Tom's Big Spiders - Tarantulas and Inverts (Tom Moran)

Well, the US Government is at it again. A new bill titled America Competes Act of 2022 has amendments added that could decimate the exotic animals hobbies.  In this episode, we discuss what this means and what can be done.

PLEASE CHECK OUT USARK and be sure to write your local senators!

In this episode, I talk about 5 tarantula species that I would like to see more readily-available (and inexpensive!) in the hobby. 

This weekend, Billie and I rehoused the 10 P. metallica in my communal setup. What better way to calm down than to record a podcast minutes later! Also, some mysterious scorpion deaths...

CLICK HERE to watch the video! 

First, we revisit last week's episode. Then, I give an update on my Poecilotheria formosa, who was recovering from a bad molt. Finally, I just rehoused my sub-adult Xenesthis sp. blue and thought that it would be a good time to update my care notes on that species. 

Four years ago, I did an early podcast on the state of the hobby in the United States. In this episode, we'll revisit the topic. In many ways, it's a great time to be a tarantula hobbyist, with more species and dealers around than ever. However, with increased exposure bringing negative attention to our little pasttime, could we be in for a much darker future? 

It's that time again! It seems like every few months, the the age old debate over whether or not tarantulas "need" water dishes heats up. Long a proponent of giving Ts water dishes, I discuss my take on it. Also, some updates on my bioactive enclosures as well as a close call. 

I get asked this question a couple times a week, and I have a quick goto list of vendors that I've used over the years. In this episode, I go over the folks that I have had great experiences with in hopes of spreading the word. 

As the first Tarantula Exam was quite a hit, I decided that it would be fun to return to the classroom to try a part two. This time around, the questions are a little more difficult and feature 15 short scenarios that ask listeners to determine what the keeper is doing wrong. Again, this is all just for fun and an entertaining way to discuss some common missteps in the hobby. Enjoy and good luck! 

In this episode, we address the most popular tarantula-focused topics and concepts hobbyists love to argue over on forums and social media groups. 

Moving ahead, I'll be doing a series of husbandry podcasts, and my plan is to cover all the species I've kept alphabetically. And, what better way to kick this off than with an Aphonopelma review! 

First, Billie and I ventured out to the Show Me Reptiles Expo in West Warwick Rhode Island this weekend, and I talk a bit about the experience. Then, my mention of semi-arboreal setups (and their controversial nature) drew an excellent email about the topic as it pertains to the C. cyaneopubescens.  In this episode, I will discuss the idea of setting GBBs up in "semi arboreal" enclosures and what I mean by that designation.

For more info on the dealers mentioned in this podcast, check out the links below!

KFInverts
Wicked Webz

We kick this one off with an update on my bioactives (Spoiler alert: I lost another plant!). Then, we'll discuss the C. cyaneopubescens as a beginner species. 

Also, some thoughts on Patreon, my Facebook absence, and breeding. 

We often throw the word around when discussing husbandry practices and setups, but what does it really mean? How much stress can our spiders take? In this episode, we break down the types of stress our tarantulas can and can't feel. 

First, we talk about a few comments I got after last week's episode about tarantula stress. Then, we revisit the topic of tarantula temperament and why these eight-legged wonders are seemingly so inconsitent from specimen to specimen when it comes to their overall mood. 

To kick this one off, we discuss an obscure species...Crypsidromus sp. Costa Rica.  Then, we address why folks tend to experience more sling deaths in the winter months. Finally, an update on my Patreon page. 

What if we were all able to come up with some basic rules that we wanted all tarantula hobbyists to live by? What would our "10 Commandments" of keeping be? In this episode, I offer up my list of 10 rules that I think all serious tarantula hobbyists should abide by. 

First off, a heads up that the first half of the podcast is mostly responding to some emails about the last episode. Then, we get into some of those pesky hobby myths that seem to never go away. 

Happy Mother's Day 2022! In this episode, we discuss how we designate which tarantula species are "advanced" (and why these designations aren't always accurate). 

First off, a HUGE, heartfelt thank you to some folks who truly deserve it. Then, we talk about bioactive enclosures and the Nhandu tripepii.

After having a discussion with a fellow keeper about arachnophobia, I got to thinking about how spiders are presented in media and how much some of those depictions strengthened my own fear of these animals. In this episode, I talk a bit about spiders in media. 

Hot off of "What Makes an Expert Species", this topic covers what skills, traits, or "tools" the "expert" keeper should possess. Thanks to ProfessorChani for the topic suggestion! 

