Thoughts on Exotics Lair??

[ArachnoHorn]

I was inspired by exotics lair but I don’t watch him anymore.

 

[ArachnoHorn]

Exotics lair feeding vids got me into the hobby

His watering videos got me XD

 

[timc]

I had the reverse experience in stumbling upon his channel and then it really putting me off as I assumed every tarantula was an aggressive nightmare which would get tiresome quick.

It was only when I did further research I started to understand just how much he was encouraging this behaviour that was actually defensive.

Agree with the eyes on the hobby though. Imagine if he used that platform for spreading good knowledge.

That’s fair. Like I said I’ve watched exactly half of one of his videos so I’m not entirely versed in what goes on.

 

[ilovebrachys]

Can't stand exotics lair or dark den, tarantula kat
Nothing to learn from them whatsoever and there is a growing trend of everyone wanting to be a tarantula YouTuber overnight
Sooooo many new channels 99% of them are pure rubbish,
I only watch educational channels such as Tom Morgan, birdspidersch and lovetarantula

 

[shatteredpast7]

He is a suppurating boil on the ar*e of tarantula keeping. I had the misfortune to follow a link to his channel and personally I think he should be banned from YT for cruelty to animals. He doesn’t give one iota of concern for his animals and will hurt a T if it means getting more subscribers. I was horrified when I heard of him “euthanising” a T.
there is a lot id like to add but it would be a waste of bandwidth as it’s all been said before. I’m waiting on the one poster new folk all piling in to say how wonderful he is.

go to Tom Moran, Daves Little Beasties, Tarantula Collective and a few others mentioned here. I won’t mention a certain friend of exotics lair but I certainly won’t recommend her as i remember being chased away from A FB channel for disagreeing with her

Did you report it?

 

[shatteredpast7]

But yeah, don’t go to him for good advice lol.

I wouldn't go to youtube in general for advice.

 

[AdamG]

Did you report it?

Unfortunately there's no direct reporting tool for animal cruelty on YouTube. There's literally a channel that specialises in live animal feedings to reptiles (household pets etc) and YouTube does nothing so I hold out no such hope of there ever being a reporting tool.

You can't report all those ****ty 'invert fighting' channels either. YouTube will only care about legality and revenue from views, not what's right or just.

 

[shatteredpast7]

Reading some other people’s replies I’m already starting to rethink my opinions on him lol

Watch whatever you want to watch, just because other people don't like him, doesn't mean you have to stop watching videos you enjoy. If you see abusive behavior, report it. Do not go there to learn anything and don't spread his videos for educational purposes. Just be aware, and smarter than him lol

 

[shatteredpast7]

Unfortunately there's no direct reporting tool for animal cruelty on YouTube. There's literally a channel that specialises in live animal feedings to reptiles (household pets etc) and YouTube does nothing so I hold out no such hope of there ever being a reporting tool.

You can't report all those ****ty 'invert fighting' channels either. YouTube will only care about legality and revenue from views, not what's right or just.

He gets people into the hobby, from there it's on them if they want to actually educate themselves or not. If people wanna get into T keeping, just be smarter than him and be aware. A good example of what not to do I suppose lol

 

[AdamG]

Watch whatever you want to watch, just because other people don't like him, doesn't mean you have to stop watching videos you enjoy. If you see abusive behavior, report it. Do not go there to learn anything and don't spread his videos for educational purposes. Just be aware, and smarter than him lol

I think it's more than personal choice here.

YouTube doesn't differentiate if you watched one of his innocent watering videos or watched him drown a living animal in detergent.

All they see is a view which = promotion, high placement in suggestions for others looking at tarantula videos and more financial encouragement for him to be more outrageous.

You can feed the cycle or support the good people in the hobby but alas, people make their choice and I'm flogging a dead horse here.

 

[shatteredpast7]

He gets people into the hobby, from there it's on them if they want to actually educate themselves or not. If people wanna get into T keeping, just be smarter than him and be aware. A good example of what not to do I suppose lol

 

[Poppy2020]

I wouldn't go to youtube in general for advice.

Tom Moran.

 

[AdamG]

Again, nothing specifically for animal cruelty and I think you'd have a hard time finding anyone sympathetic to the plight of an animal that much of the population fears and hates.

All I can do is not give him the clicks and line his pockets and sometimes that's all the difference you can make.

 

[steaksauce357]

Unfortunately there's no direct reporting tool for animal cruelty on YouTube. There's literally a channel that specialises in live animal feedings to reptiles (household pets etc) and YouTube does nothing so I hold out no such hope of there ever being a reporting tool.

You can't report all those ****ty 'invert fighting' channels either. YouTube will only care about legality and revenue from views, not what's right or just.

My exgf's ball python would only eat live rats, that's not cruelty that's nature. And nature is the cruelest of all things especially in terms of predatory animals. Household pets is kind of vague, a lot of people see rodents and small birds as pets.

I've watched a lot of EL's stuff and still go check it out, and I have learned some things from it though it is more entertainment like the watering vids. Nothing wrong with that. Haven't really seen any "animal cruelty", and I don't know him personally but he comes off as sincerely greiving when he loses one of his T's.

 

[AdamG]

My exgf's ball python would only eat live rats, that's not cruelty that's nature. And nature is the cruelest of all things especially in terms of predatory animals. Household pets is kind of vague, a lot of people see rodents and small birds as pets.

I've watched a lot of EL's stuff and still go check it out, and I have learned some things from it though it is more entertainment like the watering vids. Nothing wrong with that. Haven't really seen any "animal cruelty", and I don't know him personally but he comes off as sincerely greiving when he loses one of his T's.

Totally aware that live feeding is a thing and a natural thing. It's more tone and intent.

The channel I'm referring to plays it for titillation and has fed dogs/cats etc to animals for views. A lot of it is highly fetishised too.

Exotics Lair is smalltime compared to that...not even in the same ballpark.

And yeah, maybe his grief comes across real but the first thing I'd do if I lost an animal early would be to look into how I could improve. He just repeats his mistakes.

 

[shatteredpast7]

His watering videos got me XD

Same lol

 

[Alternative Inverts]

What is everyone's thoughts on Exotics Lair on YouTube? Genuinely curious if others watch him or think he is a good voice for the community. Watching his videos inspired me to get a tarantula.

I think a lot of people start out watching him but there are some other channels that have been mentioned like tom moran who really know their stuff or birdspiders ch if you want to see some in nature.

We also have a channel Alternative Inverts and have been doing a lot of breeding videos care etc.. recently if you want to check us out

 

[shatteredpast7]

I think a lot of people start out watching him but there are some other channels that have been mentioned like tom moran who really know their stuff or birdspiders ch if you want to see some in nature.

We also have a channel Alternative Inverts and have been doing a lot of breeding videos care etc.. recently if you want to check us out

Coolio! I will check it out, thanks!

 

[MrGhostMantis]

Exotics Lair, Tarantula Kat, and The Dark Den are much more intended to be entertaining than informal. At least Tarantula Kat and Petko actually make an attempt at decent care. All EL cares about is the clickbait, his subs, and what the enclosures look like. Oh, and doing EVERYTHING one handed.

 

[octanejunkie]

After all the chatter on this thread I went to watch one of these videos - I'd never seen this guy before. What a fracking joke - "checking my tarantulas, none of them are dead, this is a good day" - what a choad.

Who would watch this idiot on the regular?

I only watched like 2 mins and I actually feel dumber for having done so. Fcuk that chump.