What a jumping spider really costs

A captive-bred regal jumping spider costs $17–$45 as a spiderling, but live shipping adds $25–$58, so expect about $42–$93 delivered. A small vertical enclosure, substrate, twigs, a spray bottle and fruit fly cultures to raise it run about $47–$200 (typically about $125). After that it eats a cricket or two a week, so it costs about $25 a year, and it lives only one to three years.

Life expectancy: 1–3 years
Size: About ½ in body, 1–1½ in with legs spread (females a little larger)
Care level: Moderate
Price: $42–$93
Setup: About $130
Insurance: Not offered

Estimate for: One captive-bred regal jumping spider (Phidippus regius) bought online as an unsexed spiderling with 2-day live shipping, raised on fruit flies in a small cup and then kept alone at room temperature in a 5×5×7 in vertical acrylic enclosure. Space needed: Vertical, ventilated enclosure of at least 4×4×7 in for an adult; a cup no bigger than about 3 in across for a small spiderling.

Where the money goes each year

A typical year for a jumping spider, with typical spending in an average-cost area.

Feeder insects for an adult (small crickets, flies, roaches)$13
Substrate and decor refresh$11
Typical year$20

Most years land between $10 and $90. Items replaced on a cycle are spread across the years.

Setup and the first year

For jumping spiders, the equipment usually costs far more than the animal.

Getting set up

Price (captive-bred spiderling or juvenile from an online dealer (including live shipping))$68
Adult vertical enclosure (5×5×7 in acrylic)$55
Small spiderling cup with feeding port$6
Substrate, thin layer (coco fiber)$11
Twigs and cork bark for climbing and hammock anchors$9
Fine-mist spray bottle$5
Digital thermometer and humidity gauge$13
Fruit fly cultures to raise the spiderling (one-time)$27
Upfront$190

Running costs in year one

Feeder insects for an adult (small crickets, flies, roaches)$13
Substrate and decor refresh$11
Year-one running costs$20

First-year total: $220.

Make it your estimate

Change the choices that move the price most. Totals update as you go.

Your lifetime estimate$200 First year $220Then about $20 a yearOver 2 years

$2 a month in a typical year.

Feeder insects for an adult (small crickets, flies, roaches)$13
Substrate and decor refresh$11
Typical year$20

What to buy

The gear and supplies in this estimate, matched to a jumping spider. Each link searches Amazon for the right type and size.

Adult vertical enclosure (5×5×7 in acrylic)Setup, typically about $55
See on Amazon
Small spiderling cup with feeding portSetup, typically about $6
See on Amazon
Substrate, thin layer (coco fiber)Setup, typically about $11
See on Amazon
Twigs and cork bark for climbing and hammock anchorsSetup, typically about $9
See on Amazon
Fine-mist spray bottleSetup, typically about $5
See on Amazon
Digital thermometer and humidity gaugeSetup, typically about $13
See on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate, PetPriceTag earns from qualifying purchases. Buying through these links costs you nothing extra and never changes our cost figures.

Health costs to plan for

Condition	What it is	Typical treatment	Cost
Bad molt (mismolt)	Bugs in Cyberspace calls a mismolt one of the main causes of early death in jumping spiders and advises frequent misting and not disturbing a spider in its molting hammock. Adults never molt again, so the risk ends at maturity. Source	Raise humidity and leave the spider alone (PetSmart); prevention is a $4.99 spray bottle and daily misting	$0–$5
Dehydration	PetSmart says a dehydrated jumping spider loses interest in hunting and loses coordination; it should have water droplets to drink from misting the enclosure walls. Source	Mist the walls daily so droplets are available (spray bottle $4.99)	$0–$5
Mites and mold	PetSmart lists mites and other pests infesting the habitat. Bugs in Cyberspace warns that leftover prey and a stagnant, overly humid tank breed bacteria and mold, and recommends cross-ventilation. Source	Remove prey remains, let the enclosure dry between mistings, and replace substrate and decor ($10.98 Eco Earth pack, $7–$16 for twigs or cork)	$11–$25
Dyskinetic syndrome (DKS)	PetSmart describes DKS as jerky movement, poor coordination and loss of appetite with no known cause or treatment, and says it is often fatal. Source	No known treatment; the realistic cost is a replacement spider ($42–$93 delivered)	$0

The yearly estimate includes an average of $0 for illness and injury. No mainstream US insurer covers spiders. Nationwide's exotic plan lists birds, rabbits, mini pigs and goats, lizards/reptiles/frogs, guinea pigs, and ferrets and small mammals, and says any species not listed is ineligible.

