Is the Regal Jumping Spider a Good Pet?

The Regal jumping spider is commonly chosen as an exotic pet due to its amiable disposition and ability to coexist together with humans, rendering it a favourable choice for enthusiasts of arachnids, despite its relatively short lifespan.

Due to their diurnal nature, observers have the opportunity to witness the locomotion and nest-building behaviour of regal jumping spiders within their enclosure.

The royal jumping spider, a member of the Salticadae family, is part of one of the most extensive spider families, encompassing over 6,000 distinct species.

 

How Do I Describe the Regal Jumping Spider?

The body length of adult males varies between 6 to 18 mm (0.24–0.71 in), with an average of 12 mm (0.47 in). The length of females varies between 7 to 22 mm (0.28–0.87 in), with an average length of 15 mm (0.59 in).

Distinguishing between men and females at their juvenile stage can be challenging, as females have the ability to exhibit the typical colour patterns of males, particularly if they possess dark or black variations.

The male individuals always exhibit a melanistic colouration, characterised by a mostly black hue adorned with distinctive white spots and stripes.

Female individuals frequently exhibit comparable patterns to their male counterparts, while their colouration varies from various shades of white to a striking orange hue.

The three markings located on the posterior region of the spider’s abdomen frequently exhibit a facial expression reminiscent of a smile.

However, with meticulous examination, it becomes apparent that these dots possess distinctive shapes that vary among individual spiders.

In males, these spots typically exhibit a white colouration, whereas in females, they may manifest as orange, cream, or white.

The royal jumping spider is classified under the genus Phidippus, which is characterised by its notable size and the presence of iridescent chelicerae.

The Phidippus Regius exhibits a diversity of chelicerae colours, including blue, teal, green, gold, purple, pink, red, and orange.

While it is observed that females can exhibit colours such as green and blue, which are typically associated with males, males are not typically observed to possess colours such as pink and red.

 

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What Does the Regal Jumping Spider Look Like?

Regal jumping spiders have sexual dimorphism, hence facilitating the differentiation between males and females based on observable traits.

These jumping spiders exhibit a greater diversity of colouration and attain a higher adult body size, ranging from 0.28 inches to 0.87 inches.

In contrast, males of this species achieve a smaller size, often ranging from 0.24 inches to 0.71 inches.

The male regal jumping spider exhibits a uniform black colouration, leading to occasional misidentification as a black widow spider.

Males of this species also exhibit white spots and stripes along their bodies, displaying a similar pattern to that observed in females.

These spiders have a smaller physical size in comparison to their female counterparts.

However, it is noteworthy that both male and female jumping spiders possess diminutive bodies adorned with conspicuous sets of huge black eyes, endowing them with an aesthetically pleasing and endearing countenance.

The colouration of these spiders is widely recognised for its composition of orange and grey patterns adorning their bodies.

Regal jumping spiders possess a comprehensive array of fine hairs that envelop their entire anatomical structure, while their mandibles exhibit a captivating bluish-green iridescent hue.

 

How Do I Describe the Behaviour of the Regal Jumping Spider?

The royal jumping spider poses no threat or harm to people. The minimal quantity of venom that is introduced into their food by these organisms is insufficient to have any detrimental effects, even in the event of a bite.

The sensation of the bite might be described as a gentle pinching feeling, accompanied by a minor level of discomfort.

Regal jumping spiders exhibit biting behaviour mostly in response to perceived threats, typically when subjected to physical pressure during the process of handling.

 

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How Do I Describe the Habitat of the Regal Jumping Spider?

Regal jumping spiders are commonly observed in tropical areas, primarily within the southeastern United States and the West Indies.

The initial discovery of regal jumping spiders occurred in the West Indies and the United States, with a predominant concentration in the state of Florida.

The habitat of the regal jumping spider primarily encompasses woodlands or fields located within the herbaceous zone.

The subadult regal jumping spider exhibits a preference for semiarid settings characterised by the presence of palmettoes and palms.

