P. metallica Communal Rehousing (10 Pokies!)

[@paulglover9603]

Your rehousing vids are awesome dude, nothing wrong with being safe!, i find your techniques very educational, keep up the good work

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thanks so much, Paul! I just put that in there as I've had some comments from folks that are looking for more "action". I figured that I would just warn the adrenaline junkies that I'm not going for "entertainment" with these.

[@paulglover9603]

Its clear you think of everyones safety ( including Ts!) I also appreciate you sharing your experiences and findings, always happy when you post a vid, 9 times out of 10 theyre brilliant!

[@feedthemeat543f]

@@TomsBigSpiders Honesty as fascinating as communal setups are I honesty don't think I could handle this many pokies at once. Kudos for making a daunting task look easy.

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Yeah, I know that it doesn't make for the most entertaining video, but I want to set a good example. And thanks again!

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thanks, Feedthemeat543 F! As I was starting this rehouse, I wasn't sure I could either. haha

[@tarantulacollective]

Great job! I was gripping my phone extra hard bc I was nervous for you. Those last few were very stubborn about getting off the old cork bark. I would've been sweating too! That's a gorgeous bio active set up...I look forward to seeing how the communal progresses...great content. I'm getting my wife to watch your videos ....I'm trying to talk her into help me film some of my videos...but so far no luck...lol. She prefers to be out of the room when I am doing a rehousing...lol.

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thanks so much, bud! Yeah, I was definitely sweating a bit here, although they were totally well behaved. HA! That's awesome! Hopefully, she'll warm up to the idea. I'm lucky in that Billie isn't the least bit scared of spiders. haha Thanks again!

[@tarantulakat]

Rehouse mine plz

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Kat! Hahaha.

[@ilovemyself9565]

Mine too lol

[@7667Pat]

Mine too hahahah 😅pls haha

[@JJDigitalartStudio]

I love your videos because they show what it is like when you have a real home, kids and dogs.

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Awwwww...thanks so much, Joyce! Always a pleasure!

[@tobitaktlos3241]

I like how the one at 8:08 pushed out that molt. Almost as if it was trying to fool you :-D

[@Vanessa_Simone_In_Toronto]

I caught that too and thought it was hilarious. He was trying to dupe him.

[@TomsBigSpiders]

He almost pulled it off, too! haha

[@Lisa-eu9fy]

Billie has a wonderful laugh! She's also great with the filming! 🤗🥰👍

[@TomsBigSpiders]

I totally agree with both of those statements. :)

[@misanthropically]

Part of your rehousing videos that I enjoy is how easily you and Billie get along and work together :)

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Awww...thank you! 25 years makes for good rapport. :)

[@arachno-bella6539]

Lol them clinging to their cork bark, very pretty little crew! Good job :)

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Hahaha. They didn't want to let go! Thanks, bella! :)

[@Colorista_1]

Hello Tom, I don't watch your videos for either of the reasons you mentioned. I have such horrible arachniphobia that I have fainted at the sight of just about anything with eight legs. I am hoping to learn something, and hopefully, in the long run, reduce my fears. I always watch you, and also petko. You both seem to have a healthy fear and respect your little charges.

[@megjakehavi5848]

Great video Tom. I warned my husband already that when it's time to rehouse my small M. balfouri communal, he's helping LOL. All your techniques and rehouses are so helpful. The pokies look great :) Totally would have done the same with the cork bark transfer. Those guys were definitely not happy leaving it. New enclosure looks great. Love it.

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Hi, Meg! Yup, that's a "all hands on deck" rehouse! hahaha. Nope, they weren't leaving it, so I used it to my advantage. haha Thanks again!

[@htlbeatz912]

I know this is an older video, but your videos help me tremendously with my tarantulas. Thank you sir

[@TomsBigSpiders]

I'm so glad! Thank you so much!

[@aquasian21]

Another awesome rehousing Tom! Loved it! And I much prefer your educational vids over anyone else’s. I also find them entertaining and was laughing along with you and Billie when the wee guys were being stubborn 😂

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thanks so much, Sian! I really appreciate that! I'm glad that they aren't completely boring. :)

[@aquasian21]

Tom Moran never boring 😊

[@BillPerryBCPythons]

Great update Tom! Enjoyed the rehouse and techniques! Glad the Pokies are looking great!

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thanks so much, bud! I'm glad that it went well!

[@Dedlyniteshade]

The comments about this maybe not being the most exciting video an about how the spiders come first just made me love your channel even more❤ I'm getting my first t's in a couple months and you've been really great to learn from so thankyou so much for your vids😀

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thanks so much for "getting it." :) Some folks just don't seem to appreciate that the boring ones are good ones. I'm so glad that I've been helpful!