This one has been a long time coming. There is a lot out there about the physiological and behavioral difference between these two classifications of tarantulas. However, much of it takes a very superficial and exaggerated stance when it comes to the comparisons. In this episode, I break down the differences between these two types of spiders and explain how these differences can impact the hobbyist keeping them. 

First, we discuss how to tell when a spider is truly dead, and I share a story about my Psalmopoeus Langenbucheri sling.

Then, if you're older and in the hobby, should you continue to buy long-lived species? Should you pass away, what will become of your collection? In this second part of the podcast, we talk about how you should prepare in the event that you leave your tarantula collection behind. 

First, we take some listener comments from last episode. Then we discuss why it's always important to consider your living situation before you start a tarantula collection. 

First, I talk a bit about the Ephebopus slings that I recently acquired. Then...sure, spiders can bite, have venom, and can put a hurting on anyone foolish enough to trifle with them. However, there are some spiders available in the trade that have been the victim of over exaggeration and hyperbole to the point where many will refuse to keep them. In this episode, we take a look at 5 spiders that receive this dubious distinction. 

Unfortunately, I'm fighting off the 'rona right now, so this episode will be a bit shorter. This time around, I talk a bit about my recent video on hobby staple tarantulas. Then, I answer questions about tarantulas and bright lights, which species of spiders I would never keep, and how often to clean away webbing. 

I've been getting a LOT of questions about substrate lately, so I briefly review some of my thoughts on the various types. Then, we discuss the husbandry for Theraphosa blondi. 

Oftentimes, I find myself in need of a certain type of enclosure for a rehousing in relative hurry, and I resort to hopping on Amazon to see what I can find. As a result, I've tried out a bunch of enclosure possibilities, both inexpensive and more pricey, over the years that work pretty well for our eight-legged friends. In this episode, I review some of the ones that I've tried. 

I've been asked many times over the years if there are certain species of tarantulas that are more difficult to raise up to adulthood than others. Although there were certainly a few species that I get contacted about quite a bit, I wanted to hear from other keepers as well. So, I reached out and asked which spiders folks struggled with. In this episode, we discuss which species keepers had difficulty raising up and try to figure out why.

First off, I talk about a couple recent deaths in my collection. Then, it's onto the Tarantula Hobby Sustainment Project. Finally, when is it okay for newer keepers to start doling out advice to others? 

Well, the title pretty much spells it out! In this episode, we'll be discussing why it's likely better to use multiple hides, why we sometimes skimp on cross ventilation, and Critter Keepers as tarantula enclosures. 

To kick this one off, we'll talk a bit about my thoughts on when sellers send advanced species to unprepared  beginners. Then, I have to vent a bit about my recent discovery of "free range" tarantula keeping. Finally, I review the Barbarous Growth critter tank. 

Dehydration, mites, DKS, nematodes, impaction, bad molts: these are the words and phrases that keep tarantula hobbyists up at night. In this episode, we'll discuss these maladies, how common they really are, and what to do if you should encounter them.  

We've all been there; we've done the reasearch, set up our tarantula the supposed "correct way", and now it's doing something that we've never seen before. Is it injured? Is it stressed? Is it dead? Are you doing something wrong? 

In this episode, we take a look at some common tarantula behaviors that tend to stress out keepers and discuss if there are times where we should be concerned with these behaviors. 

In this episode, I talk about the species that I've raised that seemed to take forever to grow up.

A discussion of some odd fasting and molting behavior I've noticed with my H. chilensis adult females. 

First off, we go back to last week's podcast about the slowest growing species and find out which species listeners named as thier slowest.

Then, we talk about enclosure sizes for various stages of tarantulas.

Want to comment and upvote this podcast? Then join me at Onpodium. 

In this episode, we discuss mature males and whether or not it's okay to be picky about who you send your males to and whether it's okay to keep your mature males.

Want to comment and upvote this podcast? Then join me at Onpodium. 

First, we're going to start off this episode by talking about some comments on the All Male Review episode.

Then, we all make mistakes. However, when an error leads to the death of one of our spiders, how do we get over it?

Want to comment on this episode? Click here to go to the new podcast website! 

To kick this episode off, we will discuss some listener comments from last week's episode that reveal another potentially overlooked threat to our pets.

Then, we talk about the pros and cons involved with keeping pet tarantulas as we try to explain why we are so captivated by this hobby.

