration to your spider. For this reason and because all animals should have access to clean water every day, you should be providing your jumping spider with a chance to drink.

If you plan to go on holiday it is a good idea to have someone come in and mist your jumping spider at least once a day while you're away.

How can I give my jumping spider water?

In captivity we can use fine mist spray bottles, spraying once or twice a day, to give jumping spiders something to drink and to raise the humidity of their enclosures. Larger spray bottles will create large droplet that can trap and drown a jumping spider. Lightly spray the sides of the enclosure, avoiding the spider, so they can drink safely from the fine droplets. It's handy to have some cotton tipped buds handy when misting their enclosure in case large droplets start to form.

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What about water bowls and sponges?

Water bowls can pose a serious drowning risk should a jumping spider fall in, and sponges are extra hassle due to them needing to be washed several times a week because they grow mould and breed bacteria.

Do jumping spiders need special water?

No, in most locations around the world, tap water is fine for your spider. Alternatives may need to be considered for certain areas of certain states in the USA due to the water treatment process. To find out for sure I advise you to speak to your local reptile shop.

Does misting the enclosure help with humidity?

It does, but it can only go so far. A good spider soil based substrate and sphagnum moss can help keep the humidity levels at an optimum level between 70-80%, especially if you spray them at the same time as misting the sides. Enclosures with fake grass or no substrate may struggle to stay humid enough for a jumping spider. This can cause mis-moults, when moulting goes wrong, or at the very least make your spiders exoskeleton itchy and dry. You can buy devices called hygrometers that can tell you the humidity percentage in your spiders enclosure. These need to be hung or inserted inside the enclosure away from décor and substrate, to provide an accurate reading of humidity. Other signs your spider could be dehydrated, or need more humidity, is constant itching, hiding at the bottom of their enclosure (in the wild this is where they would find more moisture), moult issues, and a shrunken abdomen.

I accidentally sprayed my jumping spider, what do I do?

Don't panic, it happens to us all at some point. One moment you're misting the side of the enclosure, the next a spider is right there in the firing line. 9 time out of 10, your spider will be a little soggy and start to wash themselves, but otherwise unharmed. If you notice they are dragging their back legs and/or abdomen along surfaces, or you can see water clinging to the underside of them, get the spider out as quick a you can and onto something that is absorbent like kitchen or toilet roll. This will help to dry the underside of your spider so they

can breath.

My jumping spider enclosure has condensation, what should I do?

If your enclosure has small droplets, or a mist on the walls of the enclosure, then this is normal, especially after setting up a new enclosure. This shows us that the substrate is moist enough and the enclosure is warm enough to provide good humidity. If there are large droplets forming, however, this can be dangerous. You can wipe down the sides of the enclosure to remove the excess moisture. This build up of condensation is commonly associated with the soil or moss being too damp. You can dab them with a sheet of kitchen roll to help dry the enclosure and stop the condensation forming. If the issue persists, this indicates an insufficient cross ventilation. You may need to add small holes or vents to the side of the enclosure.

There is mould in my jumping spider enclosure, is this bad?

Not necessarily. The humid environment of a jumping spider enclosure is the perfect place for mould to set up home. Natural items such as wood, or even certain substrates, may sprout white fluff that is harmless to a jumping spider, but unsightly black mould is bad for all creatures, including us, from breathing in the spores they produce. Here are some ways to deal with the appearance of mould:

• White Mould: You can remove the items to dry them out, and/or avoid spraying them in the future. If it is the substrate that is the issue (mould is very common with coco-fibre substrate) you can replace it with a more spider appropriate soil such as ProRep Spider Life or Habistat Spider Bedding.

• White Mould: You can introduce mould loving springtails to your spider enclosure. They are small white creatures about a mm long and are the perfect addition to a jumping spider enclosure. You will need to have spider appropriate soil, plus some bark and leaf litter for them to hide around. You can find out how to care for for your springtails from PostPods here

• Black Mould: If certain items are growing patches of black mould you will need to remove them from the enclosure altogether. If the black mould is on the enclosure walls you will need to add more ventilation to the enclosure and/or give it a good airing.

There are lots of cute items people like to add to jumping spider enclosures, such as fabric ropes and silk flowers, which are not designed to be placed in a humid environment. It is worth considering carefully what you introduce

Key Points:

• Jumping spiders need misting at least once every day to give them something to drink and to help humidity.

• Water can be dangerous to a jumping spider, a fine mist spray bottle is a great way to offer your spider fresh water.

• Humidity and hydration is important for moulting.