Holiday Unboxing from FNT ft. S. galapagoensis

[@mystique3962]

Hey tom! So excited to see you picked up a galapagoensis! I actually produced these😆!! How cool that my favorite youtuber now has an animal I produced. Your care is spot on, ive been keeping them half dry and half moist aswell. The protein is also very important, i fed the mother f/t mice and catfood aside from cuts of meat. I also supplemented with fruit! Im sure you’ll have a blast raising the little one 😊

[@TomsBigSpiders]

That's awesome!!! And I'm so glad to hear the care is correct, as there is a LOT of different info out there. I would not have thought of cat food, and someone else mentioned fruit, so I'll have to check that out as well. How large was the mother? What did you keep her in? Again, thank you SO MUCH!

[@mystique3962]

@@TomsBigSpiders She was 10” excluding the terminal legs and antennae. I kept her in a 66 qt sterlite tub with cross ventilation especially right above the substrate. This allowed for the dirt to dry out in between floodings of her water dish. The plings seem to appreciate the moisture a bit more but they’re very hardy! I did keep her main source of prey as invertebrates and she loved to make burrows under her cork and explore. Im currently feeding the plings 3 times a week until they gain some size. Thank you for providing a beautiful spacious enclosure, im very excited to watch this one grow 😇

[@Tijereño]

I’ve been seeing info (usually pre-2010 on aboards but there’s not much else) saying that “powerfeeding” shortens the lifespans of pedes. I know that myth has been dispelled in the T world (since they just go into long premolts in response to overfeeding) but is it the same for pedes? Thanks!

[@cheninlimback7868]

Nice rehousing! Vietnam silver is SO up there on my wish list! I hope you get a female. I totally was on the same page as Billie and took a minute to see the spider - those legs really blended in with the moss.😆

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Hello, Chenin! Great to hear from you! Yeah, I'm really hoping that this is a lady (although my luck as of late has not been great. haha). Yeah, that one REALLY blended in! I hope that all is well with you!

[@candyscott489]

Thanks Tom !! Have to say I’m not a tiny sling person. But yours look pretty good !! Congrats on your new family of acquisition !!! 🤎🤎🤎🤎 You’re right about the half & half, you need a hide on both sides 😊

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Tiny slings STILL freak me out, Candy...so I get it! haha

[@MOONOVERMIAMI]

Hello great video information unboxing and rehousing Tom

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thank you so much, Moon! I hope that 2024 is going well for you!

[@JA17SBLVIIIMVP]

I got one of those Vietnamese Silver's from FNT from their 12 days of Christmas sale, too! Surprised at the size of it when I unpacked it. Quickest Old World I own! Had it crawl out and right onto my hand for a minute when I unboxed it, and survived to tell the tale! 😂

[@TomsBigSpiders]

That's awesome! Yeah, this one was pretty good sized! She's (I HOPE she) is now in her burrow. haha

[@dankauffman8568]

"Upbeat and energetic" . Define please . Happy New year !!!!

[@TomsBigSpiders]

I would define it as the opposite of what I was feeling when we were recording this video, Dan. I tried to fake it. ;) haha

[@trishout]

Hey Tom! I usually think about commenting on the podcasts but this last one really activated me. I work in an outdoor recreation industry. Very frequently I tell people how to be successful at this activity only to have them not to listen to a single word I say. You are not alone in your frustrations of the difficulty of passing good information onto potential students. I also wanted to talk mention the pettuber deal. In my high school I remember a very short class one of my teachers did on identifying bias. I think it would benefit many to learn how to identify when people are doing things for clout. The next step would be teaching how to not take new information at face value. I might just be talking about critical thinking. Anyways love the podcast. Love you. You make my Sundays infinitely better.

[@michaelnancyamsden7410]

This was a really good video. There is no need to apologize.

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thanks so much, Michael Nancy!

[@JJDigitalartStudio]

HAPPY NEW YEAR TOM! Here's to old tarantulas not forgotten. Little slings that barely are, transferred to new homes. (These T's travel further than I do) Then you feed them crickets or parts of them. This is a gem. You say. I say the T is fine but Billie is the GEM! She loves you and therefore she loves them. And loving you she shoots these little slings until they get away. Have a blessed new year!!