What drives the cost

Shipping often costs more than the spider: Bugs in Cyberspace sells regal spiderlings for $17 but charges $25 for 2-day live shipping and $50–$58 for overnight, which it requires when your daytime high is over 83°F. Josh's Frogs ships live animals overnight at a flat $39.99.
Spiderlings are sold unsexed, and sex sets the lifespan: Bugs in Cyberspace says males live about a year and Phidippus females 2–3 years. PetSmart gives 1–2 years and Josh's Frogs less than one. A confirmed female juvenile costs about twice as much ($35 at Bugs in Cyberspace).
The first feeder bill is fruit flies, not crickets: Bugs in Cyberspace feeds wingless fruit flies through about the 5th instar and says a culture lasts 4–8 weeks. Most pet stores don't stock them, but PetSmart lists 16 oz flightless fruit flies at $8.99, and Josh's Frogs sells producing cultures at $9.99.
Keep a sling small: Bugs in Cyberspace says nothing bigger than about 3 in is needed for a spiderling on fruit flies (its sling cup kit is $5.99), so the adult 5×5×7 in enclosure can wait until the spider is larger.
No heat or special light is needed: Bugs in Cyberspace and Josh's Frogs both say room temperature is fine, and PetSmart says a lamp on a timer works for daytime light, so electricity is close to $0.

Is it legal where you live?

Legal to keep in most of the US; regal jumping spiders are native to North America and the Caribbean (PetSmart), and no federal rule specific to them was found, though USDA APHIS advises contacting it before buying any land-dwelling invertebrate. Florida approves native or established jumping spiders without conditions but requires an FDACS permit (form FDACS-08208) to bring them in from out of state; in-state sources are exempt. Hawaii prohibits importing any animal not on its approved or restricted lists, and no spiders are listed, so dealers will not ship there.

Restricted or banned in: Florida, Hawaii.

Cities and counties can have their own rules. Check locally before you buy.

Captive-bred spiderling or juvenile from an online dealer (including live shipping): $42–$93
Lifetime: $200

How this estimate is built

Every line, with the typical, thrifty and generous figures and where each comes from.

