My Spider Won't Eat
Understanding Food Refusal in Jumping Spiders
Few situations cause more concern for new keepers than a jumping spider that suddenly refuses food.
A spider that eagerly accepted prey last week may now ignore feeders completely. It may watch the prey without hunting, retreat into its hammock, or simply show no interest at all.
Fortunately, food refusal is one of the most common concerns in jumping spider husbandry—and one of the least likely to indicate a true emergency.
In many cases, a spider that isn't eating is simply responding to a normal part of its life cycle.
The key is learning how to distinguish normal fasting from situations that may require closer attention.
First: Don't Panic
A missed meal is not automatically a problem.
Jumping spiders do not operate on strict feeding schedules.
Unlike mammals, they can comfortably go extended periods without food depending on:
Age
Species
Temperature
Activity level
Molting cycle
Body condition
One skipped meal is rarely cause for concern.
Check the Abdomen
Before worrying about feeding, look at your spider's abdomen.
Healthy Abdomen
Rounded
Proportional
Neither overly thin nor excessively large
A spider with a healthy abdomen can often skip meals without issue.
Thin Abdomen
A noticeably shrunken abdomen may indicate:
Hunger
Dehydration
Recent egg production
Underlying husbandry concerns
Body condition often provides more useful information than feeding behavior alone.
Premolt: The Most Common Cause
If your spider suddenly stops eating, premolt should be the first possibility you consider.
Common premolt signs include:
Food refusal
Increased webbing
Extended hiding
Reduced activity
Retreat construction
Many spiders stop eating days or even weeks before a molt.
This is completely normal.
Is the Spider Hiding?
A spider spending most of its time inside a hammock is often preparing to molt or simply resting.
Do not:
Tear open the hammock
Continuously offer food
Disturb the retreat
Patience is usually the correct response.
Has the Spider Recently Molted?
Freshly molted spiders often refuse food temporarily.
After a molt:
The exoskeleton must harden
The fangs must strengthen
Recovery must occur
Wait until:
✓ Activity returns
✓ The spider leaves its retreat
✓ The fangs darken
before attempting to feed again.
Did the Spider Recently Arrive?
Shipping can be stressful.
New arrivals frequently:
Hide for several days
Refuse food
Build retreats immediately
Explore less than usual
Allow the spider time to settle into its new environment before becoming concerned.
Hydration is often more important than feeding during the first few days.
Is the Enclosure Appropriate?
Environmental conditions can affect feeding behavior.
Review:
Ventilation
Poor airflow may create discomfort.
Temperature
Temperatures outside the preferred range may reduce activity.
Hydration
Ensure the spider has access to drinking opportunities.
Stress Levels
Frequent disturbances may discourage feeding.
Is the Feeder Appropriate?
Sometimes the issue isn't the spider.
It's the prey.
Questions to consider:
Is the feeder too large?
Oversized prey can intimidate a spider.
Is the feeder too active?
Some spiders may hesitate if prey seems overwhelming.
Is the feeder unfamiliar?
Certain spiders develop preferences for specific prey types.
Try a Different Feeder
If one feeder is repeatedly ignored, consider offering another appropriate option.
Examples include:
Fruit flies
Bottle flies
House flies
Small roaches
Mealworms
Different prey types often produce different feeding responses.
Seasonal Changes
Some spiders naturally become less active during certain times of year.
Reduced feeding may occasionally accompany:
Seasonal temperature shifts
Environmental changes
Reduced daylight exposure
This is often more noticeable in mature individuals.
Mature Males Often Eat Less
Adult males frequently become more interested in finding mates than feeding.
As maturity approaches, males may:
Wander more
Eat less frequently
Spend less time hunting
This behavior is common and often species-dependent.
Mature Females May Fast
Adult females occasionally refuse food for reasons related to:
Egg development
Molting cycles
Reproductive behavior
Observation and body condition remain the most important indicators.
When Food Refusal Is Usually Normal
Food refusal is often not concerning when:
✓ The abdomen remains healthy
✓ Premolt signs are present
✓ The spider recently arrived
✓ The spider recently molted
✓ Activity remains normal
✓ The spider appears otherwise healthy
In these situations, patience is usually the best solution.
When To Investigate Further
Food refusal may deserve closer attention when combined with:
Significant weight loss
Persistent lethargy
Difficulty climbing
Repeated falls
Obvious injury
Severe dehydration
At that point, husbandry conditions should be reviewed carefully.
Common Beginner Mistakes
Offering Food Every Day
Repeated feeding attempts often create unnecessary stress.
Constantly Disturbing the Spider
The more you interfere, the harder it becomes to assess what is actually happening.
Assuming Food Refusal Means Illness
Premolt remains the most common explanation.
Ignoring Body Condition
A healthy abdomen often tells a more complete story than a missed meal.
The Tiny Coven Approach
At Tiny Coven Jumpers, we encourage keepers to think like observers rather than problem-solvers.
When a spider stops eating, the goal is not to immediately fix something.
The goal is to understand why.
Most food refusal is part of a natural process.
The spider is preparing to molt.
Recovering.
Adjusting.
Resting.
Growing.
When we learn to recognize these patterns, feeding concerns become far less stressful.
A Keeper's Rule of Thumb
A spider that skips a meal is not necessarily a spider with a problem.
Before assuming something is wrong, look at the whole picture:
Observe the abdomen.
Observe the behavior.
Observe the environment.
More often than not, your spider is simply following its natural rhythm—and all it needs from you is patience.