Choosing Appropriate Feeders
Matching the Right Prey to the Right Spider
Feeding a jumping spider is about more than simply offering insects. The size, type, nutritional value, and behavior of feeder insects all play an important role in your spider's health and overall husbandry success.
Choosing appropriate feeders helps ensure your spider can hunt safely, maintain healthy body condition, and receive proper nutrition throughout every stage of life.
The goal isn't to provide the largest prey possible.
The goal is to provide the most appropriate prey possible.
Why Feeder Choice Matters
The insects you offer influence:
Growth
Young spiders require consistent nutrition to support development.
Molting Success
Proper nutrition helps support healthy molts and overall condition.
Activity Levels
Well-fed spiders tend to be more active and confident hunters.
Longevity
A varied, balanced feeding routine contributes to long-term health.
The Golden Rule of Feeder Size
A simple rule used by many experienced keepers:
Feeders should be roughly the size of the spider's abdomen or smaller.
This guideline helps reduce:
Injury risk
Feeding stress
Prey intimidation
Failed feeding attempts
When in doubt, choose the smaller feeder.
Best Feeders for Spiderlings
Young spiderlings require tiny prey items that are easy to capture.
Melanogaster Fruit Flies
Ideal for:
Newly emerged spiderlings
Small slings
Benefits:
✓ Easy to culture
✓ Appropriate size
✓ Readily available
Hydei Fruit Flies
Ideal for:
Larger spiderlings
Early juveniles
Benefits:
✓ Larger than Melanogaster
✓ Excellent transition feeder
✓ Widely accepted
Best Feeders for Juveniles
As spiders grow, their prey options expand.
Large Fruit Flies
Excellent for:
Juvenile jumpers
Smaller species
Bottle Flies
One of the best feeders available.
Benefits:
✓ Encourage natural hunting behavior
✓ Highly nutritious
✓ Excellent feeding response
✓ Stimulate activity
Many experienced keepers consider bottle flies one of the most valuable feeders in the hobby.
Small Roaches
Examples:
Dubia nymphs
Red runner nymphs
Benefits:
✓ Nutritious
✓ Easy to maintain
✓ Readily accepted
Best Feeders for Adults
Adult jumping spiders can safely consume larger prey.
Bottle Flies
Often considered a premium feeder option.
Benefits:
✓ Natural hunting experience
✓ Excellent enrichment
✓ Strong feeding response
House Flies
Suitable for many adult species.
Benefits:
✓ Active prey
✓ Encourages natural hunting
✓ Easy to offer
Roaches
Appropriate species include:
Dubia roaches
Red runner roaches
Benefits:
✓ High nutritional value
✓ Reliable feeder source
✓ Easy to gut load
Mealworms: Useful but Not Perfect
Mealworms can be offered occasionally.
Benefits:
✓ Convenient
✓ Readily available
✓ Easy to store
However:
They are not ideal as a sole feeder
Movement is limited
They provide less hunting enrichment
Think of mealworms as part of a varied diet rather than the entire menu.
The Benefits of Flying Feeders
Jumping spiders are visual predators.
Flying prey often encourages:
Natural stalking behavior
Increased activity
Exercise
Mental stimulation
Examples:
✓ Bottle flies
✓ House flies
Many keepers notice stronger feeding responses when offering flying prey.
Gut Loading Feeders
Healthy feeders create healthy spiders.
Gut loading means feeding nutritious foods to feeder insects before offering them to your spider.
Common gut-loading foods include:
Fresh vegetables
Commercial insect diets
Fruits
Leafy greens
A well-fed feeder provides more nutritional value than a poorly maintained one.
Variety Matters
While some spiders happily eat the same feeder repeatedly, variety can be beneficial.
Offering different prey types helps:
Increase nutritional diversity
Encourage natural behaviors
Reduce feeding boredom
Improve overall husbandry
A varied diet more closely resembles what spiders encounter in nature.
Feeders to Avoid
Avoid offering:
Wild-Caught Insects
Wild insects may carry:
Pesticides
Parasites
Diseases
Captive-raised feeders are generally safer.
Oversized Prey
Prey that is too large can:
Injure the spider
Create stress
Discourage feeding
Dangerous Feeders
Avoid leaving aggressive feeders unattended with vulnerable spiders.
This is especially important during:
Premolt
Molting
Postmolt recovery
Species Considerations
Different species may show different feeding preferences.
Regal Jumping Spider
Typically accepts a wide variety of feeders.
Bold Jumping Spider
Usually enthusiastic and adaptable.
Canopy Jumping Spider
May respond particularly well to flying prey.
Paraphidippus fartilis
Often benefits from active prey that encourages hunting.
Hyllus diardi
Capable of handling larger prey due to their substantial size.
Common Feeding Mistakes
Offering Prey That Is Too Large
Bigger is not always better.
Feeding Only One Feeder Type
Variety improves nutrition and enrichment.
Ignoring Feeder Quality
Healthy feeders produce healthier spiders.
Leaving Uneaten Prey
Always remove uneaten prey when appropriate.
Prioritizing Convenience Over Suitability
Choose what is best for the spider—not simply what is easiest to obtain.
Tiny Coven Recommended Feeders
Spiderlings
Melanogaster Fruit Flies
Hydei Fruit Flies
Juveniles
Large Fruit Flies
Bottle Flies
Small Roaches
Adults
Bottle Flies
House Flies
Dubia Roaches
Red Runner Roaches
A Keeper's Rule of Thumb
Choose feeders your spider can hunt confidently, consume safely, and benefit from nutritionally.
The best feeder isn't necessarily the largest, cheapest, or easiest to find.
It's the one that helps your spider thrive.
And when in doubt, remember:
Healthy feeders help create healthy spiders.