The Phidippus Regius species, also known as the regal jumper, ranges from 6mm to 22mm with females usually being larger than the male. They are diurnal, meaning they are awake during daylight hours, making them an ideal pet. 

 

Males and females are not easily differentiated when juvenile as females can portray the common colourations of the male, especially if they are dark or black phased. The males are always black with a pattern of white spots and stripes. Females often bare similar patterns to the males, but range in colour from shades of white to a vivid orange. The three spots on the back of the spider's abdomen often resemble a smiling face but on closer inspection the dots themselves are often uniquely shaped from spider to spider. These spots are normally white in males but can be orange, cream or white in females.

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The regal jumping spider belongs to Phidippus, a group of jumping spiders easily identified both by their relatively large size and their iridescent chelicerae. The Phidippus Regius can have chelicerae that are blue, teal, green, gold, purple, pink, red and orange. Although females can have green and blue which are commonly seen in males, males are not noted to have the pinks and reds.

The average lifespan of the Phidippus is 18 months to 2 years, with males maturing faster than females. This breed of spider will prefer to spend its time up high and will often make its web sac at the top of its enclosure, where it feels safe and can hunt its prey well. 

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The jumping spider can jump around 50 times the distance of its size, be aware of this when your sider is out of its enclosure! They are also extremely quick and agile; be mindful you need to always keep an eye on them. 

Your jumping spider will enjoy hunting his or her prey, the best way to do this can be to use a separate feeding box to place your spider and its prey, to allow your spider to hunt and feed. Or introduce live prey into their enclosure and to check after a short time (approx. 30 mins) to see if your sider has taken their prey. Always remember to remove uneaten carcasses or any uneaten live prey.

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Phidippus Regius is unlikely to bite, and symptoms are mostly limited to some localised swelling and pain, unless the victim is allergic. These spiders are safe to handle, although most will not want to be handled but merely tolerate it. It will largely depend on your individual spider’s personality and whether it becomes use to being handled.