Hydration and Misting

Jumping spiders don’t drink from dishes. They drink dew, so your job is to recreate it a few times a week with a light mist on one wall of the enclosure. Keep the droplets small enough to cling to the surface, and the spider will walk over and drink when it wants to.

The two common mistakes are opposites. Misting too much turns the enclosure swampy, which invites mold and mites. Misting too little dehydrates the spider, which shows up as a shriveled abdomen, lethargy, and curled legs. A good target is droplets that disappear within a few hours.

Never spray the spider directly, and never spray its web retreat. Wall droplets only. If your tap water is heavily treated, cheap spring water is a worthwhile upgrade.

The members version includes my humidity targets by species and season. Morbid Club members can read it now.

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