Thoughts on The Tarantula Keeper's Guide?

DaveM

DaveM

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Arachnid Addicted said:
Nice to know, perhaps is the calcium and other myths? Can you share the link with us, please?
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The site is a bit sprawling.
Here is his homepage: https://people.ucalgary.ca/~schultz/index.html
Here is where the errata and addenda for the 3rd edition are located: https://people.ucalgary.ca/~schultz/aftermarket3.html
Here are spider-related sections / articles / posts: https://people.ucalgary.ca/~schultz/spiders.html

Oh, I see @Darklittlelady beat me to it. Win some, lose some. I congratulate the victor 🏆
 
Darklittlelady

Darklittlelady

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Arachnophobphile

Arachnophobphile

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Darklittlelady said:
Hello, I'm a new keeper and I've almost finished reading The Tarantula Keeper's Guide by Stanley and Marguerite Schultz. I have really enjoyed it and feel I've learned a lot from this book, but am aware that it's last revision was written more than ten years ago. I'm not sure how outdated it is.

There are some things mentioned (handling, ICUs, CO² as anesthesia) that made me unsure of the accuracy of some of the info.

I was curious what more experienced keepers thought. Is it worth recommending to new keepers? Can I refer back to it in the future?

Thanks for any replies!
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Only things outdated in that book I'm aware of are some of the sections on husbandry. Also the encouragement on handling tarantulas. As many know now handling is not a good idea for alot of reasons.
 
Z

zeeman

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I bought the book back in 2011 when I first tried to get into T's. It was and is a great read. I lent it to my father a couple weeks ago to start to get him up to speed on keeping his own T that I'm currently babysitting.

I was unsuccessful back in 2011 with the T's I kept. I read the book cover to cover and was a quiet member of this forum. I still apparently made mistakes. I currently keep T's after getting back into them again only a couple months ago. I have lost 2 C versicolor slings, I suspect one from dehydration and the other during molt (which maybe was due to dehydration). My A purpurea is doing well and so is my larger C versicolor I got at a local show this past weekend.

I say all that to say the following. The book was great, it didn't teach me everything. This forum is great, but 1) you have no idea who is behind the keyboard talking and giving input, and what worked for them may actually not work for you. There are also a lot of opinionated people here about how to do things because it worked for them but will disregard something that worked for others because they didn't need too in their case. The book was vetted before publish and was updated with at least a few revisions. It is out of date in only not knowing the most recent learnings of hobbyists. But hobbyists most likely are not as individually as knowledgeable as the authors.

My point is, be hungry for information and look at multiple sources, look at those people's collections and whether they are thriving or not. If you can, factor their environment versus yours as it does matter. Go look at knowledgeable people on YouTube, check other forums, ask breeders at reptile shows. Those local guys / gals might actually be better than a person here on AB because their collection is thriving in the same location as where you will be attempting to raise a thriving T. Glean all of that info and make the best of it you can. Including the message of this post.
 
Darklittlelady

Darklittlelady

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zeeman said:
I bought the book back in 2011 when I first tried to get into T's. It was and is a great read. I lent it to my father a couple weeks ago to start to get him up to speed on keeping his own T that I'm currently babysitting.

I was unsuccessful back in 2011 with the T's I kept. I read the book cover to cover and was a quiet member of this forum. I still apparently made mistakes. I currently keep T's after getting back into them again only a couple months ago. I have lost 2 C versicolor slings, I suspect one from dehydration and the other during molt (which maybe was due to dehydration). My A purpurea is doing well and so is my larger C versicolor I got at a local show this past weekend.

I say all that to say the following. The book was great, it didn't teach me everything. This forum is great, but 1) you have no idea who is behind the keyboard talking and giving input, and what worked for them may actually not work for you. There are also a lot of opinionated people here about how to do things because it worked for them but will disregard something that worked for others because they didn't need too in their case. The book was vetted before publish and was updated with at least a few revisions. It is out of date in only not knowing the most recent learnings of hobbyists. But hobbyists most likely are not as individually as knowledgeable as the authors.

My point is, be hungry for information and look at multiple sources, look at those people's collections and whether they are thriving or not. If you can, factor their environment versus yours as it does matter. Go look at knowledgeable people on YouTube, check other forums, ask breeders at reptile shows. Those local guys / gals might actually be better than a person here on AB because their collection is thriving in the same location as where you will be attempting to raise a thriving T. Glean all of that info and make the best of it you can. Including the message of this post.
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Thanks so much for the sage advice, I'll follow it. At the moment I'm trying to find the most accurate, tried, true and tested info. It's a fun journey, trying to put myself through school here on the web. (no pun intended) I also have tickets to an upcoming reptile show in my state. Very much looking forward to talking people's ears off in person too haha. I think time and experience will teach me best, but I can't rush that unfortunately! Really appreciate your input, thanks.
 
USNGunner

USNGunner

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I have the book coming for me and the Grand-son. Can't wait to get it and read it. The day you stop learning? Somebody gets your insurance money. ;)
 
Ah Lee

Ah Lee

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I got this book when I was a kid. I think that was 17 years ago? I brought it with me EVERYWHERE and would read and re-read it whenever I had the time.

Then one day while I was out spider-spotting it rained really heavily and my book got drenched. I went home and left it in the sun to dry it out, and it has become a brick ever since. Thank you Stanley and Marguerite for bringing me into the world of T's!
 
Darklittlelady

Darklittlelady

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vogelspinnenasia said:
I got this book when I was a kid. I think that was 17 years ago? I brought it with me EVERYWHERE and would read and re-read it whenever I had the time.

Then one day while I was out spider-spotting it rained really heavily and my book got drenched. I went home and left it in the sun to dry it out, and it has become a brick ever since. Thank you Stanley and Marguerite for bringing me into the world of T's!
Click to expand...
Well loved books are the best kind
 
rusted180

rusted180

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need to buy this book. even if its outdated...Bet it will be a good read when im sitting on my throne ( toilet ) :D
 
USNGunner

USNGunner

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Darklittlelady said:
Aww are yall T buddies? That's fun!
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Yep. His mother bought him the T, I still can't believe she acquiesced. The only thing she hates more than frogs are spiders, and she bought him a big hairy one. LOL.

But accordingly, I was the research and ground work guy. He picked a B. Hamorii, we got it, that first rehouse was awful but luckily "Red" survived it. Then they went on vacation so I was spood sitting. It sucked me in. They're so cool. We now have 6 total (all slings). :cool:

The afore mentioned Hamorii,
Hapalapous sp Comlumbia (lg) x2 (Pumpkin Patch)
Caribena Versicolor (Martinique Pink Toe tarantula)
Chromatopelma Cyaneopubescens (Green Bottle Blue)
Cyriocosmus Perezmilesi (Bolivian Dwarf Beauty)

I like the bright colored T's, and have a thing for the dwarfs, they appeal to me though. We're learning together. He's 12, a sharp cookie and does the research after a little nudging along. That's cool, he's got me to ride overwatch. We've got this. :rofl:
 
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