Want to comment on this episode? Click here to go to the new podcast website! 

Tarantulas are some of the easiest and most low-maintainance pets a person can keep.  However, for those used to spending more time caring for more domestic animals, this aspect of the hobby can be the cause of some anxiety. In this episode, we discuss some situations that lead stressed out keepers to "over care" for their spiders. 

First, we talk about the new "Tarantula Capital of the World", La Junta, Colorado where citizens are embracing their local tarantula population in an amazing way.

Then, it's International Poecilotheria Appreciation Day! Okay, I might have made that up... However, I've made it very well known how much I adore this genus, and it bothers me that so many folks have been completely turned off to ever keeping one due to their bad reputation. In this episode, I share some tips to make the first time pokie keeper's experience a bit less intimidating.

Click here to read the article about La Junta! 

In this episode, Erin Cashel and Emile Weber join me to talk about the Tarantula Sustainment Project, a new initiative to grow breeding in the US and to ensure all species remain available from state to state.

Want to take part? Just click this link!

After the last podcast, I had several folks email me about the legalities of ordering Sri Lankan Poecilotheria species across state lines. In this episode, we will examine some of the other legal issues folks in the US need to be aware of so that they are not tricked into breaking the law by unscrupulous dealers. 

Then, we disuss feeding schedules and why it is never one-size-fits-all. 

So, last week's episode certainly made some waves! To kick this one off, I'll share some comments I received about tarantula sales laws in other countries. Then, we'll tackle some questions and comments on last week's episode, including one by a very angry breeder.  Sadly, it wasn't the only one that I received. In this episode, I use this negative feedback to clarify and to better articulate the message that I'm trying to get out there.

Note: To clarify a point, when Brazil declared to USFWS that they had not allowed the legal exportation of any species of tarantulas from their country, by letter of law from the Lacey Act, this made any species endemic only to Brazil illegal to own in the US.  However, the USFWS has yet to enforce that part of the law and is being VERY reasonable in recognizing that many of these species have been bought and traded for years. However, if we continue to ignore the laws they ARE currently enforcing, that could all change. 

In this episode, I share all of the info and tips I can think of when it comes to buying and raising tarantula slings.

We'll kick this one off with a quick update on my H. chilensis female. Then, we'll discuss one of my favorite spiders, Sericopelma sp. Santa Catalina. Finally, it's on to a discussion of Pseudhapalopus sp. blue. 

In this episode, we discuss care for the genus Aphonopelma. 

Well, it's 34 degrees out and the heat has kicked on, so it's that time of year again! With temperatures dropping, tarantula keepers have a few new things to worry about when it comes to their animals. In this episode, we discuss 10 issues keepers might encounter during wintertime. 

Well, it was "recently" made public that another once popular tarantula dealer has disappeared after taking a WHOLE lot of money from unsuspecting customers.  While some folks seemed to be surprised by the fact that this individual was shady, they shouldn't have been. There was evidence 18 months ago that this dealer was trying to skirt the law by selling so-called "hybrid" Sri Lankan Poecilotheria species, and after I did a podcast about it, even more info came out. In this episode, talk about how these bad vendors manage to operate so long even after word starts to leak out that they may not be as reputable as they seem. We also discuss some tips to protect yourself when shopping online for tarantulas.

Have you been impacted? Find more info about the Facebook group HERE.

In this this episode, I share some observations on three species of Thrixopelma, a very underrated genus. 

One of the reasons tarantulas are such easy pets is because they are relatively clean animals. That said, there are times when a cleaning, either partial or in full, is warranted. In this episode, we'll discuss the when and how to clean our spiders' enclosures when needed. I also share some tips about how to clean up those delicate acrylics without scratching them all up. 

We've all been there. When people find out that we choose to keep tarantulas as pets, the questions inevitably start flying. Some of them are good questions. Others? Not so much. In this episode, we talk about the questions tarantula keepers are most commonly asked. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR! I hope that everyone had a safe holiday season. To begin this episode, I'll talk about the mysterious case of my dying E. murinus juvenile. Then, we'll discuss the care for Pseudhapalopus sp. blue. 

First, my A. avicularia ("Metallica" form) is not doing too well. Second, I discuss some notes and observations on my H. devamatha juvenile. Finally, some updates on the bioactive enclosures! 

To start the New Year, I got to thinking about what aspects of the hobby tend to give new tarantula keepers the most trouble. In this episode, I share five points that would make the hobby easier and less stressful for those just starting it. 

