Tom's Big Spiders - Tarantulas And Inverts

Okay, to kick this one off, we will actually be continuing our discussion from last week by discussing what a keeper can do when threat postures scare him.Then, there's a brief update on my A. avicularia ("Metallica"), who hasn't been doing very well.And, finally, I've had a few advanced keepers ask what they should be doing to keep the hobby fresh after they've been in the hobby for a while.

Around 23 years ago, I got my first tarantula in part to help me to get over a life-long fear of spiders. Although it took many years (and eventually, MANY more tarantulas), I finally kicked my irrational fear of these animals. Since then, I've spoken to many keepers who were drawn to the hobby for the same reasons. In this episode, I'll discuss my experiences with getting over my fear, as well as some tips for those trying put their arachnophobia behind them. 

First, I talk a bit about my recent Rainbow of Tarantulas Video. Then, I discus my list of my top 10 personal favorite tarantulas. 

I've had a lot of folks talking about "aggressive" tarantula species lately. In this episode, we discuss why people may confuse "aggressive" and "defensive", and how to reduce this type of behavior.

Although not common, there are instances where a keeper buys a sling of one species only to discover years later that it is, in fact, another species. And then there are the spiders sold in pet stores under the wrong common or scientific names. In this episode, we discuss this disappointing and potentially dangerous issues.Also, an update on my H. chilensis and my P. metallica communal setup. 

It looks like it's going to be a bad spring for pests, and I'm already getting emails from concerned folks who are dealing with ants. Heck, I've already found a couple of them around my house. In this podcast, we go over what to do if you find ants around your tarantulas. Also, a quick update on my Poecilotheria metallica communal. 

First, my A. avicularia ("Metallica" form) is not doing too well. Second, I discuss some notes and observations on my H. devamatha juvenile. Finally, some updates on the bioactive enclosures! 

We'll kick this one off with a quick update on my H. chilensis female. Then, we'll discuss one of my favorite spiders, Sericopelma sp. Santa Catalina. Finally, it's on to a discussion of Pseudhapalopus sp. blue. 

A discussion of some odd fasting and molting behavior I've noticed with my H. chilensis adult females. 

I've been getting a LOT of questions about substrate lately, so I briefly review some of my thoughts on the various types. Then, we discuss the husbandry for Theraphosa blondi. 

First off, a HUGE, heartfelt thank you to some folks who truly deserve it. Then, we talk about bioactive enclosures and the Nhandu tripepii.

To kick this one off, we discuss an obscure species...Crypsidromus sp. Costa Rica.  Then, we address why folks tend to experience more sling deaths in the winter months. Finally, an update on my Patreon page. 

We kick this one off with an update on my bioactives (Spoiler alert: I lost another plant!). Then, we'll discuss the C. cyaneopubescens as a beginner species. Also, some thoughts on Patreon, my Facebook absence, and breeding. 

Moving ahead, I'll be doing a series of husbandry podcasts, and my plan is to cover all the species I've kept alphabetically. And, what better way to kick this off than with an Aphonopelma review! 

It's that time again! It seems like every few months, the the age old debate over whether or not tarantulas "need" water dishes heats up. Long a proponent of giving Ts water dishes, I discuss my take on it. Also, some updates on my bioactive enclosures as well as a close call. 

This weekend, Billie and I rehoused the 10 P. metallica in my communal setup. What better way to calm down than to record a podcast minutes later! Also, some mysterious scorpion deaths...CLICK HERE to watch the video! 

Buying tarantulas online is easy, safe, and convenient. But ordering live animals isn't exactly the same as shopping on Amazon. Here are some things every tarantula shopper needs to be aware of. 

I'm getting a lot of questions about Poecilotheria lately, so I figure that it would be good time to discuss this stunning (and often unfairly vilified) genus. 

When I first got into the hobby, the list of species that most keepers would deem "moisture dependent" was probably quite a bit longer than it would be today. As people have kept more and more species and experimented with some of the care, we've discovered that these creatures are much more adaptable than we sometimes give them credit for. That said, there are still several species that are all but universally recognized as needing moist substrate. In this episode, we discuss some of the species that used to be considered moisture dependent that no longer warrant this label, and identify some of the species still thought to like it damp. 

So, I've finally done it. After being sent several bioactive kits by Josh Halter, The Bio Dude, I've gone ahead and set up my first naturalistic enclosure. To say I'm excited to embark upon this new facet of the hobby would be an understatement. Here are some of my initial thoughts. The Bio Dude:  https://www.thebiodude.com/