Claim OwnershipTom's Big Spiders - Tarantulas and Inverts
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© 2025 Tom's Big Spiders - Tarantulas and Inverts
Description
A podcast devoted to the proper care and upkeep of tarantulas and other inverts. After keeping a G. porteri for over 16 years, I decided that I wanted to add another tarantula to my collection. Several years later, I now keep over 100 specimens and 90+ different species. It’s safe to say that I am now completely addicted to the hobby. I’m NOT an expert, and I’m currently still learning about keeping these fascinating creatures. In fact, there are so many species, that I suspect that I’ll still be learning years from now. A teacher by trade, I enjoy passing along what I’ve information and techniques I’ve discovered and helping others in their successful pursuit of this hobby. I enjoy hearing from folks, whether through comments on the blog or email. I have done and continue to do a lot of research, and I will only be discussing animals I personally keep, so the information I present should be current and accurate.
373 Episodes
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First, we'll hear listener comments and discuss the article, "Mystery of dancing spiders' DNA could explain how they develop into new species". Then, I'll share the 10 spiders I keep that have proven to be the most shy and elusive.
First, we'll discuss some listener comments on our last episode about using AI for researching tarantula care. Then, I've been asked many times to make a list of green tarantulas. The problem? There just aren't that many. In this episode, we'll discuss some species to search for if you are looking for some green on your eight-legged pets.
With AI growing by leaps and bounds, it was inevitable that some folks would start using it as a tool for tarantula research. However, how accurate is the information? Where does it come from? And how can it best be used by new keepers? In this episode, we will search up some spider care, compare the results, and discuss the results.
It can happen to the best of us. Suddenly, your beloved tarantula collection has become a source of stress. How did you get to this point? In this episode, we'll discuss "hobby burnout," how to prevent it, and how to come back from it.
First, we'll discuss comments from last week's podcast. Then, we'll discuss the care of one of the most beloved species of tarantulas in the hobby, the Monocentropus balfouri or "Socrata Island Blue Baboon." I've been keeping this species since 2013, and have had five females in a communal setup for over nine years. In this comprehensive guide, we will discuss the care for solitary specimens as well as for communal setups.
First, we'll disuss the current seizure of smuggled tarantulas at an airport. Then, I'll discuss tips and care notes for one of the hobby's most popular species, the C. cyaneopubescens or GBB!
When making their wish lists, many hobbyists identify spiders like Old World tarantulas and giant tropicals that they'd like to keep one day, but don't currently feel ready to do so. Although some folks can just jump right into the deep end with an "advanced" species, others want to take their time to gain experience with other spiders before making the jump. In this episode, I'll share some of the tarantulas that I think make good stepping-stones to keeping the more advanced species.
In this episode, we'll discuss the growth rates and current legspans of the largest tarantulas in my collection.
After I injured my shoulder, I had to have my son, Roane, help me with basic feeding and maintenance. It got me thinking about how important it is for hobbyists to plan for an event that leaves them unable to care for their animals. In this episode, we'll discuss what such planning might look like.
NOTE: In the podcast, I refer to Pamphobeteus sp. Duran as Phormictopus sp. Duran. This was an error on my part! Also, it's lion CUBS, not kittens. This was supposed to be up for Father's Day, but I blew out my shoulder! First, we discuss the last podcast. Then, we hear about a woman who got envenomated by a black widow through her EYE. Finally, for our main topic, we'll discuss tarantula males.
I'm not going to lie; I've avoided this "challenge" for years because just the thought of it causes me stress. That said, in this episode, I'm going to try to choose the tarantulas I would keep if I could only have 5.
First off, we'll share some listener comments. Then, we'll share some spider news. Our main topic for today (14:30) is the care of one of the most popular tarantulas in the hobby - the Poecilotheria metallica or "Gooty Sapphire Ornamental."
Molting can be the most exciting yet simultaneously stressful part of keeping tarantulas. In this episode, we'll discuss the entire process -- from premolt to the first feeding -- and what to expect.