First, I read and discuss some comments from listeners about last week's episode. Then, I give some updates on my Ephebopus species. 

...or, my creative way of trying to answer a bunch of common questions in an entertaining year-in-review format!

Seriously, while trying to figure out a fun way to answer some of the questions I get about my favorite, or largest, or shyest, or WHATEVER tarantulas, I came up with the idea of a fake award show! Hopefully, folks find this entertaining (and not too embarrassing), and it becomes an annual tradition. Awards to be given are:

1. Tiny Diamond Award (Most Gorgeous Slings)
2. The Queen Memorial Award for Pet Rock of the Year
3. Webber of the Year (To the Spider with the Most Webbing)
4. Pet Dirt Award for The Most Shy and Elusive Spider
5. The “Better Put Me in Your Will” Award for Slowest Growing Spider
6. Enclosure of the Year Award
7. Biggest Surprise of the Year
8. In Memoriam - The Spiders We Lost This Year
9. The Pitbull Award for Most Aggressive Spider
10. The “Hey, Wait…That’s Not a Tarantula” Award for Favorite Non-Spider Critter
11. The Tarantula Titan Award for Largest Spider
12. Eight-Legged Jewel Award (Most Beautiful Spider)
13. Spider of the Year

Feel free to share your own!

What are some ways to organize and manage the expenses of a growing tarantula collection? How can you ensure that caring for your animals doesn't become a burden? In this episode, suggested by listener EarthsGeomancer, I discuss the following points.

• Labeling T enclosures
• Record keeping
• Scheduling
• Being time efficient and making time for other hobbies
• Tracking and inventorying feeders, substrate, containers, and other supplies
• Avoiding burnout due to the more repetitive requirements of the hobby

A huge thanks to EarthsGeomancer for the Suggestion!

Note: The tarantula keeper collection aps. discussed in this podcast are ExotiKeeper and Arachnifiles. 

It's a fossorial blow out! Well, not quite...but in this episode, I talk about the care, setup, and maintenance for our beloved "pet holes". 

First, we start off by discussing listener comments from last week's fossorial episode. Then, I go through some of the changes that I've made in my husbandry and setups and explain why I made these changes. 

It looks like it's going to be a bad spring for pests, and I'm already getting emails from concerned folks who are dealing with ants. Heck, I've already found a couple of them around my house. In this podcast, we go over what to do if you find ants around your tarantulas.

Also, a quick update on my Poecilotheria metallica communal. 

Well, it has FINALLY happened. Dr. Andy Anderson and I were finally able to connect to chat about tarantula care, and man it was well worth the wait. In this episode, Dr. Anderson talks about tarantula medical topics like:

• DKS symptoms and causes
• Dehydration 
• Impaction 
• Molt issues
• Nematodes

In part 2 next week, Dr. Anderson will discuss injuries he's treated and their causes, tarantula ICUs, and the state of invert veterinary medicine in the US.

You can find Dr. Andy Anderson at Shiloh Veterinary Hospital!

Part two of my discussion with veterinarian Dr. Andy Anderson. In this episode, he discusses:

• Injuries that he's treated
• The "Tarantula ICU"
• Tarantula Euthanasia 
• The state of veterinary medicine in the US
• How to find a vet for your spider

In this episode, we talk about care for the genus Brachypelma and I share my observations on the species that I currrently keep. 

Old World tarantulas - they're "aggressive", they're "dangerous", and they're "deadly"...right?

WRONG. 

In this episode, we'll discuss Old World tarantulas and their bad reputation.  I will share my experiences with keeping Old Worlds as well as some tips for minimizing any risk when working with this misunderstood an unfairly villianized group of spiders. 

Okay, so I'm not really going to try to sell folks on keeping curtain-web spiders, but I do think that many tarantula keepers would find a lot to love about these huge, heavily-webbing spiders. In this episode, I discuss their care, setup, and temperament and explain why I think that they make awesome spiders to keep.

Dipluridae feeding compilation

The third part of the Tarantula exam series is here! This time around, we have some scenarios about tarantula care as well as some involving other aspects of the tarantula hobby. Enjoy! 

Back in 2019, I was a guest on the Animals at Home Podcast, and I had an absolute blast talking to the host, Dillon, about the tarantula hobby. At the end of the interview, we agreed that should Dillon ever decide to get his first tarantula, we should get back together to answer some of his questions.

