Jumping spiders are taking TikTok by storm, with hashtags such as #jumpingspider and #spidertok reaching over 1.5 billion views combined. Visual ecologist Nate Morehouse has studied the intelligence of jumping spiders and found that their impressive vision and ability to see more of their world allows them to make more complex decisions than other animals. Pet owners have found that owning a jumping spider can be rewarding, with viewers telling Danae Wolfe, who shares updates of her spider brood on TikTok, that her pets have helped them overcome their fear of spiders. However, jumping spiders only live one to two years on average, meaning owners face the heartbreak of losing their pets. The exposure to jumping spiders on TikTok could help improve the reputations of all spiders and encourage viewers to relocate them rather than kill them.
The Soaring Popularity of Jumping Spiders as Pets on TikTok
Jumping spiders have taken the internet by storm, particularly on TikTok, where they have become a sensation, and many individuals have become spider owners for the first time. CNN has spoken with arachnid enthusiasts to explore why these tiny creatures have captured the hearts of millions of people around the world.
Heather Bruen, who initially loathed spiders due to their creepy appearance, lives in Florida where the regal jumping spider is native and abundant. After befriending one of the creatures, Bruen’s fear turned into tolerance, which eventually transformed into acceptance. Sharing her experiences of these tiny creatures on TikTok was what caused the spiders to gain popularity, and viewers were intrigued by their charm and curiosity.
Jumping spiders are now well-known for their ability to fit comfortably on their owner’s fingertips, and they’ve become a popular choice for those looking for a new pet. The spiders’ antics, such as waving their fuzzy arms towards cameras, tilting their heads towards their owners, and leaping at impressive heights and speeds, have won the hearts of many. They are considered adorable, eight-legged magic, resulting in massive TikTok engagement.
Jumping Spiders on TikTok: A New Favorite Pet
Jumping spiders have become a sensation on TikTok, with hashtags like #jumpingspider and #spidertok receiving more than 1.5 billion combined views. These tiny creatures have been featured in numerous clips, from dancing around their reflections to gazing up at their owners as if requesting a lift. Many of the viewers are new to the world of spiders, and exposure to these charming creatures is curing them of arachnophobia and inspiring them to take them as pets.
Intelligent and Entertaining Pets
Nate Morehouse, a visual ecologist and associate professor at the University of Cincinnati, has long been fascinated by jumping spiders. According to his work on their intelligence, these creatures are indeed worth the hype. They possess some of the best vision among arachnids, and their eight eyes are capable of seeing fine details and colors. In fact, some jumping spiders’ visual acuity may even surpass that of humans.
Jumping spiders are also capable of making complex decisions because of their impressive vision. With the ability to see more of their world, they can decide between several potential routes and take note of potential food sources, which is especially important since they cannot spin webs to ensnare prey. In short, these tiny creatures are deceptively brilliant.
Their massive eyes, which remind many of the cute babyish-ness of Grogu in “The Mandalorian,” make them an endearing pet. These creatures are usually no more than an inch long, and while they are not the best snugglers, their vivid hues make them attractive to assess potential mates.
Jumping spiders rarely bite humans and do not pose a risk to their caretakers. They are often a gateway to curing arachnophobia and inspiring individuals to take on pets they never would have considered before. The spider fervor has even led to a cottage industry of deluxe spider habitats, from hollow walnut shells to regal glass towers. Indeed, it seems jumping spiders are the new favorite pet of TikTok, and for good reason.
Jumping Spiders: A Fascinating Pet for Spider Lovers
Jumping spiders have become an increasingly popular pet, thanks to TikTok, where hashtags like #jumpingspider and #spidertok have garnered over 1.5 billion views. Users, many of whom are new to the spider world, have developed a newfound love for these tiny creatures, enamored by their personalities and peculiarities.
Personalities and Peculiarities of Jumping Spiders
Danae Wolfe, a photographer and conservationist, admits she didn’t fall in love with jumping spiders until she started capturing them on camera. The up-close examination of these creatures allowed her to see their personalities and peculiarities. While they may not form the same type of bond with humans as cats and dogs, Wolfe believes they might recognize people and even learn to trust and love them.
Owners of jumping spiders claim they make intelligent, entertaining pets, capable of recognizing their owners and waving to them as they film them. Jumping spiders are deceptively brilliant creatures, possessing impressive vision, which allows them to make complex decisions. These tiny creatures have some of the best vision among arachnids, and their eight eyes can see fine details and colors. They can decide between several potential routes and take note of potential food sources, making them adept at surviving in the wild.
Overcoming Arachnophobia
Many TikTok users have been fascinated by these creatures, with owners like Wolfe sharing clips of their spiders grooming their fangs, wrestling mealworms, and waving at their owners. These videos have helped viewers overcome their fear of spiders, and owners have found that owning a jumping spider can be rewarding in different ways.
Jumping spiders are a relatively new pet craze, but tarantulas have long been a popular, albeit polarizing, pet. However, unregulated online sales of tarantulas have put several endangered or threatened species at risk. In contrast, jumping spiders sold in the US are typically bred from regal jumping spiders, which aren’t thought to be at risk in the wild.
Jumping spiders are becoming an increasingly fascinating pet for spider lovers, with many new owners purchasing their first spider from breeders like Heather Bruen, who started breeding spiders after moving from Florida to New Jersey. She now sells jumping spiders and struggles to keep up with the demand, with many of her customers being first-time spider owners.
Jumping spiders may not be as playful as a puppy or as snuggly as a cat, but they live incredible, even magical lives, according to Nate Morehouse, a visual ecologist and associate professor at the University of Cincinnati. These fascinating creatures are worth the hype, and with exposure to them, even major arachnophobes may find themselves enamored by their intelligence, personalities, and peculiarities.
The Love and Loss of Jumping Spiders
Jumping spiders, with their big and expressive eyes and impressive jumping abilities, have taken TikTok by storm. The hashtags #jumpingspider and #spidertok have collectively amassed over 1.5 billion views, exposing millions of viewers to the charm of these tiny arachnids. Owners of jumping spiders, like photographer and conservationist Danae Wolfe, attest to their pets having personalities and peculiarities that make them lovable in their own way.
Jumping spiders are not just cute and playful, they are also incredibly intelligent. According to visual ecologist Nate Morehouse of the University of Cincinnati, jumping spiders have some of the best vision among all arachnids, and can see fine details and colors, which suggests their deceptively brilliant nature. They can make more complex decisions and take note of potential food sources, especially since they cannot spin webs to ensnare prey. Jumping spiders are also relatively harmless to humans as they rarely bite and do not pose a risk to their caretakers.
However, owning a jumping spider can be bittersweet as their lifespan only lasts one to two years on average. Wolfe has lost many jumping spiders over the years, but she has developed a ritual of burying them in caskets made from acorns found in her front yard, as a way of thanking them for the wonderful memories they provided her family and the world.
Prolonged exposure to clips of jumping spiders on TikTok has been found to cure some viewers of arachnophobia and improve the reputation of all spiders. Morehouse hopes that TikTok’s fascination with jumping spiders can inspire viewers to relocate spiders found inside their homes rather than kill them, thereby helping spiders everywhere.
Overall, jumping spiders may not be as cuddly as cats or dogs, but they have their own unique charm that can be rewarding for those who are willing to give them a chance.
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