Tom's Big Spiders - Tarantulas and Inverts

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...

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/

This podcast thing is still pretty new to me, so I guess it's inevitable that I produce some stinkers. A recent email from a listener confirmed that last week's episode might have been a bit much. To kick this one off, I want to explain where I was coming from producing a particularly negative episode. Secondly, I discuss what's going on with my two communal setups. 

First off, I'll soon be creating my first bioactive enclosures thanks to Josh Halter from Biodude. Josh and his company have just released Terra Aranea , their first substrate exclusively for use with inverts, and I'll be trying some out. I've had a LOT of folks ask me about bioactive enclosures over the years, so I'll be documenting my attempts at setting some up. This week, I...

Continuing with the Facebook Q & A, we'll talk about how to select the right cage size for your tarantula. Also, there is a new digital magazine for tarantula enthusiasts available now. Those interested can find a copy of The Spinnerette  magazine here.

For those of us who have large collections, it can be difficult to explain why we need so many tarantulas to coworkers, friends, and family. How do we convince them that we are not candidates for the next season of Hoarders ? In this episode, we discuss some talking points to start with. 

Continuing with the listener requests, this episode is a discussion of the pros and cons of glass, acrylic, and plastic bin tarantula enclosures.  Glass Enclosure Build by White Rose Tarantulas

Once again, a huge thank you to all who asked questions on my Facebook page! This episode includes: Do loud noises and loud music stress tarantulas? Which genus is better: Phormictopus, Pamphobeteus, or Xenesthis? Could communal "failures" just be nature at work? Do you bring your tarantulas to school?

I recently asked my listeners on Facebook for questions and suggested topics, and the response was amazing. In this episode, I answer the first batch of questions. Topics include: How to Remove Uneaten Prey My Biggest Challenge as a Keeper Tips on Feeding Arboreal Slings Do Mature Males Start to Lose Their Minds? Best Classroom Tarantula Species Can Stacking Sling Enclosures Stress Ts? Why I Won&a...

Leading off this episode, we'll discuss whether or not it's okay to put a tarantula spiderling in an adult enclosure. Next, we'll cover the confusion around Avicularia juruensis and it's two morphs. Finally, we'll tackle some questions listeners posted on Facebook. Want to comment on this podcast? Please join me on my Tom's Big Spiders Facebook page!

With winter officially upon us, and many folks asking about shipping spiders in the wintertime, I figured that it would be a good time to discuss the topic. Happy Holidays! 

I've had a lot of folks advising me lately on how to make my YouTube channel more "fun" and approachable to folks who may not already be in the hobby. Others get frustrated because I refuse to do any promotion for it. The fact is, I'm not in this to be a YouTube "famous"; my purpose is to educate. Although I certainly don't strive to be boring, my only real hope...

This episode features updates on my M. balfouri, N. incei, and P. metallica communal setups. Also included is the latest on my Tityus stigmurus scorpion communal! 

To kick this one off, we revisit episode 41 and address some comments listeners had about "winterizing tarantulas." Then we move into the meat of this podcast and explain why some folks think that the tarantula sold as G. pulchra in the hobby for years might actually be a similar but different species. 

The title says it all! Back in February, I covered some of the topics and facts I wish I had known before getting into the hobby. Well, here are some more! For the beginners, I hope you find this informative. For the those who have been in the hobby for a while, perhaps it'll be fun to think back on a time where this was all new! For some amazing information on tarantulas, check out Arachnobo...

For this episode, we address some ways a tarantula keeper can get her or his spiders ready for the winter. These are just some tips and practices that I've picked up over the years. If you have more, please feel free to comment on my Facebook page. I would love to get a dialog going. TOM'S BIG SPIDERS FACEBOOK 

Okay, here is my attempt at a top 15 favorite tarantula species list! Please keep in mind that if a species you like isn't on it, it does NOT mean that I don't like that species. I've kept well over 100 different species, and I've honestly liked them all. It is VERY difficult narrowing a list down to just a handful of spiders. Even now I'm totally second-guessing myself on...