Any Must Have Books On Tarantula Keeping?

[Isilwen]

Thank you everyone for your help.

As I said, this has been a much better experience than another tarantula board that I am on!

 

[Jess S]

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.

Hi there. To be honest, a lot of breeders estimate sizes as they don't have time to individually measure each one. If estimating then they'll slightly underestimate to be on the safe side, as it's better to receive a larger sling than stated than the other way round (avoids complaints lol).

Some people insist on using deli cups for slings but I agree with @Nunua that your enclosure will be fine.

Although B smithi's are dry species, slings do need some moisture in the substrate. I keep half the substrate moist for my smithi sling but that's just me.

 

[ExMember]

Hi there. To be honest, a lot of breeders estimate sizes as they don't have time to individually measure each one. If estimating then they'll slightly underestimate to be on the safe side, as it's better to receive a larger sling than stated than the other way round (avoids complaints lol).

Some people insist on using deli cups for slings but I agree with @Nunua that your enclosure will be fine.

Although B smithi's are dry species, slings do need some moisture in the substrate. I keep half the substrate moist for my smithi sling but that's just me.

Right on the money on all counts!

 

[Jess S]

@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.

Petkos latest video (the Rollercoaster one) was a 3 car pileup. A lesson in how to dehydrate a moulting tarantula (I wouldn't be surprised if the seladonia also died of dehydration) and get a MM munched.

I can cut him slack on the MM death as it happened instantly on introducing him to the 2nd females enclosure (let's assume he remembered to feed her up prior ). But he has a big collection now, and admits that he checks his T's weekly and fortnightly for Brachys, Grammy's and other 'hardier' species as he calls them. If that's the case, why does he insist on misting and not providing water dishes. If you have provided a water dish you can just about get away with weekly checks (though it's not advisable). But to mist and dribble a bit of water on the substrate is inadequate if it's just performed weekly. It'll dry up before some of those tarantulas get thirsty enough to need to drink.

It's a shame that he cant see that if he had provided something as small and freely available as a simple bottle cap in one of those enclosures, at least one of those deaths wouldn't have happened.

 

[Rs50matt]

Can cut him some slack but the issues he was having with his H sp Columbia is all on him. We've recently stopped watching dark den and exotics lair as the videos are frustrating more than entertaining. He may have a large collection now but it's still nothing compared to what some people on here keep and even we have 200+ now and still able to maintain a waterdish in every enclosure ( much to the grammostolas disproval ) we have the advantage that we live in the same building as our collection but for someone like him who is pretty much a full time YouTuber and in the spotlight for the hobbys new keepers he should take more care to provide good information and proper care to his Ts. It can still be entertaining

 

[Arachnoclown]

To touch on the size of tarantulas from the breeders perspective. All sack mate slings are different sizes. By 3rd to 4th instar sizes can vary alot. When you are advertising 300 slings your not going to measure 300 slings individually...you just give the average size. It doesnt really matter much over a few hundredths of a inch on care (enclosure)...its going to be the same.

 

[octanejunkie]

The TKG is a great reference and must read, albeit dated, the information is the basis for everything online, which is more current. I would look at Tom Moran, as stated above - he keeps over 100 species and answers EVERY SINGLE COMMENT or question thrown at him. So he says...

 

[ExMember]

Mr Shultz lives in my area. He has said in posts after he got out of the hobby:

"If anyone needs help sexing their tarantulas I am at the McDonald's at (redacted) between 9-10am everyday. Tables in the far corner by the bathrooms! Come and see me!"

Tom Moran is really a guru at this point. I find his videos as entertaining as watching paint dry. But that's the point. It's all education and him being a school teacher definitely aids him with that. I haven't communicated with him before (no need atm) but do know some people who have. He has kinda become the new Stan Shultz!