Tom's Big Spiders - Tarantulas and Inverts

https://rss.buzzsprout.com/148967.rss

124 Followers 385 Episodes Claim Ownership

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 ...

Episode List

Tarantula History: Which Species Have Been in the Hobby the Longest?

Mar 1st, 2026 5:00 PM

First, we have an update for last week's episode where we discussed a tarantula going to a vet.Then...have you ever wondered which tarantula species were the first to be kept as pets in the hobby? In this episode, we'll break down when some common species first made their appearance as pets.

Theraphosa apophysis "Pinkfoot Goliath" Care

Feb 15th, 2026 4:00 PM

First, we'll read some listener comments. Then, we'll discuss an article about a veterinarian treating Kristen the tarantula.For our main topic this week, I will discuss the care for the amazing Theraphosa apophysis!

Death By Tarantula Bite! Fact or Myth?

Feb 8th, 2026 4:00 PM

Welcome to season 9! In this episode, we start by discussing some listener comments from last week's episode about T. vagans.Then..."Can a tarantula bite kill you?" Despite being told that one can't die from a tarantula bite, many stories have circulated over the years that appear to contradict that widely held belief. In this episode, we will investigate the validity of six cases of death by tarantula envenomation.

The Infamous "Mexican Redrump" Tliltocatl vagans Care and Notes

Jan 11th, 2026 4:00 PM

Happy New Year! First, we'll discuss a listener question about whether or not tarantulas can "learn" to accept handling.Then, this species has been described as "aggressive", "nasty", and even "evil," which is laughable. In this episode, I will break down care and my experience with the wonderful and unfairly maligned T. vagans or "Mexican Redrump."

Tarantula Hoarding - A Discussion

Dec 21st, 2025 4:00 PM

First off, we'll take listener comments about last week's episode on feeding.Then, we discuss the article, "Environmentalists Seek Protections for Malaysian Tarantula Targeted by Illegal Pet Trade" and how it applies to the tarantula hobby.And finally, it's onto our main topic. Is tarantula hoarding really a thing? We'll break down why the word "hoarding" is often tossed around and how this question, especially when it comes to pet influencers, is a bit more complicated to answer.

More Episodes