Tom's Big Spiders - Tarantulas and Inverts
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.
Episodes
354 episodes
Worth a Second Look ft. H. gigas (Cameroon Red Baboon)
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 featu...
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Season 8
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Episode 3
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56:15
Updates on Some Recently Rehoused Tarantulas
When making my rehousing videos, I often talk about what behaviors I expect from the spiders as they settle in. However, I often forget to follow up and update folks on how they are getting on. In this episode, we'll take a look at some recentl...
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Season 8
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Episode 2
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52:44
Arboreal Tarantula Genus Comparison
It's season 8! And to kick it off, we'll discuss a new paper that examines the symptoms of a Poecilotheria species bite.Then, I'm often asked what the "best starter arboreal" spider is. Although the popular answer is usually an ...
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Season 8
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Episode 1
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1:04:55
My Favorite Spiders to Feed
First off, we'll read an article that discusses the successful reintroduction of a previously endangered spider species in Europe. Next, we'll hear some listener feedback.Then...feeding is one of the most entertaining and rewarding aspec...
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Season 7
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Episode 46
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1:06:19
Confronting My Potential Bias When It Comes to Old World Behaviors
So, I recently posted a video on YouTube discussing the tarantula species I've found to be the most defensive. Although I tried to think of an Old World species that gave me a difficult time, I didn't have a single one on the list. I knew that ...
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Season 7
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Episode 45
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56:11
So, You Want a Giant Tarantula: A Species Comparison
First, we had our first Arachnid Appreciation Club at my school, and I'll share a bit about my preparation for it.Then, I have people message me to ask which "giant" tarantula species they should start with. In this episode, I'll compare...
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Season 7
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Episode 44
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1:05:55
Showcase Spiders! The Most Visibile Tarantulas I've Kept 2025
First, we discuss some feedback from last week's episode (and the fact that I had JUST covered this topic in September!).Then, I get asked all the time which species are the most visible out of the ones that I keep. Now that it's been s...
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Season 7
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Episode 43
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58:59
The 5 Most Defensive Tarantulas I Have Raised
Crazy bolting. Hair kicking. Threat postures. Slapping at the ground. In this episode, I'll discuss the five most defensive (notice that I didnt' say "aggressive") tarantula species I have raised...plus a couple alternates. In each case, this t...
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Season 7
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Episode 42
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54:38
The Importance of Experience in the Tarantula Hobby
Happy New Year! First, we have a few species name changes to discuss. Then, we'll talk about four new tarantula species identified found in India's Western Ghat Mountains. After that, we have some listener comments from last week's episode....
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Season 7
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Episode 41
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1:06:22
What's Wrong Here? Using Error Analysis To Improve Tarantula Care
First, we'll discuss an article in Forbes about the four tarantulas that are traded on the illegal pet market.Then, it's the Tarantula Test Part IV...sort of. In this episode, we'll discuss ten common scenarios in which we try to determ...
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Season 7
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Episode 40
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1:03:53
Top Ten Most Asked Tarantula Questions in 2024
First, we discuss some comments from last week's episode.Then, we'll take a look at the most asked tarantula questions in 2024. Happy Holidays, All!
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Season 7
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Episode 39
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57:25
A Discussion of Tarantula Temperatures
I have to be honest; if someone told me years ago that we'd still be arguing over the best temperatures for tarantulas in 2024, I would have been shocked. However, after posting my winter episode, some folks made some negative comments about ke...
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Season 7
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Episode 38
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1:05:51
Keeping Tarantulas in the Winter - 2024
First, we discuss some comments I received about handling tarantulas.Then, winter is upon us! Now that the temps are getting cooler and the heat is pumping, we may need to consider making some changes for the frigid winter months. In th...
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Season 7
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Episode 37
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55:33
Tarantula Handling: Some Things to Consider
After years of tarantula handling falling out of vogue, it seems that more and more folks are now holding their eight-legged wards. Why the change? In this episode, we'll break down why there is a resurgence in this practice and discuss the pro...
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Season 7
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Episode 36
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57:58
Sprucing Up A Tarantula Enclosure without Rehousing
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 ...
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Season 7
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Episode 35
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56:13
Tarantula Questions That I Find a Bit Frustrating
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...
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Season 7
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Episode 34
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56:51
Do Spiders Dream? and "Old World Tarantula Anxiety"
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...
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Season 7
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Episode 33
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50:42
The "Mysterious" T. albopilosus or Curly Hair Tarantula
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 y...
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Season 7
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Episode 32
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50:22
Tarantula Prices - Why Are These Things So Expensive?
After some listener comments and spider news, we'll discuss why some tarantulas are so expensive.
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Season 7
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Episode 31
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49:43
Feedback on Defensive Tarantulas and the "Heart Attack Pack"!
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 "H...
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Season 7
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Episode 30
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57:34
The Most Defensive Tarantula Species I've Kept
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. M...
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Season 7
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Episode 29
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57:22
Assessing the Risk of Overexploitation to a Tarantula Species in the Pet Trade - A Breakdown
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...
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Season 7
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Episode 28
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1:05:38
Grammostola Pulchra "The Brazilian Black" Care...and Orbweaver Spider News
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 hob...
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Season 7
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Episode 27
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57:35
Andrew Smith's Tarantula Documentaries and Why We Love Fossorial Tarantulas
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,...
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Season 7
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Episode 26
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59:34
When Burrowing Tarantulas Don't Resurface
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 ...
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Season 7
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Episode 25
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1:00:19
