Researched and written by the ExoPetGuides editorial team with AI-assisted drafting. All husbandry parameters and veterinary references independently verified.
This article is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice.
Should You Breed Jumping Spiders?
Breeding jumping spiders is straightforward compared to most exotic pet species, but it carries real responsibilities. A single egg sac from a Phidippus regius can produce 50 to 200 spiderlings. Each of those spiderlings needs an individual enclosure within weeks of hatching, and each needs regular feeding until it is either sold, rehomed, or added to your permanent collection.
Before you begin, answer two questions honestly: Do you have a plan for the offspring? And do you have the time, space, and feeder supply to raise dozens of slings for several weeks?
If you are still establishing your basic husbandry skills, start with the jumping spider care guide before attempting to breed.
Prerequisites for Breeding
Confirming You Have a Mature Male and Female
Both spiders must be sexually mature. Males reach maturity at their final molt, identifiable by their enlarged, club-shaped pedipalps (the small appendages near the mouth). Females are mature when they have reached full adult size, typically after their penultimate or final molt.
Attempting to pair immature spiders wastes time and risks injury to both animals. The sexing guide explains how to distinguish males from females and confirm maturity status.
Species Matching
Only breed spiders of the same species. Cross-species pairings do not produce viable offspring and often end in aggression. If you are uncertain of your spider’s species, the identification guide can help you confirm.
Health and Condition
Both spiders should be well-fed, fully recovered from their most recent molt (at least two weeks post-molt), and showing no signs of illness. A dehydrated, underweight, or recently molted spider should not be paired. The health guide covers condition assessment.
The Mating Process Step by Step
Step 1: Condition the Female
In the week before pairing, feed the female generously. A well-fed female is less likely to attack the male during or after mating. Offer food every one to two days leading up to the introduction. A plump abdomen indicates adequate nutrition.
Step 2: Introduce the Male to the Female’s Enclosure
Place the male into the female’s enclosure, not the reverse. The female will be in familiar territory, which reduces erratic movement. The male will begin courtship behavior once he detects the female’s silk pheromones.
Do not leave the room. Jumping spider matings must be supervised from start to finish. Cannibalism is a real risk at every stage.
Step 3: Courtship Display
The male will approach the female with a characteristic courtship dance. In Phidippus species, this involves raising the front legs, waving the pedipalps, and performing a zigzag walk. The male may also vibrate his body to produce substrate-borne vibrations.
The female’s response determines whether mating proceeds:
- Receptive: The female remains still, lowers her body posture, or turns to face the male without raising her front legs in a threat display.
- Unreceptive: The female raises her front legs in a threat posture, lunges at the male, or turns and runs away.
If the female is unreceptive, remove the male immediately using a soft paintbrush or by guiding him into a small container. Do not force the interaction. You can try again in a few days, or the female may never accept that particular male.
Courtship behavior in jumping spiders is among the most complex in the arthropod world. Males that perform poorly or are perceived as weak may be treated as prey rather than mates (source: Oxford Academic – Animal Behaviour, Salticidae courtship).
Step 4: Mating
If the female is receptive, the male will climb onto her back and insert one pedipalp into her epigynal opening on the underside of her abdomen. Mating can last from several minutes to over an hour. The male may switch pedipalps during the process.
Do not intervene during active mating. Disturbing the pair can cause injury to either spider.
Step 5: Post-Mating Separation
This is the most critical moment. Once mating is complete, the male will dismount and attempt to retreat. Remove the male from the enclosure immediately using a soft brush, cup, or piece of paper.
Do not delay. Female jumping spiders frequently kill and consume the male after mating. In some species, cannibalism begins during mating itself. The survival of the male depends entirely on how quickly you intervene after copulation ends.
If you want to breed the male with additional females, keep him well-fed and allow at least one week of recovery between pairings.
After Mating: Egg Sac Development
A successfully mated female will produce an egg sac within two to six weeks. During this period, she will eat more heavily than usual and begin constructing a thicker silk retreat.