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Hahaha Well played, Joyce! Happy New Year! And she totally is, although I don't know how she's feeling about the new centipede. haha

[@JJDigitalartStudio]

@@TomsBigSpiders Hey I like you but I draw the line at centipedes. Actually it is the little million legged ones that get to me. They used to pop up in the doors of closets. I think it was probably terrified of me. I called my mom. I was 16. Yes a terrified teen screaming about a bug who is terrified of me. Now I just scoop up whatever comes in that should NOT be inside and take it to the outside of our fence. You get over arachnophobia.

[@Colorista_1]

Tom, I so enjoy your videos. I think because I’m a very cerebral individual, I can relate so much better to you. I really don’t care about fads or people trying to be cute. Facts are important to me. I have loads of choices to watch, but for many years, I always choose to watch you over all of the others. I don’t comment often-I just absorb what you say AND do. You are sane place in an insane world 😅.

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thank you so very much! I really try to present the best information without all of the fluff. :) I truly love hearing when someone appreciates what I'm trying to do. :)

[@UncleBurntApostrophe]

Happy New Year! Interested to follow the growth of that beast of a centipede species👌

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Happy New Year! I'll definitely keep folks updated!

[@kirundo]

Awww shame the colonica was too small, I'd have loved to have seen the rehouse as I have two of them myself. Both thankfully have made their burrow in the corner so I can see them really well. One is has just closed the door though, so we'll see :) gorgeous little spiders!

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Sorry! I would have loved to have shown it, but I was spent. haha I'll do an update soon. Mine just closed her burrow!

[@MyCreepyCrawlys]

Cool centipede.. I have a Scolopendra Metuenda (Solomon Island Centipede) your set up looks good. The only suggestion I have is to watch glass enclosures. Centipedes can grip the silicone corners and use the silicone to climb out. Personally I'm a fan of acrylic or the plastic tubs. Because they can't climb out, using acrylic..

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Great tip...thanks for that! I'll definitely keep an eye on that.

[@michaeltaylor2449]

A really NICE load of new editions there Tom for sure

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thank you so much, Michael!

[@michaeltaylor2449]

@@TomsBigSpidersyour welcome

[@edgufler1122]

Thank you very much for the video Tom, I enjoyed it.

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thank YOU for watching, Ed! Hope all is well!

[@MegaGurmi]

I love your shirt, great movie!

[@TomsBigSpiders]

LOVE that movie. I've seen it more times than I care to admit. Big Robbert Eggers fan overall!

[@georgecardiff1946]

Brilliant as always Tom, it's always exciting when you get new stuff, the centipede is one im looking forward to seeing it's progress Tom, anyway Tom i want to wish you, Billie and family a very Happy and healthy New year.

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thanks so much, George! I can't wait to grow this one up! Happy New Year, bud!

[@Gtang78]

Awesome Tom❤❤❤

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thank you! Happy New Year!

[@clamskaboo5120]

hey tom, I have the same species but a different morph, scolopendra galapagoensis “orange” that I’ve named Owen Wilson. I’ve grown him(?) up since he was a 1” pedeling, and for my experience, I kept him in a 32 oz deli container with a lot of good ventilation and damp substrate- key word being damp. I kept it just slightly more moist than dry, but I think your setup would serve the animal MUCH better, as I was more concerned with being able to keep a close eye on the pedeling. He is now 6.5-7” long, and is currently kept on the substrate with a similar consistency, but again, your idea with half dry half wet is perfect. One thing that I do always keep consistent is to make sure they always have a full water dish, as all my centipedes I’ve kept (heros, aztecorum, dehaani, metuenda, galapagoensis) did eagerly drink water whenever they were given the chance. It is more important ime as smaller ones

[@TomsBigSpiders]

LOVE the name. haha I was amazed how much new information there was out there about keeping these guys. I kept my last few moist at all times, and it sounds like I'm very lucky that they did okay. And I've been keeping that water dish full at all times! Thank you so much for chiming in!