[@Dedlyniteshade]

You really have been:) I'm currently binge watching all your vids so I can learn as much as I can :)

[@rain040103]

Much respect...wife, kids & pets safety come first. I enjoy seeing videos like yours over those who care more for crazy T things. Beautiful T’s!

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thanks so much...I really appreciate it!

[@VDHmain]

Thanks to you rehousing videos, I have some very good techniques and tools to do them very safely myself! Keep up the amazing work!

[@TomsBigSpiders]

That's awesome...thank you!

[@pgrvii6825]

This was a great watch to get ready for my 4" female coming in. Gives you alot of perspective and "how to" with rehousing a bunch of them,keep up the great work.🤙

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thank you so much! And congrats on your female! I'm about to rehouse these guys again, and I'm NOT looking forward to it. haha

[@pgrvii6825]

Thanks brother. Your videos gave me the "I got this" I needed. Not too bad for someone who was arachnophobic not long ago😅

[@andymiller1364]

What a great video, I always agree to be safe, less stress on the spiders and nothing likely to harm other house residents. Keep calm and will go well, i hate those videos where spiders go all over the place and just don't see the point in stressing the spider or anyone else out for no real reason these are for enjoying not something to upset or even harm for no real reason other than getting more video views. I have kept tarantulas for many years and still enjoy watching your videos keep them coming.

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thanks so much, Andy. I was SO glad that this rehousing went well. And I hate those videos as well. All that does is put the spiders, keepers, and anyone in the house at risk. I don't get it. I'm not a fan of channels that put subscribers ahead of the welfare of the animals. Thanks again!

[@helenpatterson5616]

Hey Tom, I love this bio active set up. Another great video, thank you for sharing this.

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thanks so much, Helen! :)

[@kathiehoskins813]

They are so beautiful. The coloration is amazing.

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thank you, Kathie!

[@wild2dbone]

Hi Tom great rehousing video your P. metallicas have beautiful colors

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thanks so much, Nick!

[@SpiritsEnchantments]

Watching you take your time helps me to see myself rehousing the way you do. I loved college and miss being in the classroom and you remind me of a couple of my favorite teachers. It's really enjoyable and interesting to watch. Thank you so much Tom!

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Wow, thank you so very much! :) That's a heck of a compliment! :)

[@DuchessMyPony]

Awesome rehouse, and very responsible! This is what people should want to watch! It is amazing how you bought them all as slings, and how the growth is different! Amazing to watch! Beautiful spiders

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thanks, Beth! Yeah, I've been floored at the growth rates.

[@justme2845]

I’m glad I found this I really want a p metallica I just wanted to make sure I am ready. Shows they are like all others. So thank you

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Hello! Yeah, if you give them the respect they deserved, they aren't bad at all. :)

[@Mikeyd8383]

Another great video!!!!! I'm gathering all the information I can before starting my balfouri communal. I cant lie, I'm a little bit nervous! Thank you for taking the time putting this great information out there!

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thanks, Mike! You'll do fine with them! Just take your time during the rehousings. :)

[@Vanessa_Simone_In_Toronto]

I've watched a number of videos showcasing communal setups and I have never seen anything close to that size disparity, it's very interesting. That would make rehousing difficult - to have to accommodate both the largest and smallest. Good job, Tom.

[@TomsBigSpiders]

It's the weirdest thing . And they all still seem to get along fine. I AM giving thought to pulling the little ones out, though. They are just SO tiny! Thanks, Vanessa!

[@annasflorafauna7133]

That new enclosure set up is amazing. It's really interesting the difference with their growth rates too. Loved this thankyou so much for sharing with us 😊

[@TomsBigSpiders]

The growth rate is SO strange to me! Still, they seem to be getting along so far. And thanks so much! :)

[@TarantulaswithShanti]

Good on you, Tom, for teaching responsibility and respect. Cheating during rehouse can be so SWEET!

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thanks so much, Shanti! :) And I agree completely. Thank God for cheating! hahaha

[@Dragonemperess]

XDDD Thanks for the laughs and info! They didn't want to let that bark go! I was cracking up the whole time the bark was in the tank, but they refused to leave their bark! Nice setup, btw.

[@TomsBigSpiders]

NO, they definitely did NOT. hahaha That actually proved to be kind of fun. haha Thanks !

[@debbiemcclure2874]

Its always better to be safe than sorry Tom. But I was entertained to, lol. I was cracking up when you were chasing them on the corkbark. Man they're fast, lol. Plus Billie made me laugh, lol. Tyfs God bless you and your family

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thanks, Debbie! I'm glad that it wasn't completely boring. :) Hahaha. They just wouldn't get off. Thanks again!

