Regal jumping spider (Phidippus regius)

Short answers

Regal jumping spider: How big does the enclosure need to be?

At least 20×20×30 cm (tall, well ventilated) — more height is welcome.

Regal jumping spider: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 24–28 °C (gradient: ~28–30 °C at the top, ~23–25 °C at the bottom), at night 20–23 °C.

Regal jumping spider: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: No UVB needed; bright daytime lighting (daylight spectrum) recommended.

Regal jumping spider: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: females approx. 1.5–2 years, males approx. 1 year (after the maturing moult).

Regal jumping spider: Is it suitable for beginners?

Yes – it is considered suitable for beginners (difficulty: Beginner).

Climate

Daytime temperature

24–28 °C (gradient: ~28–30 °C at the top, ~23–25 °C at the bottom)

Night temperature

20–23 °C

Basking spot

—

Humidity

50–70 %

UVB

No UVB needed; bright daytime lighting (daylight spectrum) recommended

Enclosure

Minimum size

at least 20×20×30 cm (tall, well ventilated) — more height is welcome

Substrate

Coco humus or potting soil, possibly with sphagnum; slightly damp on one side, plenty of climbing and hiding structure above

Feeding

Food

Fruit flies, micro crickets, small flies; as adults house flies, small house crickets and roaches (suitably sized)

Feeding interval

adults 2–3×/week, juveniles daily to every other day

Key facts

Adult size

females approx. 15–22 mm, males approx. 12–18 mm body length (one of the largest jumping spiders)

Life expectancy

females approx. 1.5–2 years, males approx. 1 year (after the maturing moult)

Origin

The south-east of the USA, Cuba, the Bahamas, the West Indies; several local forms (the Bahamas, Florida, Soroa, Apalachicola)

Protection status

No CITES or German protection; mostly available captive-bred

Brumation

None

Cohabitation

Keep them singly. Solitary and territorial, with pronounced cannibalism – put them together only briefly for supervised breeding. No permanent pairs or groups.

Notes

An ideal beginner's jumping spider: robust, large, curious and easy to handle (never grab it, just let it walk onto your hand). Do not disturb or feed it before or after a moult (it makes a resting cocoon high in the terrarium) – the moult takes a few days. Good ventilation matters against mould.

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Related species

• Canopy jumping spider (Phidippus otiosus) – Beginner
• Bold jumping spider (Phidippus audax) – Beginner
• Red-backed jumping spider (Phidippus johnsoni) – Beginner
• Algerian jumping spider (Cyrba algerina) – Intermediate
• Arched jumping spider (Evarcha arcuata) – Intermediate
• Bronze jumping spider (Hyllus semicupreus) – Beginner
• Peacock jumping spider (Saitis barbipes) – Intermediate
• Diard's jumping spider (Hyllus diardi) – Beginner

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Regal jumping spider (Phidippus regius) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (at least 20×20×30 cm (tall, well ventilated) — more height is welcome), substrate (Coco humus or potting soil, possibly with sphagnum; slightly damp on one side, plenty of climbing and hiding structure above), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.