[@lisafosc]

Happy new year Tom, Billy and Family. I hope you guys had a great Xmas time, and that 2024 holds many magical surprises for you, including discovering that all those lil beauties are females 😂😂. I have the utmost respect for teachers, if only I had teachers like you, I dare say I may not have been a tragedy case of full time education, and could have skipped going back as an adult 🤣. xx

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Happy New Year, Lisa! Hope that you're 2024 is off to a great start. And fingers crossed that I get ladies (my track record hasn't been great lately. haha). And than you so much...I truly appreciate that! :) I just wish that I could get more of my personality to come out in these videos, but it's just not the same without a classful of teens to banter with. haha

[@detroitsound9364]

New to the hobby as of November and I can say you are my favorite when it comes to tralantula content.

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thank you so much! I truly appreciate that!!! :)

[@LadyKakizaki]

Hey Tom!!!! My first ever invertebrate was a galapagoensis! You will love her!!!! They are fantastic and very gentle as far as centipedes go. That’s one I have zero issues handling. Also as far as I know it’s “galap-ago-ensis” like Galapagos but ensis. I also have a Vietnam silver who is absolutely fantastic. I think you’ll love these guys!!!! Congrats on the new critters!! For the galap: I’ve kept 3 galapagoensis and numerous other centipedes. I actually came from the centipede hobby when I got into spiders. Galaps in my experience can and will eat little bits of tropical fruit every now and then (mine loved mango and papaya) just make sure to pull it out after a day so it doesn’t get gross. You can even put it in a little dish so the substrate doesn’t get nasty around it. I do a vertical moisture gradient, so I keep the bottom layers moist and keep the top dry. I “make it rain” every now and then usually around the water dish but for the most part I keep the top dry. I use lots of leaf litter and little pieces of cork bark etc. so they can hide under them. I find cross ventilation is very good but make sure the holes are high enough up that they can’t climb up and chew the holes open and escape (in case you ever move it to a bin, they can and absolutely will chew open vent holes!) Keep up the awesome work and happy new year! - Charlotte P.S. tell Billie I’m watching this while pulling mice out of my client’s attic 🤣

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Billie laughed about the mice. She's on vacation this week, thank God. And that's what I love SO MUCH about Latin scientific names. I was trying to pronounce it in Latin (the OE would be OY), but it's one of those "fake" scientific names. I will be pointing this conversation out the next time some one gives me s**t about my Latin! haha And thank you SO MUCH for chiming in on this. I DO remember you saying that you were a 'pede girl' on another video, so I really do appreciate your first hand experience. I'm eyeing quite a few more centipeds in the future, so I'll definitely be picking your brain. Do you still have some? And I was wondering about the fruit as well, as I read that some folks mixed some in. I will try this one with both mango and papaya and see how it goes. It sounds like the way I'm keeping this one is pretty spot on to what you're suggesting, so I feel much better about the setup now. I basically overflowed the water dish the other night and let the water soak down the sides to the lower levels. I'll keep doing that. HAPPY NEW YEAR, bud! I hope that you have a good one. Thanks again for the wonderful advice!

[@LadyKakizaki]

@@TomsBigSpiders Hey Tom! Yes I currently have two small ones I purchased from Kelly Swift. I share a wall with a lovely elderly lady and do not feel comfortable having any giants at the moment because I realistically don’t know what the venom could do if god forbid I had an escape. I’m fine with the tarantulas but I consider centipedes a step above tarantulas. Once I get a house (one day!) I will keep the giants again. I currently have an H. marginata and a S. sexspinosus which bring me great joy, but my heart is with the giants. And yeah, I studied Latin in college so I always laugh when people go on about it, because technically by that logic Poecilotheria should be Poe-eh or poy-kih-lo-theh-ria since there’s no soft c’s in Latin 🤣

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Man, Charlotte - I feel like I just took a beating on my pronunciation of "Poecilotheria" as well. hahaha I give up! ;) @@LadyKakizaki

[@LadyKakizaki]

@@TomsBigSpiders I say it the way you say it! Latin is meant to be written not spoken and this is coming from a Classics major. I like the way you say it!

[@robertknight3737]

What a great Christmas haul Tom! Those Vietnamese silvers are striking. I have the orange form galapogonensis. I have owned mine about a year and a half. When i got it it was 2.5 inch and now is about 8 inch. I keep mine moist but not too moist , not wet and swampy. Temperature in the room 75 degrees sometimes a little warmer in the daytime when the sun is out. I give it crickets or a dubia once a week and occasionally sliced ham or chicken and he loves it. Centipedes are fascinating animals. So are tarantulas. Happy new year Tom thanks for the videos are learn alot from you !

