Tom's Big Spiders

The Tumblr companion site for my Tom's Big Spiders blog. As a keeper of 90+ tarantulas and counting,I enjoy sharing some of my experiences, chatting about these animals, and dispelling some of the misinformation circulating on the net.

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Theraphosa apophysis "The Pinkfoot Goliath Birdeater" Complete Care

Scientific NameTheraphosa apophysisCommon Name“Pinkfoot Goliath Birdeater”Countries of OriginColombia, Venezuela, and BrazilArboreal/Terrestrial/FossorialOpportunistic burrowerMax Size10″ or more (25.5 cm) INTRODUCTION When I first got into the hobby, I lived by the adage “bigger is better.” At that time, I figured that if you were going to keep large, hairy spiders, then you might as well keep…

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Fastest Growing Tarantulas in My Collection

“What is the fastest-growing tarantula species?” It’s a question that I’ve been asked dozens of times over the years, and one that I’ve strategically avoided answering. First off, although I’ve managed to keep over 130 different species, that’s only a fraction of the 900+ species of described tarantulas in the world. It would literally be impossible for me to comment on the fastest-growing…

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10 Great Tarantula Species to Raise as First 'Slings

Many folks who are just getting interested in the tarantula hobby start by consulting the numerous “beginner tarantula” lists to select their first spiders. And those who do will often discover that the genera most recommended on these lists are the GAB species (Grammastola, Aphonopelma, Brachypelma). These species are recognized as being very hardy, long-lived spiders that are super easy to care…

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Tliltocatl vagans “Mexican Redrump” Care

Scientific NameTlitltocatl vagansCommon NameMexican Redrump or Mexican Black VelvetCountries of originMexico, Guatemala, and BelizeArboreal/Terrestrial/FossorialFossorialMax Size6.5″ or 16.5 cm INTRODUCTION When I first got into tarantula keeping, the “Mexican Redrump” had the scientific name Brachypelma vagans and was quite popular and readily available, with wild-caught specimens being…

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Old Word vs. New World Tarantulas

A Comparison for the Potential Hobbyist Back in the 90s when I was more into keeping snakes than tarantulas, my wife, Billie, and I attended a reptile expo in Massachusetts. While perusing the animals at the various tables, we saw a 10-gallon aquarium with about two inches of colorful aquarium gravel and a large black tarantula stood dead in the middle of it. It was easy to surmise that this…

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Tarantulas As Pets - The Good, Bad, and the Misunderstood

Tarantulas As Pets – The Good, Bad, and the Misunderstood

When I was around 6, my father took me with him when he visited a local pet store. While my dad spoke to the clerk, I wandered around the small shop checking out the many animals offered for sale. As I walked by the standard gerbils, lizards, guinea pigs, and frogs, I noticed something that just about blew my young little mind. In a large aquarium in the center of the store was the largest spider…

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Hapalopus sp. Colombia Lg. "The Pumpkin Patch"

Hapalopus sp. Colombia Lg. “The Pumpkin Patch”

A feisty new world “dwarf” terrestrial tarantula from Colombia At a Glance Old World or New WorldNew WorldTerrestrial/Arboreal/FossorialTerrestrialMoisture DependentYes (although adaptable)TemperaturesRoom tempsMax Size3.5″ for femalesTemperamentSkittish Growth RateFastBeginner Appropriate?Possibly For several years after getting serious into the hobby, the mantra “bigger is better” informed…

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Keeping Moisture Dependent Tarantula Species

Keeping Moisture Dependent Tarantula Species

Keeping Moisture Dependent Tarantula Species (And How to Maintain Moist Substrate)

Author’s Note: Although tarantula husbandry “care sheets” often make a point of stating “ideal humidity” requirements, these numbers are arbitrary and should be ignored. There is no such thing as an ideal humidity level, and serious keepers abhor the “h” word. I’ve been keeping tarantulas for years, and I never…

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Cerotogyrus darlingi "The Rear-horned Baboon" Care and Husbandry

Cerotogyrus darlingi “The Rear-horned Baboon” Care and Husbandry

Cerotogyrus darlingi “The Rear-horned Baboon”

FOR THE VIDEO VERSION, CLICK THE LINK ABOVE!

The Ceratogyrus darlingi or “Rear Horned Baboon” is an amazing little spider that gets its common name from a black horn that grows from its carapace. Unlike the fovial horns of other Ceratogyrus species, the C. darlingi’sprotuberance slants…

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Harpactira pulchripes "The Golden Blue-legged Baboon" Care and Husbandry

Harpactira pulchripes “The Golden Blue-legged Baboon” Care and Husbandry

Harpactira pulchripes “Golden Blue-legged Baboon”

FOR THE VIDEO VERSION OF THIS ARTICLE, PLEASE CLICK THE LINK ABOVE!

Over the years, there have been dozens of newly introduced tarantulas species that have caught the eyes of hobbyists with their undeniable beauty and the illusion of being a rarity in the hobby. In the past, the Poe…

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Caribena versicolor "The Martinique pinktoe"

Caribena versicolor “The Martinique pinktoe”

The Jewel of the Antilles! For a video version of this article, click the link above! (Note: The following article is an update on my original C. versicolor husbandry article from October 19, 2014. )

Despite being very common and established in the hobby, there is perhaps no tarantula available right now, save maybe the T. blondi,…

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Euathulus sp. “Red” or “Fire” is now Homeoemma Chilensis

Euathulus sp. “Red” or “Fire” is now Homeoemma Chilensis

Finally, our little hobby darlings drop the “species” label (and find themselves in a new genus)

The new paper, First record of Homoeomma Ausserer, 1871 in Chile and description of two new species (Araneae, Theraphosidae)  by Rubén Montenegro V., Milenko A. Aguilera & María Eugenia Casanueva brings with it significant changes for two of the hobby’s favorite little dwarf tarantulas.

The species…

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State Tarantula Vendor List - Your Help Is Needed

State Tarantula Vendor List – Your Help Is Needed

The hobby is changing…

With the recent U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ruling on the five Sri Lankan Poecilotheria speciescoupled with the latest controversy surrounding species from another country, the landscape of tarantula commerce may be changing drastically. For years, hobbyists have enjoyed the ability to order their spiders from online dealers anywhere in the country without worry of…

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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Ruling on Sri Lankan Poecilotheria Species.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Ruling on Sri Lankan Poecilotheria Species.

A heads up to “Pokie” lovers…this one is going to sting a bit…

Note: The following information impacts ONLY hobbyists in the United States.

In July of this year, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service released its final report and ruling on Poecilotheria species. Per this ruling, five species of Poecilotheria from Sri Lankawere deemed endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of…

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When you don't mind getting a male! My newly mm Phormictopus cancerides. #phormictopuscancerides #pcancerides #haitianbrownbirdeater #tomsbigspiders

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My female Phormictopus sp. blue FINALLY molted...and my mature male died two days later. Seriously? Anyhow, she is gorgeous, so that's a plus. #phormictopusspblue #phormictopus #tomsbigspiders

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Which is my favorite Poecilotheria species? It literally changes daily. My female P. regalis after her recent molt. #poecilotheria #poecilotheriaregalis #tomsbigspiders