Frequently Asked Questions: 

The "i" stands for instar, which is a developmental stage of growing spiders and indicates the current stage of maturity. 

The number stands for which instar the spider is currently at and correlates to the period between molts. 

Most Jumping Spider species molt between 7-10+ times. The first molt occurs in the egg sac/nest. By the time spiderlings leave the nest they are in their second instar (i2, which is the stage between the second and third molt). With regals, at i3, the first white markings begin to show. They will continue to grow and colors will develop and change with each molt. They will also become fuzzier as they mature. 

Molting can take a lot out of a spider and there is a higher risk of fatality generally associated with spiderlings until after the fifth molt, which is why the majority of breeders do not offer their spiders for adoption until they have reached their fifth instar (i5). At this stage it can be possible to differentiate the sex of Regals, however it can take much longer with other species and especially with certain color phases of regals (notably white phases).

There is some variation between species, however on average you can expect your jumper to live between 1.5-3 years. Females tend to live longer than males, and it often takes around 1 year for jumping spiders to reach maturity.

It is important to note that Jumping Spiders don't molt after maturity. Because of this, they can't "repair" damage or regrow limbs once mature. Longer lifespans can be seen in those who take longer to reach maturity. 

By the time our spiders are ready for adoption, they will be eating mealworms. You'll also receive a starter kit which includes a sample of appropriately-sized feeders with each adoption.

Our babies all start out on fruit flies. We begin offering rice flour beetle larvae (RFBL) around i3-i4. We then transition off of fruit flies and offer tiny mealworms around i4-i5.

Other appropriate feeders include Lesser Worms (buffalo beetle larvae), Soldier Fly Larvae, Green or Blue Bottle Fly Larvae/Spikes/Flies, and Crickets (ensure you have a reputable supplier, as crickets can carry diseases and parasites that may put your spider at risk). This is not a complete list of appropriate feeders, however these are some of the more commonly available options!

Yes! We offer REGIONAL SHIPPING.

Shipping typically ranges from $25-$55 for overnight shipping, depending on your location. We ship through FedEx in properly labeled, insulated boxes. Generally we ship once weekly on Tuesday. We ship orders out as quickly as possible, though during extreme temperatures, storms, or holidays the shipping date may be delayed to ensure safety of the spiders in transit.

We suggest shipping to a local Fedex Hub whenever possible, as this prevents your shipment from spending excessive time on a local delivery truck, which can lead to exposure to extreme temperatures. If you do not have a hub local to you (these differ from standard Fedex shipping facilities and are authorized to hold live animals), we can ship to your home or business so long as someone is available to accept the package.

Yes! We offer LOCAL PICKUP and LOCAL MEETUP.

We do not have a storefront, however we are happy to arrange pickup at a local public area (we are located in Springfield, MO) or at any trade show/expo we are vending. Please contact us for details or monitor our facebook page for a list of events we will be attending. 

We currently breed Regal Jumping Spiders and are in the process of adding several new species! Follow us on Facebook for updates!

Regal Jumping Spider (Phidippus Regius): This is our main focus. Our breeding program includes a variety of genetically diverse spiders from various color phases and localities.

Who doesn't?! Let's discuss realistic expectations and some of the controversy surrounding white phases.

We CANNOT guarantee that your spider will stay white (or any color for that matter) until it has reached maturity. Color can change drastically from one molt to another. White phases are notorious for this, and even with careful selective breeding the majority of a white phase clutch does not mature to white. Other surprises occur as well, some very dark juveniles will mature to white phase, for instance. 

White Phase is NOT pure white. Even those that mature to white phase will still have hues of black/brown to varying degrees. Some breeders produce Regal/Otiosus hybrids which can lead to more white expression. (See also: Hybrids). Either way, color can still not be guaranteed until maturity. If you have your heart set on a white phase female, please contact us to be added to our wait list for a later stage or mature female. As these will be held back for longer periods and there is no guarantee on how many will show this color phase, these individuals are expected to be available in very limited supply. Joining our wait list saves your spot and gives you advance notice of available individuals who meet your "dream spider" criteria. (See Also: Waiting List/Notification List).

Recessive White Males: White phases often produce recessive white males. This can make proper sex identification much more difficult until subadult/mature stages. ALL MALES WILL MATURE BLACK AND WHITE and will NOT retain the recessive coloring they show as juveniles. They are wonderful to watch grow and change but don't get too attached to their early coloring as it will NOT be retained at maturity. Some of our recessive white males have kept coloring up until their final mature molt.

WE BELIEVE IN HONESTY

White spiders are all the rage right now. With high demand can come false promises. We want all of our customers to be happy with their spiders and feel that it is our responsibility to set realistic expectations. We will not mislead our customers just to make a sale, which is why we are posting this information in an attempt to dispel some misinformation surrounding white phases.