Thoughts on Richard's husbandry style? (The Tarantula Collective)

[IronMaiden]

His videos have high production value. I think his camera angles and lighting beat all T Channels on YouTube. I think Tom Moran is the most educational one. I enjoy watching his videos for species I don't even have.

 

[waynerowley]

I think that some of his videos are decent, but he's not the keeper I typically watch. I really like Tom Moran and Dave's Little Beasties much more. They focus more on the husbandry aspect, and I've learned a lot of things from watching their videos.

Agreed. I watch his videos - as I do Petko's - more for entertainment. His production value is high and overall his husbandry advice is okay - similar to Tom's in many areas. But I will go to Tom for solid husbandry and now also Dave.

 

[LucN]

Dave is really getting the recognition he deserves. Controversial on some aspects, but he makes it work. It's great to see an alternative take on husbandry and being explained why it's worth thinking out of the box. Now that doesn't mean I'll be doing bioactive setups anytime soon, but it actually seems to work really well with moisture dependant species.

 

[Ungoliant]

I think that some of his videos are decent, but he's not the keeper I typically watch. I really like Tom Moran and Dave's Little Beasties much more. They focus more on the husbandry aspect, and I've learned a lot of things from watching their videos.

Dave's Little Beasties makes me slightly anxious whenever he rehouses.

It's still a decent channel, though I wouldn't necessarily recommend everything he does.

His videos have high production value. I think his camera angles and lighting beat all T Channels on YouTube. I think Tom Moran is the most educational one. I enjoy watching his videos for species I don't even have.

His videos do look very good, and he seems like a genuinely nice dude.

 

[Frogdaddy]

Richard's husbandry seems to be ok. He does seem to use Exo-Terra enclosures for a lot of terrestrial species. This is just about husbandry right? Or are we discussing videos and content as well?

 

[CommanderBacon]

I think his husbandry is fine. I just really dislike the drama he likes to roll around in and I felt his videos were style over substance so I don't care for his stuff.

Like @Ungoliant I tend to refer to Tom Moran in situations where I need some reassuring or if I'm picking up a genus that I haven't kept before so I can observe their behavior and see how his rehousings go.

 

[KenNet]

I never watch t- pictures is all I need.

Tube has a lot of stupidity posted - don’t bother

You're missing out on some great videos.

Not all is stupid!

To be able to watch species that you don't own, and for free, is a treat, not a threat.

Open your eyes and broaden your world view. It might even make you smile a bit.

 

[MrGhostMantis]

I never watch t- pictures is all I need.

Tube has a lot of stupidity posted - don’t bother

Stupidtube

 

[viper69]

You're missing out on some great videos.

Not all is stupid!

To be able to watch species that you don't own, and for free, is a treat, not a threat.

Open your eyes and broaden your world view. It might even make you smile a bit.

I use it for DIY type of stuff, rarely for exotics actually. UNLESS it's videos of animals in their native habitat. But watching owners with their Ts, not really. Not enough time in the day.

 

[Jess S]

I'll admit I don't watch Richard's content regularly, but he seems to be a nice guy who cares about his collection and is passionate about the hobby.

However, having listened to his podcasts I have to admit it does grate on me when he starts on his soapbox about wanting to make a living on YouTube and his subscribers should be coughing up cash for his content. He is turning his hobby into a money making endeavour and I feel this is where his focus is and the driving force of what he does.

I'm happy for any channel to become commercially successful and I'm happy for an breeder or enclosure seller to make a profit. But no-one asks anyone to become pet tubers and we don't have to buy the overpriced t-shirts, mugs or stickers. I'm glad Richard has set up his online store where you can buy useful things that would actually benefit keepers and their collection, such as enclosures though.

 

[Frogdaddy]

I'll admit I don't watch Richard's content regularly, but he seems to be a nice guy who cares about his collection and is passionate about the hobby.

However, having listened to his podcasts I have to admit it does grate on me when he starts on his soapbox about wanting to make a living on YouTube and his subscribers should be coughing up cash for his content. He is turning his hobby into a money making endeavour and I feel this is where his focus is and the driving force of what he does.

