In this episode, we'll tackle the illegal practice of "brown boxing" tarantulas into the country. What is it? How does it harm the hobby? How can you know if you're buying smuggled tarantulas?

I've had people ask how you can tell if a care guide or sheet is giving good information. In this episode, we search up a random species and see what we find in terms of care sheets (and point out some of the issues to look for).

GNATS! Man, I hate those little buggers. In this episode, I'll be talking about my recent battle with these irritating insects, and some of my resulting thoughts on substrates.

Let's talk about crickets! I get plenty of questions about the different types of feeder insects available for tarantulas, so in this episode I'll discuss some of the ones I've used (including some pros and cons of each).

In this episode, we talk about tarantula ICUs and their effectiveness in treating ailing spiders; what size slings beginners should start with; and some legalities surrounding the shipping of spiders. As usual, those who would like to comment on this podcast are encouraged to check out my Tom's Big Spiders Facebook page.

In this installment, I answer questions posed on my Facebook page about various tarantula topics.

Questions include: What is the state of the hobby? Is it growing or in the decline? How can you protect yourself from urticating hairs? How does one recognize good information on tarantula husbandry?

A huge thanks to Eddie Marquis, Jennifer Waters Dellinger, and Allen Evans for the questions!

Going on two years ago, I started an M. balfouri communal setup with the intention of documenting it from sling to adulthood. For over a year, I posted monthly video updates on YouTube, and I was able to catch some truly amazing things. Now, my little ones are all grown up, and many folks have been starting M. balfouri communities of their own. I've received a lot of question lately about M. balfouris, so I figured that it would a good time to sum up my thoughts and observations on this incredibly fascinating and rewarding set up.

I've spoken to several people over the years who have just bought their first tarantula yet know literally NOTHING about them or how to correctly keep them. It got me thinking: what do folks need to know when starting the hobby? What do I wish I had known before acquiring my first tarantula? In this podcast, I try to lay out the basics for anyone who has just stumbled into keeping Ts (or anyone currently doing their research before entering the hobby!). As I'm certain that I missed some things, there will likely be a followup.

The inevitability of death is a part of the hobby. Whether it be a mature male on its last legs, an older specimen, or a sick sling, everyone is going suffer a loss at some point. However, when a seemingly healthy specimen suddenly dies, it's important for the diligent keeper to do his or her best to make certain that it wasn't human error or husbandry issues that led to the premature passing of the animal. In this episode, we address deaths in the collection and discuss some important things to think about.

A lot of hobbyists reference "power feeding" their tarantulas. But what exactly is "power feeding"...and does the term even apply to these arachnids? A discussion of the pros an cons of a more aggressive feeding schedule for Ts.