Any Must Have Books On Tarantula Keeping?

[Isilwen]

I was curious if there are any must have books on tarantula keeping?

 

[ExMember]

The Tarantula Keepers Guide by Stan Shultz is an interesting read. At least the revised edition. One caveat though: the section about husbandry (particularly avicularia) is quite outdated. Other than that it's a pretty interesting read.

 

[Aracnoenthusiast]

The tarantula keepers guide

 

[Isilwen]

The Tarantula Keepers Guide by Stan Shultz is an interesting read. At least the revised edition. One caveat though: the section about husbandry (particularly avicularia) is quite outdated. Other than that it's a pretty interesting read.

Is that the 2009 edition? Third I believe?

Also, I just have a b.smithi and don't see me getting a avicularia, especially not with my girlfriend, soon to be wife around. I would probably stick to terrestrial species and mainly the brachypelma species if I do get anymore.

 

[Isilwen]

The tarantula keepers guide

I was looking at that on Amazon. Some of the reviews aren't that nice on it.

 

[ExMember]

The copy I have is the 2009 one. Although some of the husbandy section is a little archaic it is an interesting read and some great insight for hobbyists.

It does get trashed by people for not being up to date. But the internet is way better for husbandry (tom moran etc.). I enjoyed reading it and the section about custom enclosures is pretty cool.

 

[Isilwen]

The copy I have is the 2009 one. Although some of the husbandy section is a little archaic it is an interesting read and some great insight for hobbyists.

I put it in my cart. As I mentioned above, some of the reviews aren't that nice about it.

 

[Aracnoenthusiast]

The copy I have is the 2009 one. Although some of the husbandy section is a little archaic it is an interesting read and some great insight for hobbyists.

It does get trashed by people for not being up to date. But the internet is way better for husbandry (tom moran etc.). I enjoyed reading it and the section about custom enclosures is pretty cool.

Like brachyfan says, internet is most up to date. Tom Moran is great. I also follow darkden, and the tarantula collective

 

[Isilwen]

Like brachyfan says, internet is most up to date. Tom Moran is great. I also follow darkden, and the tarantula collective

I went ahead and ordered it so I have something on hand.

I agree that the internet is more up to date, although sometimes the information is harder to come by as in the conflicting information between a keepers.

 

[ExMember]

I put it in my cart. As I mentioned above, some of the reviews aren't that nice about it.

I once got in a semi argument with a Swedish keeper about that book. I told a poster the same thing about the husbandry. This swedish guy freaked out and said the book was horrible. Turns out he had a first pressing from 96. From my understanding Shultz updated the book until he got out of the hobby. In the end he realized that we had 2 different books.

I think a lot of the negative reviews could be centered around that. And the fact that a lot of newbies see it as some kind of bible. Which could be bad. Sound advice for husbandry is to cross reference that stuff.

 

[Isilwen]

Sounds like sound advice!

I am liking this board better than another tarantula board I am a member of.

 

[ExMember]

I went ahead and ordered it so I have something on hand.

I agree that the internet is more up to date, although sometimes the information is harder to come by as in the conflicting information between a keepers.

That's a major issue imo. I felt pretty overwhelmed when I got into the hobby. Way too much conflicting info. In the end I got most of my husbandry advice from knowledgeable veterans on forums and also my breeders that I buy from (best advice for sure)!

Keeping Brachypelma is pretty easy though. They are pretty forgiving in the husbandry department

 

[Isilwen]

That's a major issue imo. I felt pretty overwhelmed when I got into the hobby. Way too much conflicting info. In the end I got most of my husbandry advice from knowledgeable veterans on forums and also my breeders that I buy from (best advice for sure)!

I am a little leery about asking the breeder anything. I asked him what size this sling was and he told me 3/4s. I ended up measuring it myself and it is actually one inch, maybe a little more. I asked if it was in the correct enclosure for it's size and he said yes. I have been told it's too large for it. It came in it's enclosure.

So, I am little worried that the breeder really doesn't know. It was a b.smithi and the price was right and it was the first smithi I have been able to find at a reptile show. So I went with it.

 

[ExMember]

I am a little leery about asking the breeder anything. I asked him what size this sling was and he told me 3/4s. I ended up measuring it myself and it is actually one inch, maybe a little more. I asked if it was in the correct enclosure for it's size and he said yes. I have been told it's too large for it. It came in it's enclosure.

So, I am little worried that the breeder really doesn't know. It was a b.smithi and the price was right and it was the first smithi I have been able to find at a reptile show. So I went with it.

Depends on the breeder I guess. The place I go to is great. They go all over the world and catch their breeding stock. Been in business for 20+ years and are the largest breeders in my country. And they have direct lines to the mexican breeding facility. I could call them right now with any questions.

About enclosure size... being in an enclosure that is too large has a few drawbacks. The main one being it is harder to find food. I just put it by the water dish usually. I am using prekilled prey most of the time. Or I drop the prey on the spider to get a feeding response.

The other drawback is that the sling may not feel safe and start burrowing. One of my albopilosum for example has built burrows and flees into the tunnels when disturbed. It isn't too much of an issue. But my little geniculata loves it's over sized enclosure and has never even dug a burrow or used the starter burrow/hide I gave it. In effect the whole enclosure is it's burrow.

 

[Isilwen]

Depends on the breeder I guess. The place I go to is great. They go all over the world and catch their breeding stock. Been in business for 20+ years and are the largest breeders in my country. And they have direct lines to the mexican breeding facility. I could call them right now with any questions.

About enclosure size... being in an enclosure that is too large has a few drawbacks. The main one being it is harder to find food. I just put it by the water dish usually. I am using prekilled prey most of the time. Or I drop the prey on the spider to get a feeding response.

The other drawback is that the sling may not feel safe and start burrowing. One of my albopilosum for example has built burrows and flees into the tunnels when disturbed. It isn't too much of an issue. But my little geniculata loves it's over sized enclosure and has never even dug a burrow or used the starter burrow/hide I gave it. In effect the whole enclosure is it's burrow.

Wish I had a breeder I felt comfortable going to like that!

I am using pre-killed as well. Haven't dropped an item on it as of yet, but I will leave it in it's enclosure and it as found it every single time. Which is great!

This one has been in it's burrow some, but most of the time, probably a good 90% of the time it is out and about. I am thinking the large enclosure size isn't a bother to it.

Here is a good picture of the sling with a full size shot of the enclosure.

 

[Nunua]

That enclosure is perfectly fine for the sling. Just add a water dish - washed bottle cap will do fine.

 

[Isilwen]

That enclosure is perfectly fine for the sling. Just add a water dish - washed bottle cap will do fine.

It doesn't show in the picture, but there is one in there now. I took that picture on the way home from the show.

I was told earlier on another board that my substrate is too wet and to remove the water. Should I do that?

 

[Nunua]

Substrate is moist but not damp so no need to change it. Just let the water evaporate and the substrate will dry naturally After the substrate has dried a bit, you can keep overflowing the water dish every now and then.

 

[DOS1392]

Like brachyfan says, internet is most up to date. Tom Moran is great. I also follow darkden, and the tarantula collective

I follow all 3 of these and have just recently started in the hobby. Already up to 4 T's and all seem to be doing well with what i learnt from those 3 channels and from everyone on here

 

[Arachnoclown]

Like brachyfan says, internet is most up to date. Tom Moran is great. I also follow darkden, and the tarantula collective

@Tomoran yes
.. well educated and solid information. The Darkden is just for entertainment only...Petko is a novice himself and often a train wreck at times.