Tom's Big Spiders - Tarantulas and Inverts

Okay, to kick this one of, I'll talk about the enclosure design I'm using for six adorable little A. avicularia m6 slings I got from my buddy, Andrew, Then, I'm back to mixing substrate again, and I share my latest recipe. Finally, it's off to cover some of the more common missteps new hobbyist make.

In this episode, I continue my crusade to get folks to try out this amazing genus as I talk about the Phormictopus species in my collection. 

So, with pet stores closing in many states, some folks are panicking about how they will find feeders if they are quarantined or ordered to stay put. Here are some things to think about as well as some ideas should you find yourself unable to buy feeders for several weeks. Also, it's time to visit that old "controversial" topic, water dishes, again! CRICKETS: https://buyfeedercricke...

To kick it off, I respond to a keeper who commented on my Moisture Dependent Species video that moisture dependency is a hoax. Then, we talk about how to prepare should an emergency make it impossible for you to care for your tarantulas for a while. 

In this episode, we cover some popular mistakes and mishaps that many keepers seem to think are myths. I've been putting this list together from quite some time, and it's time to discuss these "risk vs. reward" situations. The next time someone asks, "But does that really happen?", the answer is often YES. 

We kick this one off with a listener question, then we dive into our main topic...moisture dependent species! 

A general discussion about how to sex tarantulas and how to recognize when your specimens are sexually mature. 

Okay, these are two topics that I've had a lot of questions about lately, so I figured that I'd tackle them. Truth be told, I might not be the most qualified to answer them! 

I've received a lot of requests for a top ten list of most visible tarantula species, but I've been reluctant to put one together. I just don't think that anyone can realistically cover the topic in this manner. Instead, I'm going to talk about some of the tarantulas I have kept that have made good showcase spiders for me due to their visibility. Feel free to join us on Faceboo...

Well, the title pretty much says it all. In this episode, we discuss care for Chilobrachys species!

One of my spiders was suffering from a mysterious ailment. Also, some thoughts on how tarantulas are portrayed on TV and in Movies. The species I'm discussing in the first segment is Phormingochilus arboricola . Thanks Tank McCoy for the heads up! 

First off, we discuss the EMODE website which proports to tell people which pets should be kept and which should not. From there, we discuss why it's important to do your research BEFORE you buy your next animal. Finally, I offer an update on my S. dehaani .

To kick this one off, we discuss how sensationalized, hyperbolic videos that portray tarantulas as scary or dangerous are detrimental to our hobby. Next, we discuss the potential issues that beginners face when they find themselves picking up dozens of spiders in a very short period of time. When you're done, please check out the new podcast Preclarum Theraphosidae !  

First off, I wanted to address some issues with correspondence, breeding loans, and home visits. Next, we move into the guts of the podcast and talk about how to set up terrestrial, arboreal, and fossorial enclosures to ensure that your spiders settle in as quickly as possible. 20% off O. philippinus slings at Fear Not Tarantulas code: tbs20

After recently having two keepers tell me that they would NEVER get any old world tarantulas because they are "too dangerous", it got me thinking. Have we, as a hobby, gone too far in trying to caution folks against the faster, more venomous species? Are they really that dangerous to keep? Also, some thoughts on the "ladder system", and how it may not work for everyone. 

Okay, so this was supposed to be part of last week's episode, but my voice didn't hold out. Still, as last week dealt more with issues in the home, this one deals more with setups. In this episode, we discuss the risk of using prey or substrate from outside. We also tackle wire mesh in tarantula enclosures. 

Many of us like to come home turn on the lights, light some candles, and crank up the music. However, are any of these things harmful to our spiders? In this episode, we break it down. 

With winter weather upon us, we'll discuss ordering tarantulas in the winter as well as my trick for "winterizing" my slings. Also, I offer a quick update on my bioactive setups. Finally, Dillon from Animals at Home was kind enough to let me present his entire interview with me. 

To kick this one off, I talk about Harpactira pulchripes. Then, I share some of my experiences with springtails and isopods. (NOTE: It's CLEANER insects, not FEEDER insects! Sorry for the confusion!)

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! In this bonus episode, I offer some updates on my communal setups. 

A couple recent comments on YouTube have compelled me to revisit the topics of enclosures and handling again.  Also, a hobby buddy of mine and YouTuber is putting together a very cool and ambitious video about breeding that I'll be contributing footage to, and it got me thinking a bit about how males are treated during breeding. 

We kick this one off with a discussion of the P. murinus or "OBT". Then, for folks who haven't heard it, I've included a clip of my interview on the Animals At Home podcast! Episode Web page (with links to iTune, Spotify, etc.): https://www.animalsathome.ca/35-toms-big-spiders/

So, how dangerous is it to bring tarantulas (especially old world species) into your home? A discussion of some points to consider.  Also, some quick molt and breeding updates! 

First, we talk a bit about my latest attempt at a beginner species list, and some of the issues with lists in general. Then, I'll speak a bit about my recent interview for the podcast Animals at Home . Finally, it's off to talking about one of my favorite species...the G. pulchripes ! 

So, after coming up with this idea while working on a book about tarantula care, I decided that it would make a good article/video/podcast. However, I'm sure that I'm missing some important terms (like substrate!). What am I missing?