[@sNstRflyEr]

You definitely are the example of the safest possible rehouse Tom lol. I think it's good to show ppl an example of how to maximize the safety level. I would have pulled them out and had them all rehoused in a minute, grabbing 2 or 3 at a time with my hands lol.., and call it done. Tho I'm sure I'd of had a few running up my arm and across the table lol. And altho I do think you take the safety technique very far, I also get it with the kids and dogs and everything. Great tutorial for maximum safety. Your comment about the exo Terra nano tall, I have housed tiny slings in them and they never could find a way out...they are legit the by far best terrariums made for arboreal species. Good to see the communal doing so good Tom!

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Hey, bud! Hahahahaha. I just don't record THOSE types of rehousings. haha. I want to make sure I set a good example. I have about 10 of the exo terra nanos now, and I LOVE them. I did have one years ago that had a gap around the door where a sling could have slipped out. I also spoke to someone years back who had put a GBB sling in one, and it escaped through the gap. I was always weary of that, and I didn't want to take the chance. Now I wish I did, as I really like the option of both the top and front opening. Thanks again, bud!

[@RoseKazable]

Oh wow, the size differences are remarkable. They're all super cute though. I can't wait to see how their community changes as time goes by.

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thanks, Miss Alice! I actually took the two tiny ones out. They were still doing okay, but they were just SO SMALL. :)

[@rachellehenson5568]

Awesome rehousing vid!! The growth rate difference is very interesting. I mean there’s a massive difference in size between large ones and the small ones. U may have 7 males and 2 females!! Always enjoy ur videos. You and Billie are a great team.

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thank you, Rachelle! Yeah, I'm kind of blown away by that. I had heard about this happening, but to see the size difference is totally differently. Thanks again!

[@0904Kaz]

I love the way you rehouse your Ts! I'm interested in getting a tarantula but 2 things make me hesitate: the fact that I have kids, and that I'm quite scared of spiders. It could be a good way to beat the fear, but I don't want to risk getting one then realising I can't deal with it. So I watch and learn, and your videos are really educational 😊

[@TomsBigSpiders]

If you start with one of the beginner species. you should be fine. I got my first years ago to help me to get over my fear (I was terrified of all spiders). Watching videos IS a great way to start desensitizing yourself to them, though. Thanks so much!

[@0904Kaz]

Thankyou! I went to an Invertebrate show yesterday and decided to just go for it, and came back with a lovely little Brachypelma Albopilosum! I just housed her this morning, and she was amazing! So calm and sweet! ❤️

[@codywykes2064]

I love your videos and podcast Tom I have found them both very educational and entertaining. I love the Gojira hoodie by the way huge metal fan. Any way I just wanted to say how much I appreciate your talent to teach and share helpful information. I keep 5 species now when even the thought of coming near one a year or two ago gave me the spooks.

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thank you so much, Cody! I really appreciate it! As for Gojira, I'm hoping to see them this summer. And that means at lot! Thank you again!

[@ilovemyself9565]

The setup looks gorgeous! I want to try a p. regalis communal! Your videos are always very educational which is awesome! My p. regalis molted yesterday and p. cambridgei they got so much bigger

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Congrats on the molts...that's awesome! And thank you!

[@052367]

The paper towels in the corners is such a great idea!

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thanks, Dale! That trick has saved me a couple of times. :)

[@jnew42]

Great video, your rehousing video's are as they should be. Done responsibly, thought out and done with safety of every one. Really enjoyed watching to road runner routine! Gorgeous pookies, loved that set up for them, huge fan of the more natural style set ups. Again thank you both for taking the time and having us along.

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thanks, Jon! I really appreciate that. Yeah, those little guys did NOT want to leave the cork bark. haha Thank YOU for taking the time to comment. :)

[@spydeyvee4858]

Hey Tom. The bio setup is really looking good. Nice big enclosure for em to enjoy together. Very interesting that they arent growing at the same rate, and the big ones don't eat the little ones. Amazing.

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Hey, bud! Thanks so much. Hopefully, they continue to get along. Yeah, the size difference is just so odd.

[@LoveAuntieJan]

Looks great, Tom!! ❤️👍

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Hey, Jan! Thanks so much!

[@Nukamedia]

Spraying the sides of the tub during transfer is a great idea I haven't seen in any previous videos, good tip!

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Yeah, I've found that it can slow them down a bit. Thanks!

[@taeviansworldofreptiles3828]

I just recently rehoused my Brachypelma and I watched many of your videos before hand lol.

[@TomsBigSpiders]

That's awesome! Thank you!

[@chuckmaster3000]

Such a great video. The shot of them together on rear of cork bark was great. The P. Metallica is one of natures twisted jokes. To make a creature so beautiful in the light but at the same time be photo sensitive.

[@TomsBigSpiders]

I'm so glad that I was able to get that one! haha. I agree completely. They should be out in the light at all times! Thanks, Charles!

