Jumping Spider Record Keeping: Molts, Feedings, and Identification Notes

Start with the date, feeder type, feeder size, and whether your spider actually ate. Jumping spiders are visual hunters that feed on a wide variety of arthropods, and prey choice often changes as the spider grows. Recording accepted and refused feeders helps you learn what your individual spider handles well.

It also helps to note abdomen shape before and after feeding, because appetite alone does not tell the whole story. A spider that refuses food but still has a rounded abdomen and is spending more time in a silk retreat may be preparing to molt. If the abdomen looks very small or wrinkled, that is more concerning and is worth discussing with your vet.

Create a separate molt line in your log with three parts: pre-molt signs, molt date, and post-molt recovery. Common pre-molt notes include food refusal, staying in a silk retreat, lower activity, and less interest in hunting. Spiders typically protect themselves in retreats before molting, and they may stop eating during this period.

After the molt, record whether the shed skin was complete, whether all legs appear normal, and when normal movement returns. Add a photo if you can. Immature jumping spiders become more adult-like in size and markings after each molt, and the number of molts can vary by species and sex. Adults generally do not continue molting, so a final molt is an important milestone to note.

Identification notes are most useful when they are specific. Record the species if known, or write "suspected species" if you are not certain. Helpful details include body length, overall color, abdominal spots or bands, leg pattern, and the color of the chelicerae. Jumping spiders are recognized by their large forward-facing eyes, and many Phidippus species also have conspicuous iridescent chelicerae.

If you are trying to sex your spider, note whether it is still immature or appears adult. In some species, males and females become easier to tell apart as they mature, and juveniles may change pattern with each molt. Saving dated photos is often more reliable than relying on memory alone.

A simple spreadsheet, notes app, or paper chart works well. Useful columns include: date, estimated instar or life stage, enclosure changes, feeder offered, feeder eaten, water or misting note, molt status, behavior, and photo taken. If your spider came from a breeder or rescue, add origin and hatch or purchase date if known.

You can also add a "call your vet" column for concerns such as repeated missed meals with a thin abdomen, difficulty climbing, a bad fall, an incomplete molt, or sudden weakness. Record keeping does not replace veterinary care, but it gives your vet a clearer timeline and can make exotic pet appointments much more productive.