Tom's Big Spiders - Tarantulas and Inverts

First, we discuss the recent tarantula smuggling incident in Peru. Then, I'll share some tips on how to fix up tarantula enclosures without having to rehouse the spider.  Has your substrate settled and is now too shallow? Does your spider need more coverage? Did the cork bark hide collapse? Here are some things that you can do. 

When did you first start keeping Old World tarantulas? For the first half of this podcast, we'll hear some listener responses to last week's episode. Then, I've been answering questions about tarantulas for over a decade, and I often get the same questions over and over...and that's okay. I've had folks ask me if I ever get annoyed by that. Truth be told, there are only a...

First, we discuss a recent article that questions whether spiders can sleep and even dream. Then, why do many keepers feel so anxious about possibly keeping Old World tarantulas? We'll discuss how keeper attitudes about Old World species have change from the '80s and '90s to now. 

The Tliltocatl albopilosus is one of the most established, popular, and widely-kept species in the hobby. However, ask ten different keepers about their experiences with the growth rate, behavior, and temperament of this species, and you're likely to get ten different responses. In this episode, we'll discuss this awesome species and why there seems to be so much variation in its care an...

After some listener comments and spider news, we'll discuss why some tarantulas are so expensive. 

First off, we discuss a story about noble false widow spiders preying upon much larger vertebrate prey. Then, it's onto listener feedback on the last episode about my most defensive tarantulas. Finally, this week I received my "Heart Attack Pack" from Fear Not Tarantulas, and I discuss what I received. FIND THE HEART ATTACK PACK HERE!

First, we start off with some listener feedback. Then, we'll discuss some recent spider news before we get to the main topic. I've been asked many times over the years which species of tarantulas that I've raised have been the most defensive. My answer may surprise you! 

After some listener comments and tarantulas in the news, I breakdown some key points in the paper "Assessing the Risk of Overexploitation to a Tarantula Species in the Pet Trade" and explain why this should be important to informed, responsible keepers. CLICK HERE to read the entire paper! 

First, we take a few listener comments. Then, in spider news, scientists think that Orbweaver spiders may have an interesting way of hunting fireflies. Finally, for the "meat" of the podcast, we discuss the care for one of the hobby's most beloved tarantulas, the Grammostola pulchra (AKA, the Black Lab of Tarantulas). (15:10)

So, after mentioning Andrew Smith's AMAZING documentary Theraphosa & Ephebopus: Suriname's Giant Forest Floor Tarantulas , it became clear that many folks weren't familiar with Andrew and his incredible work. In this episode, I discuss why folks should be drooling over these DVDs and how we can help crowdfund the next video in the series. Then, we spend a bit of time discussing...

Although I've addressed this topic before, it's an important one. I've received quite a few messages over the past year from folks who are concerned over their tarantulas who have seemingly been burrowed for way too long and who have asked for advice for what to do. In this episode, I'll discuss the species I've had this issue with and explain what to do if you encounter t...

And, we're back on Sundays! First, we discuss a new species of Aphonopelma recently described. Then, I take some listener feedback. And, for the main topic, we'll discuss some reasons why hobbyists shouldn't overlook arboreal tarantula species. 

First off, we'll discuss a new study on the "Jorō spider" that explains why it is doing so well in urban environments (and why it shouldn't be feared). Then, we'll discuss a comment I got about a tarantula park that perpetuates negative stereotypes about these animals. Then, for our main topic , I'll discuss 6 species or genera of tarantulas that get undeserved bad re...

Now that the last four Phormictopus species I acquired have put on some size and are showing some adult color, it's time to do an update on the 16 "species" that I keep. In this episode, I'll discuss age, colorations, and behaviors as I take you on a tour of my Phormictopus collection. For those interested, I'll also be posting up a video version on YouTube later this week...

Well, it's been over two years since I got my Ephebopus slings, and it's finally time for a proper genus review! In this episode, I'll talk about the care and set up of E. murinus (The Skeleton Tarantula), E. uatuman (The Emerald Skeleton Tarantula), E. refescens (The Red Skeleton Tarantula), and E. cyanognathus (The Blue Fang…Skeleton Tarantula)!

First, we'll discuss some listener comments from last week's episode. Then, we've all been there. You're at work or having company over, and suddenly you find yourself giving an impromptu presentation about tarantulas to folks who may be terrified of them. Or, perhaps you're someone who is planning to present about spiders at a school or library. It can be difficult to sta...

In this episode, I will talk about seven tarantula species that defied the expectations that I had for them after I did my research. 

Recently, I did a podcast about some of my terrestrial spiders that appreciated room to dig as adults. Since then, I've received questions about fossorial spiders that seem to want to live terrestrially, and even arboreal spiders that prefer to burrow a bit. Is this behavior cause for worry? In this episode, I'll break down why it is not and explain why we should expect a spectrum of beh...

I first covered this topic back in December of 2021. However, as the years have passed, I have encountered some new issues troubling hobbyists. In this episode, I'll break down ten of them.

A few years ago, I started keeping several Heteropoda (Huntsman) species, and it was quite the learning curve in many ways. In this episode, I'll discuss the care, as well as tips, for raising huntsman spiders. 

When setting up a tarantula habitat, there are usually four main "ingredients": substrate, a hide, a water dish, and plants. However, when putting plants in an enclosure, is it better to use real or fake plants? In this episode, I break down the pros and cons of both types. For those interested in check out my story in the Horror Over the Handlebars: A Yankee Scares Connecticut Horror An...

After doing a video featuring a rainbow of different spiders, I thought that it might be fun to do an "extended commentary" in which I cover even more species.  My hope is that people might listen to this list and discover some colorful spiders they weren't initially aware of.

For years, tarantulas designated as "terrestrial" were given a couple inches of substrate and a hide for a setup. Now, although this isn't necessarily wrong, I've found that many of my so-called "terrestrial" species will continue to burrow right on through adulthood if given the substrate depth to do so. In this episode, I'll discuss how I'm changing how I...

In this episode, we break away from talking about spiders for a bit and instead discuss the care for T. stigmurus . This amazing little scorpion can produce asexually and can be kept communally.  I started with only one specimen back in October of 2016, and have kept dozens since! 

First, we discuss some listener feedback from last episode. Then, I've had a bunch of folks ask me to cover this over the years, and I honestly thought that I had already done so! In this episode, I go over a dozen species of spiders I keep that love blanketing their enclosures in webbing. Happy Mother's Day to all!