[@an_0ld_fat_man]

Loved the rehousing! Such great work and always safe. I rehoused 6 p.subfusca lowlands slings out of a 32 oz. Delicup recently (only 3 on the video) but they were tiny tiny. I was going to do the cup method but they were just not Cooperating so I shoed them in.

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Hello! Thanks so much. Glad to hear your rehouse went well. The tiny ones can be even more difficult than the bigger ones. They are just so fast and skittish!

[@SuperLoops]

yeap well done 😄 steering ten spiders at once must be fun lol. but your right when you say not to mess around with it when youre rehousing difficult spiders youve got to be so so careful. I did one yesterday that went wrong even tho I was trying my best to be completely safe, with a plastic cup and pieces of card with a hole in. I ended up with my Stromatopelma calceatum running up my arm 😱 (Very Bad) Ive never been so relieved as when it stopped and didnt go inside my tshirt lol and i just slowly put my hand next to the new enclosure and very very gently coaxed it back down my arm and into the enclosure with the paintbrush. omg my heart was beating fast tho.

[@krakkenenclosures9871]

After watching this, I feel so much more confident about rehousing my regalis. Cool stuff man.

[@TomsBigSpiders]

That's awesome! I try to take some of the stress out of it! :)

[@oskytango]

I appreciate very much all your work mate.. hugs from argentinian fan

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Awwww...thanks so much, Osky! :)

[@Nikolaj1231000]

Hey Tom! I'd love to have a communal P. Metallica enclosure but I don't feel ready for it yet. Your setup looks amazing and I hope that you keep us updated from time to time. Keep your videos as informational as they are right now! I always learn a lot and I prefer your channel over others because of it's educational purpose.

[@TomsBigSpiders]

I'll tell you, when I was getting ready to rehouse these, I wasn't sure that I was ready for it either. haha. Thanks so much, Nikolai! I really appreciate it.

[@ryanhawk7925]

Pretty work! 👍I do enjoy a good adrenaline rush, but I save that for riding roller coasters, not rehousing spiders lol. I always enjoy your rehousing videos, not for a thrill, but because theyve given me great ideas that I otherwise may have never thought of otherwise (like using the cardboard to make a dark area for a photosensitive sp such as this..). I remember when I got my 1st pokies and being nervous about rehousing them, but I watched your videos on rehousing different Poecilotheria & other old world arboreals, and I was able to confidently & safely move them. Keep up the awesome work & thanks for all you do!

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Hey, Ryan! Yeah, I was sweating a bit with this one. haha And thank you so much! That truly means a ton. :) Thanks again!

[@lonewolfspiders1597]

This was an awesome break from all the M Balfouri communal videos floating around. I love pokies and hope to own a few in the future once I gain some more experience with faster T's. I think the next on my list is Dolichothele Diamantinensis, plus it will look great next to my GBB. Another awesome video Tom.

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thanks so much, bud! Haha Pokies are fantastic; probably my favorite genus. I have a D. diamantinensis, and she is simply stunning. Definitely grab one when you can. Thanks again!

[@rebelbaron7003]

Tom....What is the common name for this T? I

[@Philboi28]

Awesome rehouse Tom it’s mad the size difference between them great video

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thank so much, Philboi! Yeah, the size difference is INSANE.

[@meadandmilk]

Your intro and respect for the species is fantastic. Liked and subbed. Oh, and GOJIRA \m/

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thank you so much! I truly appreciate it. :)

[@JoLifts94]

Hey Tom, i appreciate your effort to record stuff like this, ive learned a lot from you. Just last night i rehoused my P. ornata and thanks to you and your tricks i got ideas how to do it the best way! Keep up the great work , love from germany :-)

[@TomsBigSpiders]

That's awesome, JoAnna! I'm so glad that it went well. Thank you so much!!!

[@newjerseybat]

You can stop them from escaping the tub with an inch of vaseline covered in a thin layer of baby powder around the top. I have tested it with my Psalmopoeus irminia and victori, in addition to my Poecilotheria vittata. Awesome rehouse!

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Great tip, Dominic...and thank you!

[@TarantulaNoob]

Why the hell did I never think of using clay to stop an enclosure rolling around 🙈 so simple. Genius. Another cool calm rehouse mate, and with 10 pokies there was so much potential for something to go wrong. I actually mentioned you in my last rehousing video. I learned almost everything I know from you.