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thanks so much, Robert! And thank you for chiming in with how you are keeping your galapagoensis! Happy New Year!

[@thomasbazin1529]

Hey Tom, Billie & fam'! Wish you a happy New Year! 🎉 & loads of new exciting Ts for 2024. ;-) These Vietnam Silvers are absolutely gorgeous when grow up, but I'd say they're better suited for ppl with a sizeable collection. Imagine you've got only 1 T or even 5 or 10, and you hardly ever see them. 😂 Cheers, take care y'all! Thomas

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thanks so much, Thomas! Happy New Year! Yeah, that's what I've heard. haha I'm okay with that. I've had specimens that I haven't caught out in years. haha

[@lindarock1072]

Hey hey hey hope u had a great holiday u and the family! And all the spoods!! Love ur work and love when I see ur notification

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Hello, Linda! We sure did! And thank you so much. Happy New Year!

[@jamesprice7470]

Happy new year Tom and some great new additions and some day I may look into getting a centipede.

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Happy New Year, James! Thank you!

[@seansspoods9521]

Great video Tom, nice footage Billie, even if you were looking at the moss instead of the tarantula lol. Love the O silver, been looking at them myself, got a show end of January so may have a look there, some really nice sized puppies there. Now the centipede, yeah.....nope, you can keep that, freaky things, too fast with way to many legs. Have a great new year guys and see you in 2024 👍🏻

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Happy New Year, Sean! Hahaha She rebounded well with that one. haha Supposedly, the silvers are super shy, but I don't care. If I catch it out once a year, I'll be happy! Hahaha I think that Billie agrees with you. haha

[@seansspoods9521]

@@TomsBigSpiders Yeah I've heard that too but people still get plenty of pics so....can't be too bad lol, and Billie is a very intelligent person then lol, those things give me shivers. Happy New Year to you both 👍🏻

[@JeffR.-ne4zg]

Hi Tom! I was looking at those centipedes on FNT. Really considering adding one to my collection here but haven’t quite decided . I’ll look forward to any updates and care info on them. Thank you and happy new year!

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Hey, Jeff! If you grab one up, let me know! The person who produced them actually left a comment on the video, so if you have questions...:) Happy New Year!

[@EarthsGeomancer]

Wish there were more legit centipede care videos out there.

[@TomsBigSpiders]

I'm hoping to raise some of these up and start making some!

[@Scorpkeeper]

love the balisong!

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thank you! I've had that knife since I was 15. I bought it off of a kid on the bus for $5. haha

[@tombashforth3025]

👍👍👍🕷. Hope you had a good crimbo. An all the best for the new year.

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thanks so much, Tom! Happy New Year!

[@Tijereño]

Thanks to this video my fiancé and I are getting our first S. polymorpha pedeling (the same fiancé who was soooo pissed 4 years ago when I snuck Ts into our place before we were even dating) can’t wait for yours’ next rehousing!

[@TomsBigSpiders]

That's awesome, wow! Hahaha Guess the fiance is coming around? :)

[@Tijereño]

@@TomsBigSpiders oh yes! I was away visiting my parents and he even unboxed and rehoused it (we’re really taking big steps here 😂)

[@Noname456-fr1jb]

Great video 👍🏽

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thank you!

[@SeverusSnape12345]

I got an Ornithoctoninae sp Vietnam Silver during FNT's 12 days of christmas sale last year. She is female and is doing well. :D She's been doing a lot of neat work on her burrow lately. I hope yours is female! You got a lot of neat species! I eventually want a centipede myself, though still am in research stages to learn more about their care.

[@TomsBigSpiders]

That's awesome! Fingers crossed that I get a lady as well! :) And I've had a lot of fun researching the pedes. Things have definitely changed when it comes to how to keep them!

[@SeverusSnape12345]

@TomsBigSpiders i recently found out why she was doing so much work on her burrow. She molted! I hope you get a lady too when you get one! :D It's definitely awesome that the care of animals has changed, generally for the better as we have learned more about them. I also love researching and learning new things too!

