The Exotic Pet Collective

This week I sat down with Ryan from Marshall Arachnids to discuss his background in zoology and animal husbandry and how it impacts his tarantula husbandry. We discuss the controversial issues of tarantula care and husbandry and why the bare minimum basic husbandry might no longer be sufficient as we learn more about these arachnids in the wild and in captivity. This episode is sure to open some m...

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I sit down with Sheanna, Austin and Jayzun from the Pet Bug's Department of Josh's Frogs and discuss feeding, breeding, and packaging spiders as well as what it is like working at Josh's Frogs. It was a great conversation where we really get a peek behind the curtain as to what exactly is going on at Josh's Frogs. Enter the Halloween Giveaway: https://youtu.be/AFyVzGoQxTk Check...

So what REALLY happened with Eresus Spider Shop? They came on the scene hot with a lot of awesome species and then had a MASSIVE sale! But somewhere around a few months ago things seemed to quickly fall apart leaving many customers upset and waiting for weeks for their orders to ship. Some people called it a scam, some people blamed me, but sometimes the truth is a lot more complicated than a buzz...

Todays guest is the AMAZING Debra Wilson. You probably know her as the longest-serving original cast member on the sketch comedy series Mad TV. She has also had voice roles in video games such as Rebecca Thane in Mirror's Edge Catalyst, Grace Walker in the Wolfenstein series, Amanda Waller in Batman: The Enemy Within and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, Renata Glasc in League of Legend...

This week I sit down with Rachell Marie aka @rachellmvriee, or Tarantula Creep Show on TikTok. She is a tattoo artist in Akron, Oh that is very talented tattooing spiders. She is also a tarantula and exotic pet keeper that has a TikTok about her unique pets that has over 200k followers, with millions and millions of views! This was a fun conversation and I hope you enjoy! Follow Rachell on TikTok:...

Today I talk to Shenay aka Slightly Venomous about her appearance on America's Got Talent. She gives us some insight into that experience, what led her down that path, as well as how she started keeping inverts and other exotic pets and making content for TikTok and YouTube. Visit our sponsors website Arthropod Ambassadors:    https://www.arthropod-ambassadors.com/ Slightly Venomous: Instagra...

Today I am talking to Wilderness Nate from Microwilderness.com about his experiences breeding and selling tarantulas online. He is based out of Los Angeles, CA and is a tarantula dealer to the stars. He has an interesting story on how he became a tarantula breeder and works on some cool Aphonopelma projects that not only gets some cool species into the hobby, but also helps bolster the numbers of...

ENTER TO WIN A COPY OF VENOMOUS WORDS:  https://gleam.io/hYBSX/venonmous-words-book-giveaway Today I am talking to Gordon Riley, better know as Venom Macro on Instagram, about the recently published book Venomous Words that was a collaboration between he and author/poet Jeff Oliver. We discuss the new book, macro photography, keeping spiders and scorpions and more! Buy your own copy of Venomous Wo...

Today I am talking Tokay Geckos, Day Geckos, Crested Geckos and MORE with DB CB Exotics. If you have ever been curious about starting your own exotic pet business, then you will enjoy this discussion where we talk about how he launched and maintains his business breeding and selling reptiles and the upsides and pitfalls that come along with running your own exotic pet business.  DB CB Exotics:    ...

I reached out on social media and ask you all for suggestions for guests in upcoming podcast. I got a lot of great suggestions, but one person was OVERWHELMINGLY requested and that is who is on the podcast today. We discuss keeping tarantulas in the UK, conservation, making YouTube videos and a lot more.  Sit back, relax, and enjoy this conversation with Fiona from The Spare Room.  Follow The Spar...

Todays guest is an actor, musician, Broadway star and maybe best known for being an original member of  Bravo network's Emmy award winning TV Show Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. But he is on the podcast today because he is also an exotic pet keeper and enthusiast that shares his love and appreciation for these animals with his massive audience! So welcome to the show, Jai Rodriguez! We discu...