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Dude, I literally thought of that while I was cleaning up my son's clay before we started filming. hahaha. Thank so much! Let me go check it out... :)

[@livansadventures]

I recently found your channel, and I gotta say, I actually find your videos pretty entertaining. If I wanted to jump out of my skin, I’d go for something fictional 🤷🏻‍♀️ When watching something real that happens to showcase one of my biggest fears (spiders ofc) it’s nice to have people being calm, careful, and respectful. It makes it easier for me to watch with both eyes open lol. I mean, I logically know that spiders have more cause to be afraid of me than I do of them, but knowing that doesn’t help. What helps is watching you successfully rehouse all these different guys time after time, with no harm done. Thanks for that 😊

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thank you so much for the very kind words. I used to be arachnophobic, so I totally get what you are saying. I got my first tarantula 23 years ago (still have her, too!) in part to get me over my fear. I'm a teacher by trade, so my videos are meant to be more educational than entertaining or exploitative. I LOVE doing rehousing videos to show folks that, if done correctly, you should be able to keep the spider calm. Thank you so very much for this awesome comment! - Tom

[@ralphmagat6818]

I really love how yoy explain your technique and you are very honest man. Im new to your channel and a new subscriber 😁

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Hello, Iceebear ice! I try to be very open about what I'm doing and why I'm doing it. This was a tough rehouse, and there are certainly some things that I would do differently next time. It was a huge learning moment for me! And thank you so much!

[@ralphmagat6818]

Thank you for your feedback and reply Tom! Safety of someone is also important in keeping those tarantulas and you never failed on that part! Your video is also very educational and informative for those who are planning to keep tarantulas like me. Great job Man!

[@TomsBigSpiders]

@@ralphmagat6818 Well, thank YOU for commenting and subscribing! The safety of the tarantulas and everyone (dogs included) in my house is my number 1 priority. My wife, Billie, records these with me, and she knows that the video is secondary. If I need another set of hands, she'll put it down and help. :) Thanks!

[@thatirishasian]

Love the hoodie.

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thanks so much! Hopefully, I'll get to see them live this year.

[@kimperdue]

Nicely done! I loved this video.

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thank so much!

[@karolinastarantulas6244]

Absolutely awesome video 👍

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thank you, Karolina! :)

[@فنكجَلِيدٍ]

I'm quite relieved that it's possible to rehouse tarantulas in such a calm manner.

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thanks, Emanuel! I think this one went well overall. :)

[@052367]

Tom, no need to explain your videos. Bottom line, if you want an educational video, TOM Moran is your man. Always entertaining too! Thanks Tom!!

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Man, thanks so much, Dale! I put that on there for folks who may be stumbling on me for the first time. "Casuals" don't seem to get what I'm going for here.

[@ztesch04]

Awesome video bro. Im glad to see the communal seems to be thriving.

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thanks so much, bud...so far, so good! :)

[@infantryveteran2636]

Great Job! A true professional team!

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thank you very much! :)

[@marilynteichman3060]

New viewer, and really enjoying your videos. I recently purchased my first, a curly hair, and visit for info with only a small thought toward entertainment. Looking forward to more posts!! Thank you.

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Welcome, Marilyn! Congrats on your curly hair...that's a wonderful species. :) And thanks so much for watching and for the kind words. :)

[@rebelbaron7003]

I always look forward to any of your videos. A nice cold bottle of Yuengling or a glass of milk with chocolate chip cookies and a Tom Moran T video and I know it will be a great night. You have made the task of recording into a fine art. You're so cool ( even though I know your heart n sweat glands are working overtime) so smooth,so pro at this. Even though I haven't joined the Tarantula hobby yet I've learned much from you on rehousing and T husbandry. I'm a snake,lizard,turtle guy. I like to develop a trust,friendship (if there is such a thing) relationship on an animals level. I get my jollies out of hand feeding and handling to nuture the above. I understand fully the risks. I haven't gotten past not being able to handling an animal I like and enjoy. I hold yours,Richards,Alex Petkos,Maritas opinions in high regard but at the same time, in watching all your videos none of you have taken an invenomated bite. Even the highly noted OBTs,H macs,and Pokeys havent bitten any of you nor anyone else on YT to my knowledge. That being said,I wonder if the fear we all have is overated in that when many Ts are owned,one doesn't have the time to really invest developing trust with a couple. We all have only so much time in a day, I get it. If the 5 or 6 tarantula cages are in a room where they see us constantly AND in a CLEAR cage not these opaque,cloudy shoe boxes,would they calm down sooner? Does keeping Tarantulas in cloudy cages impale the trust relationship with the owner especially since their eyesight is allegedly bad? After awhile,once an animal is used to clearly seeing us almost every day and they are not threatened,perhaps the fear subsides. I mean,hell,a fish is capable of this for crying out loud. Fish come right to the glass,up to the top and will boop your finger after awhile when they know they are being fed. After a short time,all my corns,kings,bulls,pines,retics,boas,relics,, came right out when they felt my footsteps come into the room. What is very obvious to me is they take crickets off tweezers from you folks so they certainly lose fear of the owner over time. Understand,Im not challenging any of you on this,Im just questioning if we are overating their nastiness,defensiveness,aggression because we haven't interacted enough or fully eliminated their fears. Listen,Im sure you know people who buy a cat,bring it home and kick it outside without any affection or time spent with the animal. Well,they get what they deserve don't they? A cat that dives under the bed when let in the house,a cat that doesn't sit in your lap purring,a cat that resents bring picked up. You get back what you did or didn't put into the animal,whatever it is. I fully get you guys have 50 to 100 tarantulas,impossible to develop trust with any one,for sure. But are you really developing a deeper relationship with a tarantula if she sees you once a week for 2 minutes? Tom,I NEVER thought I'd see a day where snake hobbyists free handle King Cobras,black mambas,green mambas, (coastal and inland taipans,boomslangs etc. These guys are beau coupe dinky dau. Nuts,crazy,totally irresponsible and RECKLESS. But,for all I've seen and watched and heard,the bite rate on ANY of these tarantula species is minimal to none at best. Are we really doing as much as possible to understand these spiders? I've seen those Aussies go out into the wild,find tarantulas in their environment and pick them up outright without being bitten. I'm sure you have seen them here on YT also. That goes for New World and Old World. That tells me something. But.....even for that, Im on the sidelines still. Sorry for the length of this,just thinking outside the box.

