Tom's Big Spiders - Tarantulas and Inverts

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 this behavior.

Then, it's on to listener comments and spiders in the news!

Read the National Geographic Article Here! 

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 reputations and break down where these notions came from. 

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. 

NOTE: Many of these "species" are likely just regional variants of P. cancerides, but we won't know for sure until this genus is studied further.

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 stay focused on the fly, which is why it's prudent to plan out one of these presentations ahead of time. In this episode, I share some strategies and topics that I use when this happens...

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 behavior when it comes to our spiders.

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 Anthology, here is the LINK. 

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 keep many of my terrestrial species and list off some of the ones that currently burrow as adults. 

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!

First off, we discuss last week's episode and some of the feedback I received (a HUGE thank you to all who took the time to comment!).

Then, it's the battle of the orangey/black dwarfs as Davus pentaloris "The Tiger Rump" takes on Hapalopus formosus "The Pumpkin Patch"! 

If someone would have told me back in early 2018 that this podcast experiment would continue for over 300 episodes, I would have laughed. But here we are, in our seventh year, still churning out shows. That said, I always worry that the program will eventually jump the shark and overstay its welcome. To kick this one off, we’ll discuss the fine line I try to walk producing shows that will appeal to both beginners and more advanced keepers alike and how you can all help as we move ahead.

Then, my old adult female Harpactira pulchripes passed th...

As I've spent more time keeping tarantulas, I've realized that questions "what is a good beginner species?" and "what is a good species to raise as a first time sling? have two very different answers.  Just because a species is easier to care for as an adult does not always make it an easy one to raise up. In this episode, I'll discuss the species I tend to recommend when asked what species make for good first-time slings. 

How do you know when you’re getting too many tarantulas? How can you tell when you’re reaching what should be your limit?

In this episode, we’ll discuss the importance of establishing routines and setting boundaries early on to avoid having your collection turn into a hoard. 

I've encountered this scenario many times...an upset keeper emails me to ask what he did wrong because his adult female didn't make it to the supposed max life expectancy.  In many cases, it sounds like the animal died of natural causes, but the thought that it should have lived longer can eat away at a concerned keeper. 

In this episode, we discuss some of the maximum lifespans given for tarantulas online and break down why some might live longer than others. I will also share the ages of several of my females when they finally passed away.  Duration: 00:52:22

In this episode, I talk about my experiences with the three Theraphosa species: Theraphosa stirmi (the Burgundy Goliath Birdeater), Theraphosa blondi (the Goliath Birdeater), and Theraphosa apophysis (Pinkfoot Goliath Birdeater). 

To start this one off, I share some of the feedback I got from last week's episode and respond to a couple comments.

Then, at 21:25,  it's been five years to the day when I last covered some tips for ordering tarantulas online. In this episode, we will review the dos and don't as well as discuss some new issues that have presented themselves over the last five years. 

A couple of years ago, I stumbled on an article about the "inadvertent domestication" of animals raised for the sole purpose of being released back into the wild. This is when, despite our best efforts, captive animals were becoming inadvertently domesticated by temporarily or even permanently adapting to a captive environment , which was making them less fit to survive in the wild. This could often occur within a single generation of captive-reared animals.

And that got me thinking...

Many species of tarantulas have been actively bred in captivity for decades, so is it possible (or...

I've been doing this a while now, and there is one occurrence that I will never understand...when keepers ask for advice and then ignore it.  Luckily, it doesn't happen often, but when it does, the results can be quite tragic. In this episode, we'll discuss a few of the more egregious experiences I've had with this type of behavior.

Over the years, I've continued to constantly switch up what I use for substrate when it comes to housing my tarantulas. In this episode, I review what I've used in the past and share an inexpensive "recipe" I'm currently using that yields a LOT of substrate for very little money. 

In this episode, we discuss some instances where folks have lost large parts or all of their collection due to mishap or an overlooked environmental hazard. 

Within the past couple weeks, I spoke with two teenagers who were interested in getting their first tarantula. Both had many questions about where they should start and what they should prepare for. In this episode, I lay out several things anyone thinking about getting a tarantula should do...and some things that they shouldn't. 

First, we discuss the "controversy" a recent episode caused. Then, I field a question from a long-time YouTube subscriber about changes that I've made in how I set up fossorial tarantula enclosures. 

Well, it had to be done! In this episode, two popular genera of giant tarantulas will duke it out for hobby superiority! Okay, that's a bit dramatic; in reality, we will compare the two genera and talk about the similarities and differences.

To start this one off, we'll discuss some feedback to last week's episode.

Then, after reflecting on 10 years of doing the TBS stuff, I realized that there is one major issue that I will never overcome. 

Recently, I've received some comments on my YouTube videos with folks saying that my tarantulas are "skinny" or "underfed", which left me a bit confused. However, after speaking with a hobby friend, I realized that, through social media, many folks new to the hobby may be exposed to photos of chubby Ts. For many, a spider with a bloated abdomen is the norm.

