Regal Jumping Spider

The Phidippus Regius belongs to the Salticidae family. It is a species of jumping spider that was first found in the Southeastern USA and West Indies. It prefers its natural habitat which is tropical or subtropical, as it is accustomed to high temperatures and humidity.
Spiders are a very rare species that are often kept as pets. The Phidippus Regius, or the Regal Jumping Spider, is a preferred species and has become a household name.

With more information available about exotic pets on the internet, people are gradually warming up to the idea of keeping these unusual creatures as pets. Since this is not a typical pet, you should get your facts right before venturing on this journey.
The Phidippus Regius is popular and one of the most commonly kept species of jumping spider.  It looks adorable, requires minimal care, and has a great temperament that makes it suitable for beginners and experts alike.

Appearance

Spiders often have striking physical characteristics in terms of appearance, which makes them even more popular. The Phidippus Regius comes in remarkable colors, usually black or brown, with several other combinations. The most outstanding feature is the remarkably huge beady eyes on a comparatively small body. 

This spider is a diurnal, visual hunter, which means that it is active during the day and hunts by night. Just like other jumping spider species, the Regal Jumping Spider exhibits sexual dimorphism, meaning that males and females have different appearances. 

The females are larger and generally grow up to 22mm in body length. They have brighter or lighter colors on their bodies that can range in color from gray to orange. The males mostly have black with white markings on their abdomen below a white band. However, the environment they grow in affects their appearances.

There are other noticeable physiological differences when they are in captivity or are a product of selective breeding besides colors. The males are often smaller measuring up to 15mm body length, are slimmer, and have longer heavier-looking forelegs. On the other hand, the females get quite chunky, especially when gravid or just well fed. 

The most attractive characteristic of the Regal Jumping Spider is the blue-green or pink-colored iridescent/metallic chelicerae or “jaws,” which are quite large. Another fact is that the papli blocks the chelicerae. The papli is oversized, but it does not appear very big since it is covered with white hair.  They have three rows of eyes, where the first row is large and visible.

The Phidippus Regius is easy to house as it is small and has basic care requirements. If you build or procure a small enclosure, wooden or otherwise, you can keep your pet comfortable. Ensure that the space has good airflow and throw in a few accessories to brighten up the area.

However, these spiders are small and adaptable. You can experiment with different enclosures. Based on how much space you have at home, you should check length, width, and depth. 

Make it secure and breathable, so it gets a lot of space for exploration. You should keep these requirements in mind either when you’re buying the enclosure or building one so that it is easier to clean and maintain.

Small enclosures are easy to decorate. You should line the ground of the enclosure with about 2 inches of moisture-retaining substrate like coconut fiber. This makes the flooring soft, keeps the enclosure clean, and maintains a healthy humidity level. 

Place some small branches or twigs or even a tiny plant on top of the substrate. Doing this gives your spider plenty of areas to climb and build webs. A tiny water dish could also help prevent dehydration and keep the humidity consistent.

Unlike other species, the Phidippus Regius‘s optimal temperature is usually around room temperature. If you live in colder areas and get extremely cold, then you may need to supplement some heating, such as a space heater. A lot of times, this is not necessary. 

The Regal Jumping Spider’s natural habitat usually has summer temperatures soaring above 30ºC, with the relative humidity hovering around 75-80%. In the wild, they adapt themselves to the changes in temperature and humidity since they are out in the open with free fresh air. 

In an enclosed space in captivity, temperatures remain between 24-28ºC, and relative humidity is around 50-60%. Maintain the humidity levels by spraying on one side of the enclosure with water once every 2-3 days. 

Make sure you don’t spray the spider. A fine water mist every morning and a light mist in the afternoon during summer work well for the spider. If there is high humidity in an enclosed space with limited air movement, mold will begin to form and kill the spider.

So, consider the light levels, plus these spiders absolutely love light. When outdoors, spiders face storms and rain, which drench everything. The following heat dries it all off again. in captivity seems to prefer things on the drier side. Keep the enclosure near a bit of light during the daytime. 

Place the enclosure near a window but make sure that their enclosure isn’t heating up. An LED lamp also does the trick. Avoid using heating mats. If you do need to heat several enclosures at once, then place a heat mat placed vertically behind the enclosures. 

You need to take quite a few things into account when feeding these spiders. Since they’re so small, you can’t feed them standard insects, at least not initially. You should feed the young spiderlings, flightless fruit flies, or tiny pinhead crickets as much as they are willing to eat. Do This 1-3 times per week. 

As the spider grows, small insects will not be able to satisfy their appetite. Before this becomes a major issue, transition them to larger food, like small mealworms or crickets. They should be shorter than your jumping spider’s body. Clean out any uneaten food from the enclosure to prevent health risks and unsanitary conditions.

The Phidippus Regius does not suffer from major health issues. If you regularly clean a well-built and secure enclosure, maintaining the light and humidity of your spider can be safe and comfortable.

If your spider has a good diet, there aren’t many things that can go wrong. However, a common problem that owners face with their jumping spiders is dehydration. If there is inadequate enclosure spraying and a lack of a water dish, then this can happen. 

Spray the enclosure with water at least twice a week. To get an accurate reading of the temperature and humidity, use a digital thermometer or hygrometer to measure the conditions for dryness.

Sometimes the spider can damage their legs by falling from a height, so keep the floor moist and soft. The lifespan of the regal jumping spider is quite short. These creatures only shed about 5 to 6 times from young to adulthood. And their total life span is about 1 to 3 years.

The Phidippus Regius has a balanced and friendly temperament, which is the main reason why it is so popular. The Regal Jumping Spider is a curious and gentle creature that obviously loves to jump. Unlike most tarantulas, this spider forms a bond with its owner. 

This spider can recognize people and quietly observes changes around their area while jumping and exploring. You can handle your spider for extended periods of time without then becoming flighty. 

Inside the enclosure, this spider spends time either sleeping in its web sack or simply jumping around. Since they are small, it can be risky to take them out. Handle yours with caution at first, and move them around only once enough time has passed.

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