I'm happy for any channel to become commercially successful and I'm happy for an breeder or enclosure seller to make a profit. But no-one asks anyone to become pet tubers and we don't have to buy the overpriced t-shirts, mugs or stickers. I'm glad Richard has set up his online store where you can buy useful things that would actually benefit keepers and their collection, such as enclosures though.

I'm glad you mentioned that. In a recent video, Richard mentioned he was laid off from his day job and now the TC and EPC would be his full time gig.

Now that this is a full time job he'll have to produce more content. Which could be a good thing for the hobby right? There is a plethora of topics beyond basic husbandry and top ten lists that could be discussed to a broader demographic on YouTube than on AB. However his following isn't the AB crowd, it's the FB crowd.

So it's more top ten lists and spiders crawling across a desk to some sort of metal band. Watered down content with a high production value. Looks good but it doesn't stimulate me mentally. No wonder the FB crowd eats it up.

 

[Jess S]

I'm glad you mentioned that. In a recent video, Richard mentioned he was laid off from his day job and now the TC and EPC would be his full time gig.

Now that this is a full time job he'll have to produce more content. Which could be a good thing for the hobby right? There is a plethora of topics beyond basic husbandry and top ten lists that could be discussed to a broader demographic on YouTube than on AB. However his following isn't the AB crowd, it's the FB crowd.

So it's more top ten lists and spiders crawling across a desk to some sort of metal band. Watered down content with a high production value. Looks good but it doesn't stimulate me mentally. No wonder the FB crowd eats it up.

I didn't know he'd been laid off (I'm not up to date with the channel) so I feel a little bad for my comment, but I do know that on his podcasts a while ago he was thinking about quitting his job for full time YouTube anyway , but sensibly wanted to make a certain monthly amount first. I just feel that financial success should be an almost accidental byproduct of a YouTube channel, not the main driving force and focus of the creator. Otherwise it tends to get really irritating fast - "smash that like button, subscribe, share the heck out of my video, buy, buy, buy my merch!!!". It really turns me off to be honest.

You have probably nailed it regarding producing content for FB clicks. It would be great if he could come up with some interesting new videos. As long as it's not "Top 10 Reasons to Become a Channel Member"

It's not just his channel there are a few others that irk me for the same reasons!

 

[PanzoN88]

Now that this is a full time job he'll have to produce more content. Which could be a good thing for the hobby right? There is a plethora of topics beyond basic husbandry and top ten lists that could be discussed to a broader demographic on YouTube than on AB. However his following isn't the AB crowd, it's the FB crowd.

So it's more top ten lists and spiders crawling across a desk to some sort of metal band. Watered down content with a high production value. Looks good but it doesn't stimulate me mentally. No wonder the FB crowd eats it up.

I’m going to correct you slightly, well when I say correct, I really mean expand on your statement. Youtube tarantula keepers in general are a Facebook thing. I am on the tarantula collective group and I even said it in a comment (I don’t think they liked that very much but I couldn’t care less). I actually know two reasons why the Facebook crowd avoids forums and sticks to to youtube, which if you ask me is so petty it’s funny.

As for his husbandry I will give him credit, out of all of the channels that seemed to pop up in 2016-2017, his channel is one of three that are decent, I don’t know if it is just me misinterpreting things, but it seems like he was starting to do things in a way that most of us here on the forum are accustomed to (well at least in the videos I watched a couple months ago), which piqued my interest.

 

[Weightsandwebs]

I like his videos. He has good quality video and his care tips seem to work out. His were some of the first I watched when looking for my first tarantulas. Since then I started liking Tom Moran for a more direct approach to info. For care and info Richard and Tom are my main two. For just passing time or entrainment I'll watch others but seems everyone has their own approach and style to their videos some took time to grow on me others I just don't get into.

 

[CommanderBacon]

I'll admit I don't watch Richard's content regularly, but he seems to be a nice guy who cares about his collection and is passionate about the hobby.