Well, a full pandemic later, and that time has come!

In this episode, Dillion and I discuss some of the questions that he has before he makes the big jump.

You can find Animals at Home on YouTube , The Animals at Home Network, or anywhere you listen to your podcasts.  

Although not common, there are instances where a keeper buys a sling of one species only to discover years later that it is, in fact, another species. And then there are the spiders sold in pet stores under the wrong common or scientific names. In this episode, we discuss this disappointing and potentially dangerous issues.

Also, an update on my H. chilensis and my P. metallica communal setup. 

I often get asked how long a certain species of tarantula lives for, and I sometimes struggle with the response as there are many variables that can lead to longer or shorter lifespans. I also think that some hobbyists set themselves up for disappointment when they assume that their spider will live to the older estimates given online. In this episode, I discuss my feeding regimes over the years as well as the lifespans of some of the tarantulas I've raised from slings to death from "old age." It's my hope that this will kickstart a discussion over what realistic lifespans are in captivity. 

In this episode, we discuss ten hazards keepers should be aware of when keeping tarantulas. 

We've all been there...after discovering an unwanted pest, you recognize that the time has come to treat for it. Whether it be roaches, fleas, lice, or even ants, we all panic at the thought of an exterminator coming in and spraying chemicals that could kill our pets. In this episode, Billie joins us to discuss her experience as a pest control company manager treating various critters as safely as possible. 

Way back in November of 2018, I decided to make a list of the top 15 favorite tarantulas in my collection. At that time, I freely admitted that the list would likely change as time went on (heck, I wanted to change it shortly after posting it!). Well, in this episode, I revisit the question "which are your favorite tarantulas" and put together another list of my current 15 current favorites! 

Yes, I think that all tarantulas should be given water dishes. However, in the great debate over whether they are "needed" or not, some important points are often overlooked. In this episode, we talk about creating a system to keep your tarantulas adequately hydrated. 

I've had a lot of folks talking about "aggressive" tarantula species lately. In this episode, we discuss why people may confuse "aggressive" and "defensive", and how to reduce this type of behavior.

I often get folks asking me to do a podcast or video on the many dwarf tarantulas out there. Well for years I struggled to put one together because a) there are so many out there that I haven't kept and b) there is a lot of debate over what constitutes a "dwarf" tarantula. In this episode, I talk about the smaller species of spiders that I've kept and my experience with them. 

I take a lot of ribbing for saying that every species of tarantula I talk about is "one of my favorites." The truth is, I've enjoyed keeping every species I've ever raised. However, over the years, many folks have asked if there is any species that I don't like, and the answer is...complicated. In this podcast, I talk about the species that I failed to appreciate at first but that I grew to love. 

First, I talk a bit about a recent mishap that I had involving one of my slings. 

Then, although I've created a few sling guides, I've had a lot of folks ask me for specific advice on how to raise the tinies of slings. In this episode, I share some of the tips and tricks I use when growing up the wee ones. 

Well, since we spent a previous episode talking about some of the more diminutive species I keep, I figured that it would be fun to talk about the giants in this episode! What are the biggest tarantulas in my collection? In this episode, you'll find out. 

Tarantulas may be very easy to keep and low maintenance, but they sure have a tendency to do things slowly and on their own schedules. In this episode, we talk about some common hobby situations that require that keepers show patience.

Every once in a while, someone will get the wrong idea from something I've said. Unfortunately, I don't always draw a hard line when it comes to many topics, which can apparently leave my personal view on some subjects up to interpretation. In this episode, I’ll discuss my thoughts on two topics that have come up quite a bit recently and try to clarify my views on them. 

Recently, I was chatting with a fellow keeper about some of the almost "foolproof" slings that are easy to raise to adulthood. These are the species that don't start off too tiny, eat great, grow fairly quickly, and are quite hardy overall.  After giving it some thought, I realized that there are several species that fit this bill. In this episode, I'll discuss 10 tarantula species that are easy to grow up from spiderlings! 

First, I talk a bit about my recent Rainbow of Tarantulas Video. Then, I discus my list of my top 10 personal favorite tarantulas. 

The impetus for this podcast is two-fold: first off, I’ve had a LOT of folks over the years ask me to cover urticating setae more thoroughly. Secondly, after posting my video on Old World species, several folks commented that they avoid New Worlds because of the hairs. Many have pointed out that, as a hobby, we spend so much time talking about venom potency and bites, that we never adequately address the issues posed by urticating hairs. In this episode, we take a look at urticating setae, the risks, and how to prevent exposure.  

