I think the next pet trend will be jumping spiders.
I have started to see jumping spiders in pet stores around my hometown in the Pensacola, Florida, area and thought to do some research on them and why they might be growing in popularity – and I found several answers to my question.
Jumping spiders are arguably one of the easiest pets to keep. They need very little space and can be kept in enclosures as little as less than a cubic foot.
This enclosure can be kept in many convenient spaces such as on a bookshelf, desk or kitchen counter. Most people have this space to spare if they are unable to keep more traditional pets because of limited space.
Jumping spider enclosures can also be fun to put together as a lot of it can be done at home with pet-safe materials such as wood, moss and handmade decorations, giving owners a lot of creative liberty. This will also make it easy to match the enclosure with whatever room they may be kept in.
Another reason I see them becoming the next household pet is their personalities. Jumping spiders are highly intelligent and entertaining.
They have been known to recognize their owners and even interact with them. They can learn to trust certain individuals and become handleable.
Jumping spiders are hunting spiders and watching them hunt can be quite entertaining. They are also architects in their own way. They are known for making bridges, tunnels and hammocks in their enclosures, using their webs to get around and hunt prey. Anyone who has seen a jumping spider inside of its own hammock knows how adorable they look doing so.
Another thing I have learned about jumping spiders is their short lifespan. This can be a pro or con added to your list depending on how you want to look at it. Most jumping spiders live between 1.5 and 2 years.
This can be a tough reality for some pet owners, especially those who get attached easily while others can view this as all the more reason to own one. For those who may have commitment issues, this is only a two-year commitment, whereas some would take the 10-plus year commitment that comes with dogs and cats.
Traveling with jumping spiders can also be easy. Fitting their small enclosure into a passenger seat is nothing short of convenient. I even came across jumping spider owners who lived in a traveling bus full-time and never stayed in one location for very long.
These friendly arachnids are easy to feed. I know that for a lot of people, live prey can be very intimidating. However, they take mostly small bugs and don’t need to be fed as frequently. Adult spiders go 5-10 days between feedings, making it easy for owners who may travel for a few days at a time.
For those looking to add a jumping spider to their family, more pet stores are beginning to carry them since they are so easy to care for. I definitely recommend looking into getting one of these eight-legged friends for yourself!
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