TomKemp
Arachnoknight
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2014
- Messages
- 160
A good read if you ask me. If you don't own this book, You should.
It is a good read, and the sectiobs concerning anatomy and mating are mostly correct. However, the rest of the book is terribly outdated. The writers had NW experience only, and mostly terrestrials. Their notion of keeping an Avicularia/Caribena species in a barren enclosure without substrate is very bad.A good read if you ask me. If you don't own this book, You should.
As I understand it (someone correct me if I'm wrong), Stan and his wife don't even keep tarantulas anymore. Even if a new edition comes out, I can't imagine how it'd be very helpful without firsthand experience.I've been waiting for the revised edition to come out. I remember awhile back on here when Stan had a thread where people could submit useful information to add to it.
To that point, the author(s) have used a lot of information provided by individuals in the tarantula keeping community which in my opinion is the best source of information on captive husbandry. One doesn't need first hand experience with every aspect of keeping tarantulas to produce an informative book. When these threads about The Tarantula Keeper's Guide come up, I can't help to wonder if everyone understands that a lot of the information that is included comes from the very same community we are a part of.As I understand it (someone correct me if I'm wrong), Stan and his wife don't even keep tarantulas anymore. Even if a new edition comes out, I can't imagine how it'd be very helpful without firsthand experience.
Why would someone buy a book and then not read it cover to cover? That's the point, right?I also can't help to wonder how many critics of this book have read it cover to cover and are forming their own opinions.
What I was getting at is I think some people haven't even bought the book in order to read it before giving their opinion.Why would someone buy a book and then not read it cover to cover? That's the point, right?
I own this book, and overall I'm actually a fan of it. And I hear what you're saying about experience, but there's a big difference between adding in extra information from the community and simply not keeping them yourself at all. Then it's nothing but hearsay... which is what these forums are for. Why drop money on a book authored by a professional only to get the same information you'd find on here for free? I'd want to hear Stan's opinions and personal experiences, not those of anonymous people online.To that point, the author(s) have used a lot of information provided by individuals in the tarantula keeping community which in my opinion is the best source of information on captive husbandry. One doesn't need first hand experience with every aspect of keeping tarantulas to produce an informative book. When these threads about The Tarantula Keeper's Guide come up, I can't help to wonder if everyone understands that a lot of the information that is included comes from the very same community we are a part of.
I also can't help to wonder how many critics of this book have read it cover to cover and are forming their own opinions. Some of the criticisms I've seen around here from different people sure do seem like they are the re-worded opinions of others. It's amazing how many posts read almost the exact same.
The same information or better for free. Example: on page 247, the author suggests using an aquarium with a screen cover on its side as an arboreal enclosure. We all know better. And there are things like that sprinkled throughout, that make you start to wonder which info is good and which is not.Why drop money on a book authored by a professional only to get the same information you'd find on here for free?
If a new revision comes out he will definitely need to fix the part that does require knowledge about a bunch of different species of tarantulas. The anatomy and general outline of everything is already good now. I read it right as I began to access this forum. The timing was perfect for me to get the corrections here as the book gave me more areas to investigate.I own this book, and overall I'm actually a fan of it. And I hear what you're saying about experience, but there's a big difference between adding in extra information from the community and simply not keeping them yourself at all. Then it's nothing but hearsay... which is what these forums are for. Why drop money on a book authored by a professional only to get the same information you'd find on here for free? I'd want to hear Stan's opinions and personal experiences, not those of anonymous people online.
Stan's wife passed away several years ago. Last I recall, he was living in a motor home and traveling, with her ashes in an urn accompanying him (per her last wishes).As I understand it (someone correct me if I'm wrong), Stan and his wife don't even keep tarantulas anymore. Even if a new edition comes out, I can't imagine how it'd be very helpful without firsthand experience.