After posting up my video and podcast about Old World tarantulas, I received some interesting comments and questions about  ways to reduce the risks of keeping them. In this episode, I'll discuss some of the more common ideas and weigh in on whether they make sense or are mearly overkill. 

In this episode, I talk about how Billie and I set up and keep our B. dubia and B. lateralis roach colonies. I'll also talk a bit about how I manage to keep my crickets alive.

A huge thanks to Matthew Kołodziejski for the topic suggestion! Be sure to check out the Tarantula Talk Facebook group for all things tarantulas! 

In today's episode, I'll discuss the care and share my experiences with three species of Nhandu: N. chromatus, N. tripepii, and N. coloratovillosus. 

In this episode, I'll discuss the species I keep that really bring the fun during feeding time. We'll also talk how to safely work with a tarantula that has a particularly lively feeding response. A huge thank you to Jennifer Thomas for the podcast topic suggestion!

Interested in spider taxonomy? Check out Arácnido.

I've spoken often over the years about how hobby stigmas keep some folks from trying out Old World tarantula species. However, there is actually a flip side to this issue. Sadly, some hobbyists will ignore so called "beginner species" due to stigmatization. In this episode, we'll discuss how the hobby accidentally renders some species unappealing to experienced keepers. 

Around 23 years ago, I got my first tarantula in part to help me to get over a life-long fear of spiders. Although it took many years (and eventually, MANY more tarantulas), I finally kicked my irrational fear of these animals. Since then, I've spoken to many keepers who were drawn to the hobby for the same reasons. In this episode, I'll discuss my experiences with getting over my fear, as well as some tips for those trying put their arachnophobia behind them. 

In this episode, I answer three listener questions: How do I research new tarantula species; how to keep mature male tarantulas comfortable; and do I take into consideration my dogs getting haired?

Thanks to the Tarantula Talk forum and Cody Barton, Carrie Hollister, and Martin Shelby for the questions!

Resources:

Mike's Basic Tarantulas
Arachnoboards
World Spider Catalog
Tarantula Talk 

In this episode, I'll walk you through how I care for and set up my Poecilotheria ornatas, the largest Pokie species available in the hobby. I'll also share some frustrations about an annoying comment someone left on my latest video.

Check out the Tarantula Sustainment Project!

We've all experienced it. You post a picture of your beloved spider only to have some cretin respond with, "EWWW...KILL IT WITH FIRE."  As people who love these animals, it can be quite infuriating to have someone suggest that they would burn our pets to death. Where does this vitriol come from? Is there a way for us to turn these types of comments into a positive? In this episode, we'll discuss the issue. 

I have it on pretty good authority that Eupalaestrus campestratus or "Pink Zebra Beauties" will be available in the US hobby again very soon. As I'm sure that many folks will be scrambling to add a sling to their collections, I figure that this would be the perfect time to revisit the husbandry for this amazing species. 

In this episode, I'll discuss some of the perks to keeping "true" spiders and Mygalomorphs and why tarantula keepers may want to one day give them a try. 

Deaths can really rattle a tarantula keeper and cause them to second guess their tarantula care. In this episode, I speak about a few recent instances I had where my fear of deaths led me to do some pretty stupid things. 

Okay, to kick this one off, we will actually be continuing our discussion from last week by discussing what a keeper can do when threat postures scare him.

Then, there's a brief update on my A. avicularia ("Metallica"), who hasn't been doing very well.

And, finally, I've had a few advanced keepers ask what they should be doing to keep the hobby fresh after they've been in the hobby for a while.

First, I read a listener question and talk about last week's episode. Then, I get a lot of emails and comments from panicked keepers who are alarmed to discover that their arboreal slings and juveniles are actually burrowing.  The fact is, MANY arboreal species will do some burrowing as slings and juveniles, and the correct setup should allow for and encourage this behavior. Unfortunately, many folks don't do enough research, and some of the "sling" and "juvenile" tarantula enclosures being sold do not permit for an appropriate setup. In this episode, we discuss how to keep these species correctly, why it's important to have the correct setup, and why this issue has become so prevalent. 

I've been asked to do this one many times over the years, but there is honestly no way for me to scientifically prove which ones are faster. However, in this episode, I will share the ones that I think are fastest based on my own personal experience. 

What are YOUR fastest spiders?