Jumping spiders have rapidly transformed from misunderstood arachnids into the internet’s favorite tiny pets – all thanks to a woman from Reno! How? Well…it’s a bit of a story. Let’s dig in!
*original story from The New York Times*
Meet Lauren!
At the center of this booming trend is Lauren Taylor, a 35-year-old graphic designer in Reno, Nevada. Her home doubles as a sanctuary for roughly 2,000 jumping spiders. Taylor breeds and sells the fuzzy creatures through her business, Spider Stuff, charging between $60 and $100 per spider. To prevent them from eating one another, she houses them in custom-designed “spider condos.” She also keeps several as personal pets, including Harry, a tiny canopy jumping spider who comfortably hops between her fingers.
From spiders to social media celebrities
The exploding popularity of these creatures is largely driven by social media. Affectionately dubbed “spooders” or “web puppies” by their fanbase, jumping spiders are starring in viral videos. Here, they perform for the audience: tilting their heads, waving their front legs to be picked up (a move fans call “uppies”), and exploring miniature dollhouse sets.
What’s even more interesting? The wholesome content is actually helping people cure their arachnophobia. Once terrified of spiders, enthusiasts like Portland dance teacher Olivia Ontkean and California mother Joleen Hernandez say social media completely shifted their perspective. They now happily keep spiders in their own homes!
What makes jumping spiders unique?
Ecologists note that the species is uniquely suited to this kind of human affection. Nathan Morehouse, an ecologist at the University of Cincinnati, explained that jumping spiders make excellent arachnid ambassadors. They are solitary, highly observant, and interact closely with their surroundings. Additionally, they rarely bite unless threatened, and their venom poses no danger to humans.
However, the craze has spun a web of controversy. Animal rights organizations have criticized the trend, calling it a cruel fad that treats living invertebrates as social media props.
Furthermore, as demand has skyrocketed, major pet store chains like PetSmart and Petco have started stocking jumping spiders. This commercialization sparked pushback from indie breeders and enthusiasts, with over 2,000 people signing a petition demanding the big retailers halt their sales over animal welfare concerns.
So…should you get an itsy-bitsy jumping spider?
Think twice. Keeping jumping spiders comes with distinct logistical hurdles for owners. They require a diet of live prey, live for only 1 to 3 years, and can easily escape their enclosures. They can also create massive surprise population booms. Tiana Gayton, an LA resident known online as “Tiana the Bug Lady,” unexpectedly became a spider grandparent to 600 babies after 2 of her spiders arrived pregnant. Embracing the chaos, Gayton went on to create a thriving Facebook community of over 15,000 spider parents. Looks like this pet craze shows no signs of squishing to a halt anytime soon…