In this episode, we'll discuss overfeeding tarantulas and feeding schedules. 

A huge thank you to Charlotte for the awesome topic idea!

Happy New Year! In this episode, I give my take on whether or not it's appropriate to say that tarantulas have "personalities." We will also discuss whether tarantulas need enrichment to avoid boredom.

In this episode, we compare two very similar species: the A. geniculata or "Brazilian Black and White" and the N. chromatus or "Brazilian Red and White." Both are awesome species and, in my opinion, hobby staples. But which has more to offer?

First, I have an important message from the US Tarantula Sustainment Project.

Then, we're going to have a little fun. In this episode, we'll compare and break down two species that are often confused for each other, the C. cyaneopubescens (GBB) and the D. diamantinensis (Brazilian Blue Beauty). Which spider is the "best"? Who knows! But we will attempt to find out!

Be sure to chime in with your vote on either Spotify or tomsbigspiderspodcast.com! 

In this episode, I'll talk a bit about the tarantula species that I've raised that buck the old "keep 'em moist" rule for slings. 

Having just rehoused my juvenile Eresus walckenaeri (Velvet Spider), I figured that it was time to talk a bit about how I care for it.

Also in this episode, is the current Jumping Spider and Velvet Spider social media fad and rampant anthropomorphization leading to decline in overall appropriate husbandry in the spider hobby? I'll discuss what I feel are the realistic pros and cons of the attention these "cute" spiders are currently receiving. 

In this episode, I'll go through all of the types of tarantula enclosures I've used, from cheap to pemium, and share my pros and cons of each.

Last week, I had a few folks contact me a bit upset that there was no episode for Sunday.  And, to be honest, this happens every time I miss a week. Although I completely understand that this podcast has become very important to folks for a myriad of reasons, I thought that it might be a good time to explain why I do the Tom's Big Spiders stuff . In this episode, I'll go through the entire history of TBS from the original blog, to YouTube, and now the podcast. My hopes are that folks will understand my motivations for putting o...

I've been asked to do this one many times over the years, but there is honestly no way for me to scientifically prove which ones are faster. However, in this episode, I will share the ones that I think are fastest based on my own personal experience. 

What are YOUR fastest spiders? 

First, I read a listener question and talk about last week's episode. Then, I get a lot of emails and comments from panicked keepers who are alarmed to discover that their arboreal slings and juveniles are actually burrowing.  The fact is, MANY arboreal species will do some burrowing as slings and juveniles, and the correct setup should allow for and encourage this behavior. Unfortunately, many folks don't do enough research, and some of the "sling" and "juvenile" tarantula enclosures being sold do not permit for an appropriate setup. In this episode, we discuss how to keep these species correctly, w...

Deaths can really rattle a tarantula keeper and cause them to second guess their tarantula care. In this episode, I speak about a few recent instances I had where my fear of deaths led me to do some pretty stupid things. 

In this episode, I'll discuss some of the perks to keeping "true" spiders and Mygalomorphs and why tarantula keepers may want to one day give them a try. 

I have it on pretty good authority that Eupalaestrus campestratus or "Pink Zebra Beauties" will be available in the US hobby again very soon. As I'm sure that many folks will be scrambling to add a sling to their collections, I figure that this would be the perfect time to revisit the husbandry for this amazing species. 

We've all experienced it. You post a picture of your beloved spider only to have some cretin respond with, "EWWW...KILL IT WITH FIRE."  As people who love these animals, it can be quite infuriating to have someone suggest that they would burn our pets to death. Where does this vitriol come from? Is there a way for us to turn these types of comments into a positive? In this episode, we'll discuss the issue. 

In this episode, I'll walk you through how I care for and set up my Poecilotheria ornatas, the largest Pokie species available in the hobby. I'll also share some frustrations about an annoying comment someone left on my latest video.

Check out the Tarantula Sustainment Project!

In this episode, I answer three listener questions: How do I research new tarantula species; how to keep mature male tarantulas comfortable; and do I take into consideration my dogs getting haired?

Thanks to the Tarantula Talk forum and Cody Barton, Carrie Hollister, and Martin Shelby for the questions!

Resources:

Mike's Basic Tarantulas
Arachnoboards
World Spider Catalog
Tarantula Talk 

I've spoken often over the years about how hobby stigmas keep some folks from trying out Old World tarantula species. However, there is actually a flip side to this issue. Sadly, some hobbyists will ignore so called "beginner species" due to stigmatization. In this episode, we'll discuss how the hobby accidentally renders some species unappealing to experienced keepers. 

In this episode, I'll discuss the species I keep that really bring the fun during feeding time. We'll also talk how to safely work with a tarantula that has a particularly lively feeding response. A huge thank you to Jennifer Thomas for the podcast topic suggestion!

Interested in spider taxonomy? Check out Arácnido.