[@Joe-rm8rs]

Great video Tom and a Happy New Year to you and the Mrs! Love the slings they are gorgeous and the Scolependra very impressive great feeding footage it!! Thanks so much for sharing!!🕷

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thank you so much, Joe!

[@pepperlee2313]

Wonderful video Tom and camera lady. I do enjoy rehousing videos. I hope you had a great Christmas and have a happy New Year. 🎉

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Happy New Year, Pepper! We sure did, and I hope that you did as well!

[@OmniusFS.exotics]

An other amazing video tom and billy. It is really noticeble your'e a teacher by heart even if you didnt mention it to be your daytime job. While were on that subject i really wanna know what do you teach? Love that you show it sometimes is better just to leave the original vile they are shipped in, in the new enclosure if you are not that sure to disturb the tarantula to much. There are some species i do that with, not only because of my fear of the spiders actions, but just to make sure they are not harmed in any unnessery way. I wish you all a happy new year and see many more of your educational videos about tarantula's ❤🎉

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thank you so much! I really appreciate that! Right now, I'm teaching a class for struggling readers. We're currently doing a unit on urban legends, where the student read popular ones and research the history of them. Yeah, sometimes leaving the vial in the new enclosure is the safest thing to do. :) Happy New Year!

[@clnfreakone8486]

Nice 😊 I love my Vietnam silver … buddy of mine told me to get one and I got it at expo for a deal so I picked it up … the tunnels are awesome

[@TomsBigSpiders]

That's awesome! Yeah, this one already dug around the entire bottom of its enclosure!

[@garynorton6853]

Happy New year to you both, thanks for the videos🎉

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thank you, Gary! Happy New Year!

[@migueltonnies6856]

As to the Galapagoensis you are right about the humidity. Too much of it and it can get a deadly mucosos. Those guys get big and mean😊

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Hey, Miguel! I'm so glad that the info that I read was correct. Thank you so much for chiming in with this!

[@migueltonnies6856]

@@TomsBigSpiders I meant mycosis sorry

[@erikdieterle6586]

Happy New year Tom. Hope the best for you and yours. I have an, at least for me, an important question. My P. pulcher just molted out into a beautiful golden blonde male. Awesome because beautiful spider and my first from sling to full adult( got a lot of slow growers) but you know short life.. My question is do you know of any video anywhere that shows how to pack a T for shipping? Really nervous about this because it'll be a 1st for me and he's my "problem child". Fast skittish and the only one I've lost containment on. Any help would be great. Been looking but the kids I've found weren't very helpful. Again Happy New Year and have a good one.

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Happy New Year, Erik! Thank you! Ummmm...I'll have to do some looking around. I did one years ago, but I don't know what happened to it!

[@TimHortonsBoss]

Looks tasty!

[@TomsBigSpiders]

To each his own!

[@crazyjeancooking]

Ah, so the galapagoensis likes chicken too!!! fits right in !!!LOL Nice Christmas presents....you have an amazing wife !!

[@TomsBigSpiders]

That's pretty much all we've been eating around here, so it's super convenient! And I know...believe me! haha HAPPY NEW YEAR! :)

[@crazyjeancooking]

Happy New year !!! You have a great family !!! @@TomsBigSpiders

[@typetimeguac7414]

Any update on the Cyclosternum sp. cundinamarca? I picked up one of these recently but haven't been able to find much care information on them aside from the fact that they're a dwarf fossorial species. Thanks as always for your videos!

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Mine had three molts and now it's a mature male. :( They seem to grow rather quickly. The male is around 2" or so, so quite small. Fingers crossed that you get a lady!

[@joannegalway1226]

Hi Tom & Billie! Another epic video, brilliant camera work Billie (behind every great man, there’s gotta be a great woman 👩) Yes Tom, I think it wasn’t a rhetorical question 😂😂😂 Just Billie was cocked and ready to go 🎥 📲 Love unboxing videos, I find them very interesting, not that I’d ever be shipping spiders myself, it’s always nice to see what packaging’s used etc! My fingers used to be terrible, I ate myself alive. But, now with age, comes dentures on the top, so, It ain’t the same anymore 😂😂😂 I now have fine fingernails! So, no more rag nails 😂😂 Lovely spiders, and sorry you’ve lost some! I too am not a fan of centipedes or millipedes, some can be nasty creepy crawlies 😮 Again, I’d like to wish you, Billie and your loved ones a Very Happy New Year 🥳 🍾🥂 🕷️

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Hello, Joanne! Thank you so much...and you're absolutely righ! haha Billie brainfarted out for a minute there. lol I know that folks like them, and that's the only reason I do them. I am normally SO DONE talking after teaching that I just don't have the energy for them. haha Happy New Year!