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Hi, Randall! Thanks so much! I'm going to apologize in advance for the brevity of my reply, as I have about 100 other comments to answer! However, here are my thoughts. First, I do think that we make them out to be more dangerous than they are, and part of that is because the POTENTIAL of a bite from the old world's is quite scary. That's been a running theme through my videos for years now. The key is respect, not fear. I don't think that the opaqueness of the enclosures really has much to do with it. I've raised many in the milky enclosures that are calm as can be. In fact, cages that aren't completely transparent could actually be a positive, as generally spiders that feel less exposed and more mature tend to be more laid back and calm. Also, I've found that letting spiders burrow and hide, and keeping them in appropriate setups in crucial to having calm tarantulas. Too many people keep high-strung, shy old worlds in enclosures that don't allow for them to hide. This leads to a nervous, potentially defensive spider. Although I've seen signs that some tarantulas can be conditioned to I raised snakes for a decade, and I find that the they are not comparable to tarantulas. Here's the deal: I could tame down many of my snakes with frequent handling. They would molt, and they would be just as tractable as they were before. Now, tarantulas are totally different. Many will report calm specimens would suddenly become defensive after molting. Other report defensive specimens that calm down. There is just no consistency in terms of a learned behavior. If they could be conditioned to tolerate handling, then they should stay tractable even AFTER molting. As much as I love my spiders and have enjoyed physically interacting with them on occasion, they are not "cuddly" or in need of physical affection like some of our mammalian or even reptilian pets. There is not deeper relationship, so to speak. Any physical interaction with the spider is only for the benefit of the keeper, not the spider. Domestic pets have been conditioned over centuries to value human companionship and interaction. Tarantulas are wild animals, not domestic pets. I always compare them to exotic fish. You don't hear of people picking up their fish and handling them or bonding with them. That's part of the respect that we must show spiders. They aren't toys or cuddly pets like hamsters, ferrets, cats, or dogs. I think that we have a tendency to anthropomorphize them at times, and that can be dangerous. As an example, I had a guy email me last year to ask why I don't handle my C. versicolor. He was telling me that his is super tame and that it "loves" to be handled. As proof, he spoke about how his spider does this really cute thing where it drags it's butt on him as a sign of affection. Here's the problem with that. This species has type II urticating hairs, and these hairs can only be spread through physical contact. To spread them, the spider has to rub its butt on someone. What this guys took as "affection" was actually a scared spider trying to defend itself. It's just one example of how we sometimes misconstrue their behaviors and actions. As for plucking them out of the wild and handling them, they seem to recognize on an instinctual level that their best chance at survival when encountering humans is to run or hide. Biting, in many instances, is a last resort. Okay, this ended up being much longer than I had planned...sorry! Anyhow, these just my thoughts on the topic. This might make for a good podcast. ;)

[@Codysmith96co]

Awesome video ! Favorite gorjira song? Flying whales or shooting star is pretty awesome in my opinion.

[@codywykes2064]

I would like to know that also. Flying whales is one of my favorites, I also really like magma

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Hey, guys! Love Flying Whales and Shooting Star as well. I'd also have to say Ororborus, Where Dragons Dwell, and Stranded rank up there for me. The entire Magma album is easy listening for me. :)

[@Codysmith96co]

@@TomsBigSpiders fantastic taste in music my friend

[@kyleesinvertadventures7223]

Thanks for another great video! YOu really have helped me learn a lot about tarantulas!

[@TomsBigSpiders]

That's awesome...thanks, Kylee! :)

[@lellyweird2670]

I was holding my breath for most of the video 😂 Great work as always, well done!