However, having listened to his podcasts I have to admit it does grate on me when he starts on his soapbox about wanting to make a living on YouTube and his subscribers should be coughing up cash for his content. He is turning his hobby into a money making endeavour and I feel this is where his focus is and the driving force of what he does.

I'm happy for any channel to become commercially successful and I'm happy for an breeder or enclosure seller to make a profit. But no-one asks anyone to become pet tubers and we don't have to buy the overpriced t-shirts, mugs or stickers. I'm glad Richard has set up his online store where you can buy useful things that would actually benefit keepers and their collection, such as enclosures though.

He isn't all that "nice". All he cares about is views, increasing his brand awareness, and out-competing other tarantula-tubers. He also can't take criticism well at all, which is why he's been all up on Tom Moran's butt ever since Tom called him out for that idiotic "10 most dangerous tarantulas" videos, and why he did that interview with Dustin about his Pokie faux-pas because drama=views

If you wanted someone who is passionate about the hobby and has altruistic intentions, he is really, really not your guy.

 

[AphonopelmaTX]

Whenever these types of threads pop up asking for opinions on a YouTuber's husbandry, I always wonder one thing. How are you all coming to the conclusion one has better care than another? Quality of video production and presentation style aside, what makes Tom Moran better at taking care of tarantulas than Tarantula Collective or Dave's Little Beasties?

 

[CommanderBacon]

Whenever these types of threads pop up asking for opinions on a YouTuber's husbandry, I always wonder one thing. How are you all coming to the conclusion one has better husbandry than another? Another way to ask would be, how does one form their preference for one YouTuber over another?

I think all we can do is form an opinion on what we've seen. Richard's husbandry looks fine to me from what he shows us, but that's the thing - we don't see a complete picture of what he's set up. The videos are extreme close ups of the tarantulas interacting with their environment or sitting on a table. It's eye candy.

Tom Moran's matter-of-fact style appeals to me. He admits when he's wrong or he's made mistakes, he seems to know what he's doing. I know he repeats himself a lot, but he's not out to impress anyone. I appreciate that he just shows you what works for him and what he's learned. He's clearly not trying to impress us with a fancy enclosure, because a lot of of what he uses are not particularly attractive.

My preference is not too much talking heads and straight to the point. Lighting is important, but production value is second to the information being presented for me. Also I don't give a hoot about anyone's "journey" or vlogs. I'm here for tarantulas.

 

[Weightsandwebs]

I think all we can do is form an opinion on what we've seen. Richard's husbandry looks fine to me from what he shows us, but that's the thing - we don't see a complete picture of what he's set up. The videos are extreme close ups of the tarantulas interacting with their environment or sitting on a table. It's eye candy.

Tom Moran's matter-of-fact style appeals to me. He admits when he's wrong or he's made mistakes, he seems to know what he's doing. I know he repeats himself a lot, but he's not out to impress anyone. I appreciate that he just shows you what works for him and what he's learned. He's clearly not trying to impress us with a fancy enclosure, because a lot of of what he uses are not particularly attractive.

My preference is not too much talking heads and straight to the point. Lighting is important, but production value is second to the information being presented for me. Also I don't give a hoot about anyone's "journey" or vlogs. I'm here for tarantulas.

That's why I like Tom. He's very straight to the point with things and always trying out new things even if they aren't flashy or some big brand. He doesn't need high quality footage to display a species and get the info out there. But then again he's a teacher.
While Richard has good care tips and I do like his content too they aren't comparable in approach. I think the age and or experience range plays a part in it.

 

[The insect dude101]

I think its fine I don't see anything wrong

 

[KenNet]

Whenever these types of threads pop up asking for opinions on a YouTuber's husbandry, I always wonder one thing. How are you all coming to the conclusion one has better husbandry than another? Quality of video production and presentation style aside, what makes Tom Moran better at taking care of tarantulas than Tarantula Collective or Dave's Little Beastie's?

The lack of mid-roll commercial?