Item	Typical	Range	Basis and sources
Setup
Adult vertical enclosure (5×5×7 in acrylic)	$55	$9–$70	PetSmart's minimum is 4×4×7 in, taller than wide; The Bio Dude says to avoid overly large enclosures. Low: Exo Terra Faunarium Small (9×6×6½ in plastic) $8.99 at Josh's Frogs, which its care sheet says comfortably houses this spider. Typical: Tarantula Cribs Canopy CORE 5×5×7 in jumping spider enclosure $54.99 at The Bio Dude. High: Tarantula Cribs Coffin Crib medium (5×5×10 in, stands upright) $69.99 at The Bio Dude. PetSmart: Regal Jumping Spider Care Guide; Josh's Frogs: Exo Terra Faunarium Small, 9 × 6 × 6½ in ($8.99); Josh's Frogs: Royal Jumping Spider (Phidippus regius) Caresheet; The Bio Dude: Tarantula Canopy CORE 5x5x7 Jumping Spider Enclosure ($54.99); The Bio Dude: Tarantula Cribs Coffin Crib (Medium 5×5×10 in $69.99); The Bio Dude: Regal Jumping Spider Caresheet and Bioactive Habitat Maintenance
Small spiderling cup with feeding port	$6	$6–$6	Bugs in Cyberspace says a spiderling eating fruit flies needs nothing bigger than about 3 in in any direction, so it can see and catch its prey. Its Pet Jumping Spider Sling Habitat Kit is $5.99. Bugs in Cyberspace: Pet Jumping Spider Sling Habitat Kit ($5.99); Bugs in Cyberspace: Pet Jumping Spider Care Sheet
Substrate, thin layer (coco fiber)	$11	$11–$11	PetSmart: 1–2 in of sphagnum moss and/or coconut fiber; The Bio Dude: a thin layer. Zoo Med Eco Earth 3-brick pack (7–8 L per brick) $10.98 at PetSmart, far more than one enclosure uses. PetSmart: Regal Jumping Spider Care Guide; PetSmart: Zoo Med Eco Earth Expandable Substrate, 3 bricks ($10.98); The Bio Dude: Regal Jumping Spider Caresheet and Bioactive Habitat Maintenance
Twigs and cork bark for climbing and hammock anchors	$9	$7–$16	The Bio Dude lists cork bark, twigs or branches and plant cover for anchor points. Low: Bio Dude cork bark chunks, small bag $6.95. Typical: Bio Dude birch branch stalks (5–7 in, 10 count) $8.95. High: both = $15.90. The Bio Dude: Regal Jumping Spider Caresheet and Bioactive Habitat Maintenance; The Bio Dude: Virgin Cork Bark Chunks (4×6 in bag $6.95; 8×20 in bag $16.95); The Bio Dude: Natural Birch Branch Stalks, 5–7 in, 10 count ($8.95)
Fine-mist spray bottle	$5	$5–$5	Bugs in Cyberspace recommends daily or frequent misting to prevent bad molts; PetSmart lists a fine-misting spray bottle. 16 oz spray bottle $4.99 at Josh's Frogs. Bugs in Cyberspace: Pet Jumping Spider Care Sheet; PetSmart: Regal Jumping Spider Care Guide; Josh's Frogs: Pet Hissing Cockroach Kit (16 oz spray bottle $4.99)
Digital thermometer and humidity gauge	$13	$0–$13	PetSmart's shopping checklist includes a thermometer and hygrometer and suggests 75–85°F by day. Zoo Med Digital Combo gauge $12.99 at Chewy. Low: skipped; Bugs in Cyberspace says if you are comfortable at room temperature, the spider will be too. PetSmart: Regal Jumping Spider Care Guide; Chewy: Zoo Med Digital Combo Thermometer Humidity Gauge ($12.99); Bugs in Cyberspace: Pet Jumping Spider Care Sheet
Fruit fly cultures to raise the spiderling (one-time)	$27	$9–$77	Bugs in Cyberspace feeds wingless D. melanogaster through about the 5th instar, then D. hydei, and says a culture lasts 4–8 weeks. Typical: three 16 oz flightless fruit fly cultures from PetSmart at $8.99 = $27. Low: one. High: four Bugs in Cyberspace cultures at $12.99 + $25 2-day live shipping = $77. Josh's Frogs producing cultures are $9.99 each before shipping. Bugs in Cyberspace: Pet Jumping Spider Care Sheet; PetSmart: Reptile food (live crickets 14–17¢ each; flightless fruit flies 16 oz $8.99; small dubia 25 for $7.99); Bugs in Cyberspace: Fruit Fly Culture, D. melanogaster wingless ($12.99); Bugs in Cyberspace: Terms of Service (2-day live shipping $25, overnight $50–$58, no Hawaii); Josh's Frogs: Producing Wingless D. melanogaster Fruit Fly Culture, 32 oz ($9.99)
Every year
Feeder insects for an adult (small crickets, flies, roaches)	$13	$9–$64	Josh's Frogs: feed one to three times a week; PetSmart: most do well fed every 5–7 days, and overfeeding is a common mistake. Bugs in Cyberspace lists small crickets, mealworms, house flies and roaches for adults. Typical: about 1½ small crickets a week (78 a year) at PetSmart's 17¢ each = $13. Low: one a week = $9. High: a 25-count tub of small dubia roaches ($7.99 at PetSmart) about every six weeks, since many go unused = $64. Josh's Frogs: Royal Jumping Spider (Phidippus regius) Caresheet; PetSmart: Regal Jumping Spider Care Guide; Bugs in Cyberspace: Pet Jumping Spider Care Sheet; PetSmart: Reptile food (live crickets 14–17¢ each; flightless fruit flies 16 oz $8.99; small dubia 25 for $7.99)
Substrate and decor refresh	$11	$0–$27	Bugs in Cyberspace says prey remains stay in the cage until you clean them out and can spoil in a humid tank; PetSmart lists mites in the habitat as a health problem. Typical: one Eco Earth 3-brick pack a year ($10.98). Low: the first pack lasts. High: substrate plus a bag of birch stalks and cork ($10.98 + $8.95 + $6.95 = $27). Bugs in Cyberspace: Pet Jumping Spider Care Sheet; PetSmart: Regal Jumping Spider Care Guide; PetSmart: Zoo Med Eco Earth Expandable Substrate, 3 bricks ($10.98); The Bio Dude: Natural Birch Branch Stalks, 5–7 in, 10 count ($8.95); The Bio Dude: Virgin Cork Bark Chunks (4×6 in bag $6.95; 8×20 in bag $16.95)
Illness and injury, per year
Unexpected costs (rare exotic-vet visit)	$0	$0–$118	LOW CONFIDENCE: no data on jumping spider health spending exist. PetSmart says medical care for jumping spiders is limited by their size, though some exotics vets do see arachnids, and the common problems it lists (stuck molts, dehydration, mites) are handled at home. With a spider costing $17–$35, most owners spend nothing. High: one exotic consultation at The Gentle Vets (Green Bay, WI), from $118.39. PetSmart: Regal Jumping Spider Care Guide; The Gentle Vets (Green Bay, WI): Exotics pricing (consultation from $118.39, Feb 2026)

More insects and invertebrates by yearly cost

Common questions

How much does a jumping spider cost?

Captive-bred spiderling or juvenile from an online dealer (including live shipping): $42–$93. The bigger costs come after: about $130 to set up, about $220 for the whole first year, then about $20 a year.

How much does a jumping spider cost per year?

About $20 a year ($2 a month) for a typical owner in an average-cost area, ranging from about $10 for a thrifty owner in a lower-cost area to $90 for a generous owner in a big city.

How much does a jumping spider cost over its lifetime?

About $200 over a 2-year life, in 2026 dollars.

Sources

Estimates in 2026 US dollars. Vet prices for this pet use the same region adjustment as the rest of the site (methodology). Updated October 15, 2026. Spot a wrong figure?