How to handle and interact with jumping spiders

Jumping spiders are cute and charming pets that can have different personalities and preferences. Some owners enjoy handling their spiders and taking them out of their enclosures, while others, due to being bitten, prefer to observe them from a distance. But this totally depends upon the individual spiders; some are dangerous and prone to attacking humans, while others feel comfortable interacting with humans.

So, let’s Uncover some ambiguities and discuss some tips on How to handle and interact with jumping spiders.

What to do before handling your jumping spider

No matter if you are handling your spider for the first time or have done it many times before, the best advice is to go slow with them because the spiders, especially Jumping spider pets, are very decent and innocent. So you have to prepare yourself before handling a Jumping spider.

Let’s discuss some preparation steps.

1. Make sure your jumping spider is not in a Pre-Molt stage: Pre-molting is the initial stage of molting, when spiders are getting themself ready to shed their old exoskeleton with a newer one. At this stage, the spider can be dangerous, and it can bite our handling. So, it is best to leave them alone until the molting process completes.

2. Make sure the area around the enclosure is clear: If you give your jumping spider a clear and clean area, it will be easy for you to handle and interact with it. It is better to bring the enclosure in a clear space or on a desk; it will limit the places for the spider to hide and save it from falling and getting injured.

 3. Wash your hands: Spiders are very decent tiny creatures. A little chemical, oil, or dirt can harm your spider’s health.

4. Use Gloves and other safety Items: If you interact with a wild spider or even if it is your pet, make sure to use gloves and other safety items. Usually, spiders are harmless, but precaution is better than cure.

5. Be gentle and guide your spider: Gently guide your spider and help it to come out from the enclosure safely.

6. Get a catching cup ready: In case of any accident or if anything goes wrong, don’t handle your spider directly with your hand or gloves. Always use a “catching cup”. It will help you to easily handle your spider without having anybody fracture.

What to do When your Spider is out

Once you have guided and successfully taken your jumping spider out of the enclosure, now it’s time to interact with and handle the spider. 

When the spider comes out, instantly close the enclosure doors and let it explore the surroundings. Usually, spiders want to take up upper spaces like enclosure roofs and or on tables, so properly guide it to outer space or provide it with other climbing surfaces like bottles where it can climb and jump easily.

Once the spider gets familiar with the surroundings, it will walk slowly and will stop waving its front legs. It will likely find a comfortable place and start a self-massage, just like other cats and dog pets.

Now it’s time to handle your spider

Now, it’s totally up to you how you will handle your spider by guiding it or by tricking it. Both methods work well depending on how you execute them.

Guiding Method: In this method you should use a straw or brush to make an interaction with your spider and guide it to come on your hand.

Tricking Method: You can successfully execute this method when the spider is in a higher place. When the spider is on a higher spot and waving its fronts you should place your hand in front of it. Always keep the hand 1 inch away from your spider at the same elevation where the spider is. Sometimes, when a spider comes on your hand, it will instantly jump back. Be patient and let the spider do it until it feels comfortable with your hand smells.

Once the spider is in your hand, place the second hand in front of it and let it play on your hands. It may take some time to calm down. When it does, it means it is feeling in your hands now.

Just Like other animals, the spiders need special care and interactions; if you have done it right next time, it will take less time to come into your hands.

Not only humans prefer to stay away from spiders but some spiders too. There are some species and personalities of jumping spiders that are shy and prefer not to be handled.

Hope you will have a great time with your jumping spider pet!