Regal jumping spiders exhibit a preference for constructing their webs within arboreal environments, such as trees, shrubs, or other such flora.

Adult jumping spiders have been observed to establish their dwellings in wall cracks when residing in close proximity to human settlements.

The regal jumping spider, a pantropical species with a preference for warmer climates, thrives within a temperature range of 80 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit, akin to the temperatures seen in its natural habitat of southeast North America.

In order to maintain a suitable habitat for a regal jumping spider as a domesticated companion, it is imperative to recreate the requisite warm temperatures and optimal climatic conditions within the enclosure, ensuring that the temperature is maintained within the range of 75 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit.

The optimal humidity conditions for maintaining a regal jumping spider as a domesticated companion encompass a range of 50% to 60%.

This desired humidity level can be attained by employing a method of light misting throughout the day.

When maintaining a regal jumping spider as a domesticated companion, it is advisable to ensure that their enclosure closely mimics their native habitat.

An enclosure with dimensions of 6×6×10 inches is sufficient to accommodate an adult regal jumping spider, allowing it to exhibit its typical behavioural patterns.

In the event that the enclosure is excessively large, the organisms may encounter challenges in locating sustenance.

The optimal design for the enclosure should prioritise vertical space above horizontal space while ensuring that the air apertures allow for sufficient ventilation without being large enough for the regal jumping spider to escape.

The royal jumping spider thrives in warm and humid environments, characterised by an abundance of branches and plants that provide optimal circumstances for the construction of their intricate webs.

 

How Do I Describe the Diet of the Regal Jumping Spider?

Regal jumping spiders exhibit carnivorous behaviour and assume the role of nocturnal hunters, venturing away from their webs in search of sustenance.

The primary food supply for regal jumping spiders consists of insects, particularly small crickets or mealworms. The individuals in question will consume meals on a frequency ranging from three to four occasions each week.

Regal jumping spiders exhibit behaviour in their natural habitat where they venture out from their silk nests in search of sustenance.

Their preferred food sources include various pests commonly seen on citrus plants and sugarcane, such as flies (Diptera), aphids, cicadas (Hemiptera), shield bugs, crickets, and locusts (Orthoptera).

Regal leaping spiders exhibit rapid locomotion and actively engage in predation by targeting small insects that are in motion inside their confined habitat.

Regal jumping spiders exhibit a preference for actively hunting their meal rather than relying on passive waiting for insects to settle on their webbing, a feeding behaviour reminiscent of tarantulas.

 

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How Do I Describe Reproduction in the Regal Jumping Spider?

Male regal jumping spiders exhibit polygamous behaviour by engaging in multiple mating encounters with subadult to adult female royal jumping spiders before their eventual demise.

Female regal jumping spiders construct a nest composed of their silk in order to deposit eggs, typically within the confines of tree bark.

The initial clutch of eggs typically consists of between 180 to 200 eggs, with a subsequent decrease in egg count as the regal jumping spider progresses in age.

Female regal jumping spiders exhibit a limited reproductive capacity, often producing approximately four egg sacs throughout their lifespan.

The average lifespan of a regal jumping spider is rather brief, with a normal duration of no more than 10 months in its natural habitat.

Nevertheless, when confined in a controlled environment, the regal jumping spider exhibits a lifespan ranging from 1 to 2 years.

Spiders achieve maturity and transition into adulthood through a biological phenomenon called moulting, wherein they lose their exoskeleton as a means of growth.

 

Conclusion

Regal jumping spiders are classified as carnivores, or more colloquially referred to as insectivores.

Nocturnal hunting activities primarily involve the pursuit of various prey species, including locusts, crickets, mealworms, flies, aphids, and cicadas.

Regal jumping spiders, when held in confinement, exhibit a preference for consuming fruit flies and mealworms, as well as any potential prey that does not exceed their own body size.

Regal jumping spiders exhibit a rather short lifespan, with an average duration spanning from 10 months to 1 year. It is worth noting that these spiders tend to have a longer lifespan when kept in captivity.

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