Pet jumping spiders, affectionately nicknamed 'web puppies' or 'spooders', have become a viral sensation on social media, with videos of the tiny arachnids amassing millions of views. However, animal rights group Peta has condemned the trend as a 'cruel social media fad'.
The Appeal of Web Puppies
Jumping spiders, from the family Salticidae, are small enough to fit on a fingernail, contrary to fears of giant spiders like Aragog from Harry Potter. They typically live for one to three years as pets. Their adorable appearance, with eight furry legs and eight soulful eyes, has earned them a devoted following online.
One viral TikTok, with over 2 million views, showed a spider named Violet hugging a tiny clay human figure before retiring to her pink cottage. Violet's owner, a 33-year-old South Carolina woman, also keeps other spiders with strong online presences, including Tinkerbell and Pebbles.
Breeding and Sales
Lauren Taylor, a graphic designer from Nevada, breeds jumping spiders and has about 2,000 in her home. She sells them for $60 to $100 (£45-£75) each, depending on the breed. One of her spiders, a playful one-year-old canopy jumping spider named Harry, has been featured in media coverage.
Taylor defends the bond possible with these creatures: “You would never think it’s possible until you do it,” she says.
Criticism and Ethical Concerns
Not everyone is charmed. Peta argues that keeping jumping spiders as pets is a 'cruel social media fad' and that 'these complex, sensitive animals belong in their natural habitats – not in a glass prison'. Last year, after pet retail chains in the US began selling jumping spiders, more than 2,000 people signed a petition demanding they stop.
Critics point to Peta's past campaigns, such as referring to fish as 'sea kittens', as reason to question their credibility. Yet the debate over the ethics of keeping wild creatures as pets continues.
