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 several years since I last covered this topic, I have some new ones to add.

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 time I will discuss how, in many instances, I was at fault for the behaviors. 

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.

Finally…

"How am I supposed to get experience with old world tarantula speed if I'm being told not to keep them?" The question of "experience" comes up quite a bit in hobby discussions. Can folks successfully keep tarantulas without having much first hand experience? Sure. But is first-hand experience vital to a tarantula keeper? Absolutely. In this video, we'll discuss the type of experience and why, in the end, hands-on experience is so important for the developing keeper. 

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 determine what mistake the keeper might have made.

Happy New Year, all! 

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! 

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 keeping tarantulas in the lower range, indicating that this debate is still very much alive. In this episode, we will discuss why having temps dip a bit in the winter is not bad for your spiders, and examine why keepers fail to recognize that many of the species we keep experience MUCH lower temps in the wild. 

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 this episode, we'll discuss some tips for keeping your tarantulas safe during the winter.

Below are links to some of the heating products mentions in this podcast. These are ONLY suggestions. Be sure to do research to see what works best for you! 

DeLonghi Radiator Heater

Lifesmart Infrared Heater

Humidifier (evaporative)

Ultratherm Heat Pads

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 pros and cons of handling vs. not handling. 

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 handful of questions that I find a bit frustrating. In these cases, it's usually because there is no quick answer. In this episode, I discuss the five questions that tend to vex me a bit.