This week I am talking to Brian Barczyk about the NEW Animal Con USA event that is happening in Orlando, FL August 26th - 28th, 2022. This event will host all of the TOP animal content creators from YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, FaceBook, Snapchat, & Television. AnimalConUSA is the only event of its kind and will give animal lovers a chance to meet their favorite animal personalities all in one...

This week I am talking to Nick who owns Gecko Galaxy based out of Huntington, WV. He is a crested gecko breeder and dealer and gives some insight into how he found himself on this path and what it is like to breed and sell crested geckos. Gecko Galaxy on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nick.geckogalaxy/ Gecko Galaxy on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/GeckoGalaxyChannel Support the show

I sit down with Phil Goss who is the President of the United States Association of Reptile Keepers, also know as USARK. We discuss the new Lacey Act Amendment in the America Competes Act and how it will impact the Exotic Pet Hobby as a whole. He also gives us updates on new developments and how best to move forward as a hobby. Q: Does this include invertebrates? Yes. We know that aquatic invertebr...

This week I am talking to Bill Strand who is the host of the Reptile Entrepreneur and Chameleon Academy Podcasts., founder of the Dragon Strand chameleon caging company and headmaster at Chameleonacademy.com. We discuss how you can turn your hobby and passion for exotic pets (like reptiles, tarantulas, etc) into a full time career and how the courses he offers on Instagram, as well as on his websi...

Today we are talking to Dr. Linda Rayor from the Entemology Department at Cornell University who has spent most of her career studying Social Behavior in spiders like the Huntsman Spider. She also studies communal tarantula species like the Monocentropus balfouri, Neoholothele incei and Hysterocrates gigas. We even discuss Amblypygi like the Tailless Whip Scorpion and how someone becomes an arachn...

This week I sit down with Laura Airey Le the artist of Gray Ghost Creations to talk about her tarantula art as well as the other unique wildlife she illustrates. Of course the conversation also strays into what species of tarantula and other exotic pets she keeps, where she draws inspiration, what art supplies she uses, and even a little sci fi love is shared. I had a great time having this intere...

Tarantula Kat drops by the podcast this week to talk about how she began keeping tarantulas and spiders and the origin story behind starting her YouTube channel. We also discuss her her love for frogs and toadstools as well as toxic comments on social media and misogyny and sexism in the exotic pet hobby. Mainly we just laugh a lot at each other.  Support the show

Did you know there are snake and exotic pet rescues out there that take in animals that are surrendered, captured, confiscated, abandoned or neglected? Then rehabilitate them and find them new homes to adopt them?  I am talking about snakes, geckos, tarantulas, bearded dragons, boas, ball pythons, scorpions, and MORE! Listen to this conversation I had with Keith from Herps Alive where he tells us...

This podcast was recorded LIVE and streamed on my main channel while I was at the Tarantula Collective Meet Up at the Fear Not Tarantulas Grand Opening in Virginia Beach, VA. I talk with Dr. Rayor from Cornell University, Frank Somma of the NY Insect Zoo, Tom Patterson the famed tarantula and arachnid breeder, tarantula and arachnid researcher Jeremy Huff & Cobweb Castles! SUBSCRIBE to my MAIN...

Todays guest is Jackie Billotte, M.S. who is currently working on her PHD in the entomology department at Colorado State and received her Masters in Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnology from the University of Colorado. We have an in depth conversation about the current research into mapping the genetic sequences of tarantulas for many different applications in research, the possible medicinal val...

This week we are talking to Dayyan from Reptiliatus about How To educate new keepers in the exotic pet hobby without scaring them away, the balance between making content and giving your exotic pets the best possible care, and how he began his journey keeping reptiles and inverts and making YouTube videos! Support the show

This week I sit down and talk with Adam from Wickens Wicked Reptiles. We discuss scammers in the exotic pet hobby, government regulations, being an exotic pet youtuber and more! Support the show

Today we are talking about reasonable expectations when ordering tarantulas or other invertebrates online. What to expect as far as shipping and time frames, but more importantly why  it is paramount to make sure you read the shipping policy, terms of service, and Live Arrival Guarantees so you aren't caught off guard, lose your temper on line, and become a TARANTULA KAREN! How To Unbox Spide...