Signs the Female Is Gravid (Carrying Eggs)
- Noticeably enlarged abdomen
- Increased appetite in the first one to two weeks post-mating
- Construction of a more elaborate silk retreat than usual
- Decreased activity and reluctance to leave the retreat as egg-laying approaches
Egg Sac Production
The female will lay her eggs inside a silk sac within her retreat. The sac is a dense, opaque silk pouch that she guards aggressively. She will not eat during the guarding period, which can last two to four weeks.
Do not disturb the egg sac. Moving it, opening it, or handling the female during this period can cause her to destroy or abandon the sac. Maintain normal enclosure conditions: 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit (24 to 27 degrees Celsius), 50 to 60% humidity, and regular misting on one side of the enclosure.
A single female can produce multiple egg sacs from one mating, though subsequent sacs tend to have fewer viable eggs.
Hatching and First Instars
Spiderlings emerge from the egg sac approximately three to five weeks after it is laid, depending on temperature. Warmer conditions accelerate development; cooler conditions slow it. The first-instar spiderlings are tiny (approximately 1 to 2 mm), pale, and largely immobile. They will undergo their first molt inside or near the egg sac before becoming active second instars.
Once the spiderlings begin moving independently, you have a limited window to separate them before cannibalism begins among siblings. This is covered in depth in the spiderling care guide.
Risks and Ethical Considerations
Male Mortality
Male cannibalism is the primary risk. Even with careful supervision, some males will be killed during pairing attempts. Accept this possibility before you begin.
Offspring Volume
A successful breeding produces far more spiderlings than most keepers can house permanently. Before breeding, secure buyers, adopters, or a local exotic pet community willing to take slings. Platforms like MorphMarket, Facebook jumping spider groups, and local reptile and invertebrate expos are common outlets. The where to buy guide lists many of these same communities from the buyer’s perspective.
Genetic Responsibility
Avoid breeding spiders with unknown genetics or from the same egg sac (sibling pairing). Inbreeding depression is documented in arthropods and can produce offspring with reduced vigor, abnormal coloration, or developmental problems. If you are working with captive-bred lines, track lineage and source unrelated breeding stock when possible.
Species Integrity
Only breed positively identified, same-species individuals. Hybridization between jumping spider species can produce non-viable offspring or genetic confusion in captive populations. This matters particularly if you plan to sell offspring.
Breeding Timeline Summary
| Event | Timeframe | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Condition the female (heavy feeding) | 1 week before pairing | Plump abdomen reduces cannibalism risk |
| Introduce male to female’s enclosure | Day of pairing | Supervise the entire interaction |
| Courtship and mating | Minutes to hours | Remove male immediately after mating |
| Egg sac production | 2 to 6 weeks post-mating | Female builds heavy silk retreat |
| Egg sac guarding | 2 to 4 weeks | Do not disturb; female will not eat |
| Spiderlings emerge | 3 to 5 weeks after sac is laid | First instars are immobile; second instars are active |
| Separate spiderlings | Within days of independent movement | Prevents sibling cannibalism |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many times can a female jumping spider breed?
A healthy female can produce multiple egg sacs from a single mating, typically two to four over her remaining lifespan. Each subsequent sac tends to have fewer eggs than the first. Females can also mate with multiple males, though there is limited evidence on how sperm competition works in Salticidae.
What happens if the female eats the male during mating?
If the female kills the male before or during copulation, the mating is unsuccessful and you will need a new male. If she kills him after mating is complete, the mating was likely successful and the female may still produce a viable egg sac. This is a normal, if unfortunate, aspect of jumping spider reproductive biology.
Can I breed jumping spiders of different species together?
No. Cross-species pairings do not produce viable offspring in jumping spiders. The courtship signals are species-specific, and most cross-species introductions result in the female treating the male as prey rather than a mate.
How old does a jumping spider need to be to breed?
Both male and female must be sexually mature, which occurs at the final molt. For Phidippus regius, this is typically at four to six months of age, depending on temperature and feeding rate. Males can breed shortly after their final molt once their pedipalps are fully hardened (approximately one to two weeks post-molt).
Is it profitable to breed jumping spiders?
Jumping spider breeding can offset costs of the hobby but rarely generates significant income. Phidippus regius slings sell for $10 to $25 each depending on morph and market conditions. A single egg sac can produce 50 to 200 slings, but raising, housing, feeding, and shipping them all requires substantial time and resources. Rare morphs and less common species command higher prices.