First, we'll discuss some listener comments. Then, how would you like a spider that produced fluorescent red silk? Scientists have made it happen! Finally, we'll discuss some amazing spider mothers and their incredible behaviors. The peat moss that I use:
In this episode, we'll discuss what it takes to create a good setup for a moisture dependent tarantula.
To kick this one off, I discuss the final meeting of the Arachnid Appreciation Club, read some listener comments, and explore an article about the spider that makes the world's largest web. Then, for our main topic, I offer some tips on how to explain to non-hobbyists why we have such large collections.
1With all that's going on in the world, why do politicians keep trying to pass laws banning exotic pet keeping? In this episode, we'll talk about some recent laws proposed to curb the keeping of exotics and discuss how, as a hobby, we can do better when it comes to how we present the tarantula hobby to the public.
First, we'll discuss what to do if you think that you were sent the wrong tarantula species. Then, I have had a LOT of folks ask for me to do an update on my Aphonopelma species, so here goes! When last we checked in on these slow-growers, it was 2023. In this episode, I'll discuss their growth and appearances.
Often, when I post videos of spiders other than tarantulas, I get comments like, "They're pretty, but they don't live long" or "That's nice, but I don't keep true spiders." In some instances, the animal that I'm showing off is a) very long lived and b) not a tarantula OR a true spider. Many are not aware of the difference or what to expect from both of these groups. In this episode, I attempt to break down the differences between spiders in the infraorders Mygalomorphae and Araneomporphae and...
First, we'll hear some listener feedback. Then, we held our second Arachnid Appreciation Club meeting at my school, and it went great. I'll talk a bit about what we did and my plans for the future. Finally, (28:00) in this new feature, I'll talk about a species of tarantula that I think gets unfairly ignored. In our first episode of "Worth a Second Look," we'll be discussing the Hysterocrates gigas or "Cameroon Red Baboon."
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What a great and informative podcast Tom. Thanks so much.
I have to agree with you Tom in that there are a lot of videos of people doing crazy things with spiders on social media places and it has been like this for years. There are some folk who like to watch animals fight each other to the death for entertainment on SM. These may be the same people who think it's cool to put a spider in their mouth. If only moderators on these SM sites would take these types of clips down or even better ban them and replace them with better content such as your own.
i didn't get that choice of getting an old world spider. I was sold a Catumiri parvum sling and kept it as such. After a few molts later i discovered that it was actually a Pternochilus murinus. It went from a nice chilled out spider one day to an all out aggressive beast the next. Still love it though it gives me heart attacks from time to time. great pod as always!
unrelated: I just panic googled about my first spiderling burrowing itself alive, and your post about it calmed me down a ton. later tonight I decide to see if any tarantula podcasts exist, and I find this. instant follow and instant fan, thank you!!
Oh, this is a great topic
You’re my favorite 😁
Hi Tom, I got into the hobby jus thg a few months the ago at the age of 53. Once I decided to get my first T, I began with exhaustive research. Your rop beginners list motivated me to start with my Tlictocatl Albopilosus and it was a decision that I do not regret one bit. recently I have added two slings to my collection recently. a Chromatopelma cuaneopubescence and a Lasiodora parahybana. All of these amazing creatures were on your top beginners list and I am grateful for your guidance in my decisions. Will I get an old world? Sure, when the time is right, but I have nothing to prove to anyone and so I sip this hobby rather than gulp it. Thank you for all that you do.
The head-lopping chromatus has to be called Lizzy Borden 🤘
really interesting. I have a camera on my T albopilosum enclosure and I noticed a long time ago she would randomly jump sideways and then stress curl several times a day. one day I turned sound on the camera and she was reacting and getting upset by the vibrations of my big dogs when they'd suddenly bark (usually at mailman). I moved her into a quieter part of my house never saw it again . just figured I would share a case where something loud WAS stressing the T . poor girl ! lol
love the podcast. I had isopods in my roach colony and I had an explosion of them and they ended up actually killing off my colony
happy Easter Tom!
them nats! aooooahhhhhh
Love the podcast.
Love this podcast. Great information for keepers of all skill levels.