Tom's Big Spiders - Tarantulas And Inverts

Oftentimes, I find myself in need of a certain type of enclosure for a rehousing in relative hurry, and I resort to hopping on Amazon to see what I can find. As a result, I've tried out a bunch of enclosure possibilities, both inexpensive and more pricey, over the years that work pretty well for our eight-legged friends. In this episode, I review some of the ones that I've tried. 

Unfortunately, I'm fighting off the 'rona right now, so this episode will be a bit shorter. This time around, I talk a bit about my recent video on hobby staple tarantulas. Then, I answer questions about tarantulas and bright lights, which species of spiders I would never keep, and how often to clean away webbing. 

First, I talk a bit about the Ephebopus slings that I recently acquired. Then...sure, spiders can bite, have venom, and can put a hurting on anyone foolish enough to trifle with them. However, there are some spiders available in the trade that have been the victim of over exaggeration and hyperbole to the point where many will refuse to keep them. In this episode, we take a look at 5 spiders that receive this dubious distinction. 

First, we take some listener comments from last episode. Then we discuss why it's always important to consider your living situation before you start a tarantula collection. 

First, we discuss how to tell when a spider is truly dead, and I share a story about my Psalmopoeus Langenbucheri sling.Then, if you're older and in the hobby, should you continue to buy long-lived species? Should you pass away, what will become of your collection? In this second part of the podcast, we talk about how you should prepare in the event that you leave your tarantula collection behind. 

This one has been a long time coming. There is a lot out there about the physiological and behavioral difference between these two classifications of tarantulas. However, much of it takes a very superficial and exaggerated stance when it comes to the comparisons. In this episode, I break down the differences between these two types of spiders and explain how these differences can impact the hobbyist keeping them. 

Hot off of "What Makes an Expert Species", this topic covers what skills, traits, or "tools" the "expert" keeper should possess. Thanks to ProfessorChani for the topic suggestion! 

After having a discussion with a fellow keeper about arachnophobia, I got to thinking about how spiders are presented in media and how much some of those depictions strengthened my own fear of these animals. In this episode, I talk a bit about spiders in media. 

Happy Mother's Day 2022! In this episode, we discuss how we designate which tarantula species are "advanced" (and why these designations aren't always accurate). 

First off, a heads up that the first half of the podcast is mostly responding to some emails about the last episode. Then, we get into some of those pesky hobby myths that seem to never go away. 

What if we were all able to come up with some basic rules that we wanted all tarantula hobbyists to live by? What would our "10 Commandments" of keeping be? In this episode, I offer up my list of 10 rules that I think all serious tarantula hobbyists should abide by. 

First, we talk about a few comments I got after last week's episode about tarantula stress. Then, we revisit the topic of tarantula temperament and why these eight-legged wonders are seemingly so inconsitent from specimen to specimen when it comes to their overall mood. 

We often throw the word around when discussing husbandry practices and setups, but what does it really mean? How much stress can our spiders take? In this episode, we break down the types of stress our tarantulas can and can't feel. 

First, Billie and I ventured out to the Show Me Reptiles Expo in West Warwick Rhode Island this weekend, and I talk a bit about the experience. Then, my mention of semi-arboreal setups (and their controversial nature) drew an excellent email about the topic as it pertains to the C. cyaneopubescens.  In this episode, I will discuss the idea of setting GBBs up in "semi arboreal" enclosures and what I mean by that designation.For more info on the dealers mentioned in this podcast, check out the links below!KFInvertsWicked Webz

In this episode, we address the most popular tarantula-focused topics and concepts hobbyists love to argue over on forums and social media groups. 

As the first Tarantula Exam was quite a hit, I decided that it would be fun to return to the classroom to try a part two. This time around, the questions are a little more difficult and feature 15 short scenarios that ask listeners to determine what the keeper is doing wrong. Again, this is all just for fun and an entertaining way to discuss some common missteps in the hobby. Enjoy and good luck! 

I get asked this question a couple times a week, and I have a quick goto list of vendors that I've used over the years. In this episode, I go over the folks that I have had great experiences with in hopes of spreading the word. 

Four years ago, I did an early podcast on the state of the hobby in the United States. In this episode, we'll revisit the topic. In many ways, it's a great time to be a tarantula hobbyist, with more species and dealers around than ever. However, with increased exposure bringing negative attention to our little pasttime, could we be in for a much darker future? 

First, we revisit last week's episode. Then, I give an update on my Poecilotheria formosa, who was recovering from a bad molt. Finally, I just rehoused my sub-adult Xenesthis sp. blue and thought that it would be a good time to update my care notes on that species. 

In this episode, I talk about 5 tarantula species that I would like to see more readily-available (and inexpensive!) in the hobby.