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Hahaha. Thanks so much, Lelly!

[@andrew416z]

Brilliant advice as always. Thanks man!

[@TomsBigSpiders]

I'm so glad that this was helpful, Andrew!

[@ChantalsCritters]

Went well and looks great.

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thanks so much, Channy!

[@scottwhitemyer5501]

very interesting. I do not understand the theory that they need to be kept closer together? explain please.

[@TomsBigSpiders]

In the wild, they have diminishing habitat, and they are forced to live in close proximity to each other. Several specimens will use the same tree hollow or crook for a den. The idea is to simulate that in captivity. If you give them too much room, they can create their own territories, which can then lead to conflict.

[@scottwhitemyer5501]

@@TomsBigSpiders interesting, so how do you determine the magic number for size of enclosure?

[@Spyder_King]

Hell yeah Gojira! I just saw them in Dallas a couple weeks ago. New fav T channel \m/

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Man, I couldn't make it to see them over here. I teach, and the concert was on my second day of school. I'm so upset! Thanks so much! \m/

[@Spyder_King]

Tom Moran thats too bad, it was Crazy good! It's hilarious that you literally just replied to this comment on your communal enclosures while I'm in the middle of setting up my first one with 6 balfi slings 😂

[@bonniehawkins2979]

Excellent. I do love Billie's humor. Hokey pokey.:)

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Hahahaha. It's great having someone to play off of of. :) Thanks, Bonnie!

[@AbberjamUK]

Ventral shot at 20:30 Am I right in thinking female?

[@TomsBigSpiders]

That's what I was thinking. :)

[@EdwardTyndall]

ihope you have all ten im fixing to do a X 10 communal P. fasciata i hope it goes as well as this did for you and the big ones may be males they do grow faster

[@TomsBigSpiders]

I THINK there are 10 there...I'm still having a hard time catching them all together. Let me know how it goes, bud! And I was thinking the same thing about the males. Thanks, bud!

[@tarantulaswithbrachypelmam8016]

Nothing wrong with safety first. ^^ Also this gotta be one of the smoothes Poecie rehouses I've ever seen.

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thank you so much! I was glad that no one tried to bolt. :)

[@rkhnd51]

Enjoyed this video. I couldn't believe the little one was that small. I'm surprised he didn't get eaten by that big bruiser in there. Interesting. Ah, Gojira. I like your hoodie. I have the original movie with subtitles. There's a new one coming out this Summer. Have a good weekend! (Ok. I just found out that is a Metal group. LOL! Should have figured!) I checked it out. I think that would scare the whales. :-)

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thank you! Yeah, I'm totally floored by how small two of them are. So far, everyone is getting along...thank gosh. I have the original "Gojira" on DVD as well! haha I was obsessed with Godzilla (Gojira) as a kid, and I loved the newest movie. I'm excited to see Mothra and Rodan in the sequel. And yes, the shirt refers to the band, but I happen to like both. haha Thanks again!

[@coldcountess]

I like watching rehouse videos !!

[@TomsBigSpiders]

You're on the right channel then, Sheila, because I do a lot of them! haha :)

[@LaBucci]

Love your technique, nothing wrong with being safe! Subbed! Binge watching your videos now

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thank you so much, Danny! :)

[@NorivsEightleggedCritters]

Tom that looks so much like fun lol great work bud

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Norvis! How's it going, bud? Hahahaha. "Fun" is one way to put it. haha

[@NorivsEightleggedCritters]

@@TomsBigSpiders Great this way Tom. Been busy with the new flock this year and such, but hanging strong. Keep them videos coming always loving them!

[@getin2it]

Love your videos, don’t apologize for any “boring” videos. I do wonder how you choose the size of tank for your communal tanks? I would have thought that would be too small for 10 growing pokies. I trust your judgment and keeping, was wondering if there is a sq footage per spider guideline maybe I can use?

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thank you, Amanda! As for the size of the enclosure, P. metallica aren't as social as communal species like the M. balfouri. They have basically learned to tolerate other specimens living in close proximity with them for periods of time. If given too much space, they will create their own territories, and then there will be fighting and canibalism. I hope that answers it!

[@tarantulasamerica9980]

Spectacular man they are so beautiful I can't wait to add one to my collection

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thanks so much, Anthony!

[@tarantulasamerica9980]

@@TomsBigSpiders I had watch your prier vid regarding this comunal but I had no idea that they r compatible like the m Balfouri can't wait till next post on them

[@tarantulasamerica9980]

@@TomsBigSpiders have you ever feed your t's a tree frog?

[@jessicarocks1313]

I keep come back for the band merch 🤘😂🤘

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Hahahaha Thanks, Jessica!

[@mjh17474]

Another great rehousing vid! :-)

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thank you!

