04/09/2026
💛 Old age comes to us all...
I've had Solara for 10 months, and she was already mature when she arrived.
Here is a comparison photo and a bit of a guide for anyone wondering what happens to our babies as they grow old.
👀 Their eyes can look different
Their large anterior median eyes may gradually lose some of that incredibly bright, glossy appearance. They can look slightly duller or hazier, and an older spider may seem less visually responsive.
You may also notice them taking longer to notice movement or prey. This doesn't necessarily mean they're blind — their visual processing and reaction times can simply become less sharp.
🦵 They become slower
This is probably one of the most noticeable changes.
A young jumper can go from "hello!" to "WHERE DID SHE GO?!" in about 0.2 seconds 😂. As they age, they tend to become much more sedate.
They may:
Walk rather than sprint
Take longer to investigate things
Spend more time sitting in one place
Be less enthusiastic about exploring
Have slower reactions when something moves nearby
Seem much calmer during handling
So if a spider that once zoomed everywhere suddenly seems happy to sit and watch the world, age can absolutely be a factor.
🕸️ Their legs can start looking a little worn
Older spiders can develop a slightly "scruffier" appearance.
Their legs may become:
Less coordinated
Slightly bent or held differently
Less firmly positioned
More prone to losing grip
They can also have missing or damaged limbs from their lifetime. Unlike a younger spider, an older adult cannot moult and regenerate a lost leg, because once they reach their final adult moult, they no longer moult.
That's an important distinction with adult jumping spiders.
🧡 Their body can change
An older jumper may lose some of that plump, robust appearance they had in their prime.
You might see:
A slightly thinner abdomen
Less muscular-looking legs
A more "shrunken" or delicate appearance
A less vibrant overall appearance
More visible signs of wear to their hairs
However, a thin abdomen isn't automatically old age. It can also mean they've recently laid eggs, aren't eating enough, are dehydrated, or have another problem.
🧹 Their grooming can change
Young jumpers are often obsessive little groomers.
Older spiders may groom less frequently or simply have less energy for it. Their hairs can consequently look a little less pristine.
Their whole appearance can become subtly more "weathered".
🥹 They may sleep and rest more
An elderly jumper may spend considerably more time inside their hammock.
You might find that they're still perfectly capable of coming out, eating and interacting, but they simply don't want to be out as much.
Their activity tends to become more economical — why sprint across the enclosure when sitting here works perfectly well? 😂
🍽️ Feeding can become slower
Older spiders may:
Eat smaller prey
Take longer to attack
Sometimes refuse prey they previously loved
Take longer to consume a meal
Need prey presented closer to them
Again, this is something to monitor rather than automatically attribute to age. A sudden loss of appetite in an otherwise active spider warrants more investigation.
🪶 And they don't moult anymore
This is probably the biggest physiological difference between a young and old jumper.
Once they reach their final moult and become mature adults, they stop moulting altogether.
That means their body doesn't have the same ability to repair itself through another moult. Injuries, worn hairs and damaged limbs are therefore permanent.
Often, it's not one dramatic change. It's a gradual combination of little things.
You might look at a spider you've had for a long time and realise:
"She's still completely herself… she's just become an old lady." 🥹
She may still recognise you, come to the front of the enclosure, look at you with those enormous eyes and happily take food — but she moves more slowly, rests more, explores less and generally looks a little more delicate.
And honestly, that can be one of the sweetest stages of keeping them. ❤️
🕷️✨
