Tom's Big Spiders - Tarantulas and Inverts
Education Podcasts
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.
Location:
United States
Genres:
Education Podcasts
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.
Language:
English
Contact:
8603892245
Website:
https://tomsbigspiders.com/
Episodes
The Ten Least Visible Spiders I Keep
9/14/2025
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.
Duration:00:50:36
Green Tarantulas!
9/1/2025
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.
Duration:01:01:17
Using AI for Tarantula Care Research
8/18/2025
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.
Duration:01:12:13
How to Prevent (or Come Back from) Tarantula Hobby Burnout
8/11/2025
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.
Duration:00:52:18
The Ultimate M. balfouri "Socotra Island Blue Baboon" Care Guide
8/4/2025
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.
Duration:01:07:38
Tarantulas Seized and the C. cayaneopubescens (GBB) Care
7/21/2025
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!
Duration:00:51:54
Best Tarantula Species to Keep to Gain Experience
7/14/2025
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.
Duration:00:57:36
The Big Guns - Updates on My Largest Tarantulas
7/7/2025
In this episode, we'll discuss the growth rates and current legspans of the largest tarantulas in my collection.
Duration:00:53:22
Who Will Care for Your Tarantulas in an Emergency?
6/29/2025
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.
Duration:00:42:35
Tarantula Males Discussion
6/22/2025
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.
Duration:00:53:53
If I Could Only Keep 5 Tarantulas
6/8/2025
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.
Duration:00:49:37
P. metallica "Gooty Sapphire Ornamental" Care
6/1/2025
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."
Duration:01:07:18
Tarantula Molting Guide
5/25/2025
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.
Duration:01:05:00
Amazing Spider Mothers!
5/11/2025
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:
Duration:00:49:20
Some Tips for Setting Up Moisture Dependent Tarantulas
5/4/2025
In this episode, we'll discuss what it takes to create a good setup for a moisture dependent tarantula.
Duration:00:54:52
How To Explain Large Tarantula Collections
4/27/2025
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.
Duration:01:04:39
Anti Exotics Legislation - Why Are We Targeted?
4/13/2025
With 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.
Duration:01:06:46
Aphonopelma Species Update 2025
4/6/2025
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.
Duration:00:56:05
A Crash Course in Mygalomorphs vs. Araneomorphs - Different Spider Infraorders
3/30/2025
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 play the idiot as I break down the differences between spiders in the infraorders Mygalomorphae and Araneomporphae and share my experiences keeping species from both. I will also touch upon the suborder Mesothelae.
NOTE: This list is NOT comprehensive and is only meant to be a quick crash course on this topic!
Duration:00:57:39
Worth a Second Look ft. H. gigas (Cameroon Red Baboon)
3/16/2025
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."
Duration:00:56:15