[@CliffDaviszootour]

Tom that was awesome, textbook husbandry. I was wondering if they are red light sensitive? Perhaps a dark room with red light head torches would make them be less defensive?

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Hi, Cliff. They don't seem to register the red lights at all. I'll be putting some more LEDs in the room once I get a few of these cages done. I just can't work in the red light...it gives me a headache. haha Thanks!

[@BVans1024]

Out of curiosity, why not keep the old cork bark in there as well to give them more hides too? Rather than having to get them off the old cork and all that

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Hello! That was the original plan, but I discovered mold in the old enclosure at the base of the old piece of cork, and I didn't want to put it into the new one.

[@BVans1024]

@@TomsBigSpiders Ahh okay that makes sense haha. Mold ruins everything

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Although most of it is harmless, I can't stand the stuff. :)

[@inkedtopaz]

Are you going to be at the show me snakes expo tarantula take over in St. Louis this Sunday the 7th?

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Hi, Amber! Unfortunately, no. I just have too much going on. :(

[@inkedtopaz]

@@TomsBigSpiders That's okay. Maybe some other time. 😊

[@getin2it]

I think you should leave the old cork bark in the opposite corner, that’d be cool! More spots to lounge for them too.

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thanks, Amanda! I can't remember if I ended up leaving it in there or not.

[@twitchiewitch1]

Ooh, u have a screen top! I just dismantled all my screen tops getting ready to replace them with plexiglass or wider millimeter mesh to save toes. How do you do with the screen mesh?

[@tarantulaavenue8394]

any update of this communal?

[@TomsBigSpiders]

kzbin.info9TqpUDGBtnM?si=dtCbvY-RGy-XjRw-

[@lowlifeexotics3070]

Awesome pokies!!

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thank you, Thomas!

[@duchinsmickle]

My T hasn't eaten very much in the past couple of months and mostly hides and I worry she isn't in good health. She isn't molting or anything because she just molted and she still doesn't eat for weeks. She only comes out of her hide around once a week and I try to feed her and she just threat postures. Should I be worried?

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Which species is it and what size is she? That could just be premolt behavior. They will sometimes threat pose at prey when they are not hungry.

[@duchinsmickle]

@@TomsBigSpiders She is a 4 inch gbb

[@LukeMcGuireoides]

Wait, why do they have to be kept close together?

[@TomsBigSpiders]

If given too much space, they will create their own territories and start to cannibalize each other.

[@ADKD1983]

Do you ever consider petroleum jelly or mineral oil at the lip of your rehousing bins to prevent bolting spiders from potentially scaling the full height of the surface? I thought about this myself as it’s often used to prevent escape with smaller invertebrates

[@TomsBigSpiders]

So sorry for the delay, Alex. No, I would not recommend that. They will run right through it, get it on their feet, and ingest it when they clean.

[@ADKD1983]

Tom Moran thanks for the response! And that does make sense, it’s not something I’ve ever tried myself. It just came to me. I think caution and care is always the best tool in most cases anyway

[@TomsBigSpiders]

@@ADKD1983 Believe me, I considered it myself years ago. haha. I used it for my roaches, but they hit the boundary and turn away. The spiders will bolt right into it. :)

[@JJDigitalartStudio]

Just curious. We have kept fish, gerbils, turtles and when we had to clean their habitat it stunk. Does the T habitat smell bad too?

[@sepia3009]

I have two tarantulas, and I haven’t had any smelly odor from them.

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Great question, Joyce! No, they are basically odorless. The bioactive enclosures just smell like fresh dirt. They are very clean overall. :)

[@JaneSmith-rx6kx]

The new setup looks good. Am still a bit jealous of your blue communal

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thanks, Jane! hahahaha Sorry!

[@JaneSmith-rx6kx]

Well, we do have lots of fun with our balfouri bunch

[@GreenGenerationTV]

Exotics Lair is one of those pages that is constantly screwing with his T's while rehousing

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Yeah, that's just not my deal. I know my videos may be more boring as a result, but I'm okay with that. :)

[@grindeyyyyy]

Its all education, I've watched so many of exotic lairs videos just to see how Ts react at their worst, just to kinda know what to expect

[@michaeltrent2599]

@@TomsBigSpiders I make it a point not to watch his videos just out of principlel. I hate that channels like his get millions of views, while the truly valuable and educational channels get significantly less. Thank you for doing what you do. It is appreciated more than you will ever know.

[@kayleighxoxo2386]

You said it was gonna be uneventful, but I think it was rather suspenseful. Enjoyed the vid. You're looking a bit like Lars Ulrich here! Lol! :)

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thank you so much! I know these can get long, so I felt the need for a warning. :) HAHAHA! Thanks! :)

[@michaele.derrickjr.9200]

Nice rehousing Tom

[@TomsBigSpiders]

Thanks so much, bud! :)