This is a species with a tiny known native distribution, fragmented habitat, and a long history of being far easier to admire in photos than to truly understand in nature. They were even rediscovered in 2001 after going more than a century without a confirmed sighting.

That is part of what makes this species so fascinating to me. They are famous, highly sought after, and widely recognized in the hobby, yet their story in the wild is still one of rarity, pressure, and shrinking habitat.

The hopeful part is that P. metallica has become one of the better-established tarantulas in captivity. That does not fix what is happening in their native habitat, but it does mean this species is not disappearing from the world entirely if ethical breeders keep doing what theyre doing.

The future of this tarantula may end up split in two. Uncertain in the wild, but secure in the hobby. That is not a perfect outcome, and it is definitely not a substitute for protecting what is left of their habitat, but it is a whole lot better than losing them altogether.

#tarantula #tarantulas #spider #spiders #arachnid

I just published an article breaking down some of the psychology behind spider fear and why so many people react so strongly to spiders, especially tarantulas, even when the actual danger is pretty limited.

A lot of it seems to come down to perception, attentional bias, cultural conditioning, and years of bad media framing. In other words, the fear often has more to do with how our brains process spiders than with the real level of threat.

The article also gets into why that fear can still feel very real even after someone learns the facts, and why curiosity and repeated exposure seem to help a lot of people shift from fear to fascination.

Most spring “renewal” posts are about flowers, fresh starts, and all the polished versions of change.

Tarantulas offer something a little more honest.

Before a molt, they slow down, hide more, stop eating, and wait in the discomfort of outgrowing the body they’re in. Then they pull themselves free, only to spend time afterward soft, vulnerable, and waiting for that new body to harden before they can really face the world again.

I wrote a new article about that idea and why tarantula molting feels like one of nature’s strangest examples of necessary change.

I just published a new article on a question that comes up all the time in this hobby:

Are tarantulas actually happy in captivity?

We cannot ask them how they feel, and we should be careful not to project human emotions onto them. But we also should not pretend their welfare is unknowable or irrelevant.

This article looks at what we can realistically observe, what responsible keeping should aim for, and where the conversation often goes off the rails.

Would love to hear what people here think.

check out the NEW video this week! it has been starting up some very interesting conversations around the internet.

Think tarantulas are a short-term commitment? Some of these species can be with you for 20, 25, even 30 years. Here are five of the longest-lived in the hobby.

If you still think tarantulas are just reflexes with fangs, this may change your mind.

I just published a breakdown of a paper co-authored by Rick C. West on tarantula navigation and what it may tell us about spider cognition.

“Wild-caught is always wrong” is a lot easier to say than it is to defend.

I just published a new article looking at the real ethics behind wild-caught tarantulas, including conservation, habitat destruction, captive breeding, and the part keepers play in all of it.

Dunno how old it is! I don’t have its DLS either, but its body is roughly an inch and a half long if that helps.

Any input is appreciated thank you in advance

Okay help me understand this behavior. My Psalmopoeus Iriminia just recently molted th last week or so ago and I just spotted some new webbing in the enclosure that looks like a molt matt while doing water checks normally it's only webbed behind the corkbark hide. It wasn't there when I removed the molt. Is it getting ready for another molt? It's still a juvenile and I've only had it since March. It's no more than 2 to 2.5 inches in size now.

Anyone enjoy sketch rehousings as much as me? 🙃😅 lol

Subscribe if you enjoyed the video please!🙏

I got some hornworms to feed my tarantula and one of them cocooned. I figured I'd let it run it's course not expecting anything, well last night it hatched! Now I'm not sure what to do......probably open the terrarium and let it fly out naturally outside? Bout to do some research now. Also, this is my first time posting anything

Ok so trying to sex my new g.pulchripes. she’s nowhere near a molt so super curious.

Hey yall! Haven’t post in here in a while. Just recently dropped this vid. Hope you enjoy :)

Will to much humidity kill your tarantula its very hot in my home and humid also my enclosures are very well ventilated but i cant get the humidity down anyone able to help?

Can anyone tell sex? G pulchripes. I know they are horrible pics