[@321cynth]

Happy New Year, Tom and Billie! Not a fan of centipedes but whatever…

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Happy New Year, Cynthia! There were mostly spiders in this one!

[@RealMelodyBlue]

HAPPY NEW YEAR'S TOM@🎉 Cute little spoods, the centipede not so much, they give the creeps,,,ew

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Happy New Year, Melody! Hahaha I think that Billie would agree with you!

[@RealMelodyBlue]

@@TomsBigSpiders probably lol 😂

[@migueltonnies6856]

Great pick ups! Have yourselves a very good year and don't forget to broach the difference between Asians and Africans. Would love your take on this😊

[@TomsBigSpiders]

You as well, Miguel! And I'm working on notes for it!

[@ttv.snakez1x402]

Fearnot is probably the best place to get spiders cheap you can get like 12 or more for 300$ and includes freebie

[@TomsBigSpiders]

I've been sending people their way for years, and they always take care of them.

[@briancuprisin4571]

Galapago (like galapagos islands) -- ensis ;) Still no S. calceatum? :(

[@TomsBigSpiders]

I tried to pronounce it in Latin due thr fact it was a scientific name (oe in Latin is OY). This is why pronouncing the scientific name correctly is a crapshoot. Oh well! And...nope. haha

[@Christinas_creatures]

Well I have a question -Are all ornithoctoninae fossorial? I got the sp Mindanao about a year and a half ago and the only info I could find online said arboreal so that's how I've kept her and she seems happy enough. She's made a web tube on the side of the cork round I have in there but it goes under the bottom of the cork and most of the time she's sitting down at the bottom of it. I do see her out sitting on top of the cork at night but now I'm wondering if I should rehouse her fossorial. She's about 5 inches now.

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Hello, Christina! Many of them start off as fossorial until they put on some size. I've had adults that will continue to maintain a burrow even through adulthood (although they will sometimes come out and sit up high like an arboreal).

[@Christinas_creatures]

@@TomsBigSpiders She definitely does come at sit at the top of the corkbark. Maybe I'll just add more substrate over time and see if she likes it. Thank you!

[@MentulPanda]

Would you recommend that centipede to an intermediate invert keeper? Been eyeing them on FNT for a minute, but don't have any experience w centipedes in particular.

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Ummmmm...I would. You just have to recognize that they move differently than tarantulas, and that can pose some challenges to those used to spiders. I haven't had much trouble with them, though.

[@MentulPanda]

@@TomsBigSpiders appreciate the response, figure I'd start off w a species that stays a bit smaller first to get used to the lil dragons.

[@Hvacnc]

I have a brachy klassi that hasn’t ate in 41 days. 1/3” sling. Should I open the tunnel and leave a pre killed cricket on top?

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Ummmmm...it might be worth it to try.

[@Hvacnc]

@@TomsBigSpiders thanks Tom. I opened it. Put the dead cricket. Didn’t eat so next day when I was gonna pull the prey it jumped on it and I guess ate for a bit… 😂 took it out when I saw it wasn’t on it. Idk if maybe bc it’s winter that it burrowed?… only t I have rn that’s like that

[@courtneyjohnson7341]

Hey Tom! I’m still a newbie so I was wondering if you could give me some advice on enrichment?? I just don’t know what that maybe? I just don’t want my babies to get bored. If you have time to write me back I would sure appreciate it much, thanks so much!! 😊

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Hello, Courtney! I covered your question in a recent podcast. I hope this helps! www.buzzsprout.com/148967/14225511

[@migueltonnies6856]

You will see that Vietnam silver today and barely ever again😊😊😂😂😂😂

[@Lisa-eu9fy]

❤🕷🕷🕷❤

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thanks, Lisa!

[@kristiannolasco8451]

Being a custodian during these times are hell 😂

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Oh, God...I don't envy you at ALL! I was hanging out with one of our custodians in my room before break, and we were having a good laugh at what a zoo the school had been!

