Phidippus regius

Sold as the regal jumping spider The spider for people who think they don't like spiders. It is tiny, about half an inch in the body, with big forward-facing eyes and a curious streak that makes it far more interactive than a tarantula. Shy at first, many will tolerate being held with patience and gentle handling; do it over something soft. It needs an enclosure taller than it is wide, at least 4 by 4 by 7 inches, with plenty of vertical climbing surfaces, plus live insects smaller than its body. The trade-off is time: expect about one to two years. Native to North America and the Caribbean, it is sold captive-bred by specialist breeders.