[@kristiannolasco8451]

@TomsBigSpiders oh yeah we have construction and all going on in our school moving classrooms and all great times🙃

[@TomsBigSpiders]

@@kristiannolasco8451 Oh man! I just found out recently that they are moving my room after Christmas (a MUCH smaller room), so I feel you! haha

[@kristiannolasco8451]

@@TomsBigSpiders I know teachers love it when they get smaller rooms 😂

[@TomsBigSpiders]

They're essentially giving me what was supposed to be an office. I have some classes with 12+ kids, and this room MIGHT be able to hold 8 max. It's going to be an interesting start to the new year! haha Happy New Year!@@kristiannolasco8451

[@kevinpoe8137]

I’ve considered buying from fear not but their shipping is kinda expensive

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Hey, Kevin! Did their prices go up? This was $39 to my FedEx hub.

[@kevinpoe8137]

@@TomsBigSpiders usually when I order something I prefer to have it delivered to the house

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Ahhhhh...okay. I've had trouble with FedEx in the past, so I've always done pick up. @@kevinpoe8137

[@kevinpoe8137]

@@TomsBigSpiders I hear you, I definitely prefer ups over fedex

[@umarpin8809]

Never got to see what was in the gift for your wife she sent you

[@TomsBigSpiders]

It wasn't a gift from Billie to me. They sent Billie something in the box.

[@katl2043]

Tom you should have Kat on the pod to debate the jumping/velvet spider issue! I think it would be interesting to hear both perspectives

[@renaeblocker1701]

Her video made me sad as I love both Tom and TK - I would just let it be and keep filming your regular content ❤

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Hi, Kat! I already covered my opinion about the jumping/velvet spider thing in a podcast and gave my opinion on it. The only reason that I covered the topic is that I had several folks tell me that they don't want to get into jumpers and velvet spiders because they see them as a "fad". I was hoping that folks on the fense might see that, although they are the "in" spider right now, they are still amazing to keep and worth checking out. And, I have seen that folks who keep them and transition to tarantulas sometimes don't recognize the difference between the two. I hope folks continue to keep them and continue to do their research!

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Whoops, must have missed something! haha Thanks, Renae...I have no intension of visiting this topic again. :) All the best!

[@kristiannolasco8451]

I think I'm finally first 😂

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Well done! Hahaha

[@johnnymotorboat8824]

Teaching sounds like a hard occupation.

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Maybe not physically, but it can be a drain. haha

[@EarthsGeomancer]

He should consider engaging with Kat on a podcast. She made some good and fair points in her video. Him saying he's not going to "revisit" the topic is really setting this up as a one-way street.

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Hey, bud! I had several folks chime in when I got my velvet spider that they avoided them because of the fact that they appeared to be a fad. I read the comment and shared that I had avoided them for much the same reason as there are many people that have been turned off by them, and they are missing out on great spiders. In that podcast, I made it very clear that what I was saying was my own opinion on the matter and even went on to say what good the velvet/jumping spider popularity has done for the hobby. I made the point of saying that my own bull-headedness when it came to them almost kept me from keeping an amazing animal. This wasn't meant to be some super controversial topic, and I tried to make it apparent that some of it was due to the fact that I'm older and don't do the whole "spood" thing. Now, I haven't watched the video, but If Kat made some more points on why they are good, awesome! Again, I flat out stated that a lot of good comes from these spiders making it big on social media platforms like Instagram and Tik Tok. I could see if I took a stance and said, "the velvet and jumping spider rage is a bane to the hobby", but I didn't. I acknowleged that there ARE some negatives and I can get why people are turned off, but overall they are amazing spiders and more folks are being pulled into a fringe hobby. I honestly don't have anything to debate, as I can see myself just shaking my head in agreement with other points. I DO totally respect your opinion and appreciate you chiming in!

[@TylerHerrington-yi7zv]

Hey tom big fan of your videos ive been having an issue with my ts and was wondering if i could ask you about it i have send you a message on instergram but not sure u received it is there a way i can contact you thanks

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Hey, sorry for the late reply! Shoot me an email at [e-mail]. Put "KZbin" in the subject so I spot it more quickly.