Thoughts on The Tarantula Keeper's Guide?

[Darklittlelady]

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 I'm not sure how outdated it is.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!

 

[moricollins]

Despite its age it's still one of the best tarantula books in English.

I don't use it as the "Bible" of Tarantula keeping (primarily because no one written source can always be the authoritative source). As you've noted there are some topics in it that have become "the old way".

 

[Darklittlelady]

Despite its age it's still one of the best tarantula books in English.

I don't use it as the "Bible" of Tarantula keeping (primarily because no one written source can always be the authoritative source). As you've noted there are some topics in it that have become "the old way".

Good to know it's generally respected. Thanks for your reply

 

[KaroKoenig]

Outdated in so many aspects that I wouldn't trust it anymore. Same goes for all other books from that time, no matter which language. For up-to-date information look here.

Still a great read, though.

 

[Darklittlelady]

Outdated in so many aspects that I wouldn't trust it anymore. Same goes for all other books from that time, no matter which language. For up-to-date information look here.

Still a great read, though.

That's unfortunate. I wish there had been another revision, wonder what happened to the authors.

These forums are great, almost as addicting as the animals themselves.

 

[StampFan]

It is still an excellent reference manual with a few bits and pieces that seem to have run its course, like the ICU. Reality is most of the questions on here are easily and accurately answered in that book, for example, the section on substrates and mixing, or the section on ants, fungus gnats, phorid flies, etc. For every example of something in the book being "outdated", there are many where the info is still useful. Anybody overly critical should write their own book and post it somewhere and watch how it gets torn apart online.

I believe he's still working on a newer revision in his retirement and travels when I spoke to him at an expo. He told me the big difference between his first edition and now is how many people are raising slings, as opposed to just buying a wild caught adult at a pet store. I suspect if there is a new edition published it'll have more info on slings.

All books need to be read with a critical eye, but in my experience, every older book on the subject from an experienced author (e.g this one, or the Hancock and Hancock book) still have plenty of interesting ideas that one can ponder and give more depth and analysis than a 1 sentence post in a FB group, or a terrible Youtube video from some dummy that has cared for these animals for 2 months. Newer information isn't always better, or accurate, especially in this world of social media.

 

[Arachnopets]

<snip> wonder what happened to the authors.
<snip>

@Stan Schultz still posts on here occasionally. Sadly, Marguerite passed away several years ago.


Debby

 

[Darklittlelady]

It is still an excellent reference manual with a few bits and pieces that seem to have run its course, like the ICU. Reality is most of the questions on here are easily and accurately answered in that book, for example, the section on substrates and mixing, or the section on ants, fungus gnats, phorid flies, etc. For every example of something in the book being "outdated", there are many where the info is still useful. Anybody overly critical should write their own book and post it somewhere and watch how it gets torn apart online.

I believe he's still working on a newer revision in his retirement and travels when I spoke to him at an expo. He told me the big difference between his first edition and now is how many people are raising slings, as opposed to just buying a wild caught adult at a pet store. I suspect if there is a new edition published it'll have more info on slings.

All books need to be read with a critical eye, but in my experience, every older book on the subject from an experienced author (e.g this one, or the Hancock and Hancock book) still have plenty of interesting ideas that one can ponder and give more depth and analysis than a 1 sentence post in a FB group, or a terrible Youtube video from some dummy that has cared for these animals for 2 months. Newer information isn't always better, or accurate, especially in this world of social media.

Thanks for your reply! I enjoyed reading it, the tone is really fun. It lead me down avenues to research further, and spurred me to ask questions I otherwise wouldn't have known to ask. I'm glad I purchased it and look forward to reading the next revision in the future. I'm glad to know one may be in the works!

@Stan Schultz still posts on here occasionally. Sadly, Marguerite passed away several years ago.


Debby

Oh how cool that he's here!

Sorry to hear about Marguerite though.

 

[FrDoc]

I’m glad I read it as my introduction to tarantula keeping. I’m somewhat archaic in that I primarily read books about various and sundry interests. Books are excellent foundational resources. I use forums to provide the experiential element of information gathering. If you’re a bibliophile you know and compensate for the dated nature of the material in any given context. Now, order, read, and inwardly digest Foelix Rainer’s, Biology of Spiders.

 

[Arachnid Addicted]

Personal opinion:
It is a good book, sure there are a few old informations but overall, it is the best book about Tarantula Keeping that we still have.

I wondered if a new edition is coming, though.

 

[Darklittlelady]

I’m glad I read it as my introduction to tarantula keeping. I’m somewhat archaic in that I primarily read books about various and sundry interests. Books are excellent foundational resources. I use forums to provide the experiential element of information gathering. If you’re a bibliophile you know and compensate for the dated nature of the material in any given context. Now, order, read, and inwardly digest Foelix Rainer’s, Biology of Spiders.

Thanks so much for the recommendation! I'll absorb it

 

[viper69]

Like it

 

[Danzog]

It has good general info, but it's not without fault

 

[KaroKoenig]

For every example of something in the book being "outdated", there are many where the info is still useful.

Here's the thing: You are a newbie and want to use this book as a reference. How do you distinguish the good and timely from the outdated and bad information? And I am sorry to say that this book contains quite a lot of information that would be detrimental to the animals, as far as we understand husbandry today. Not just ICU, there's the whole swamp dweller thing, there's the completely obsolete taxonomy, there's handling advice, there's advice on how to obtain specimens from the wild, there's many many more... you get the idea.
Imagine a newbie coming here with a problem, and then describing how he or she has kept - let's say an Avicularia or a Theraposa - according to TTKG but without mentioning that detail. He or she would be ripped a new one on here because of those husbandry practices.

Anybody overly critical should write their own book and post it somewhere and watch how it gets torn apart online.

Again, I think this book is an excellent read, and I had a lot of fun reading it. However, it is outdated. Period. Same goes for all the german-language books, by the way, so there you go. I actually have some experience publishing stuff, albeit on a smaller scale. I know such a book doesn't write itself.
I love books! I have quite the library of tarantula husbandry books dating back into the 1950s. They are all awesome. They are historical documents, and as such very valuable reference material, but they are not good for up-to-date husbandry advice.

 

[Darklittlelady]

Here's the thing: You are a newbie and want to use this book as a reference. How do you distinguish the good and timely from the outdated and bad information? And I am sorry to say that this book contains quite a lot of information that would be detrimental to the animals, as far as we understand husbandry today. Not just ICU, there's the whole swamp dweller thing, there's the completely obsolete taxonomy, there's handling advice, there's advice on how to obtain specimens from the wild, there's many many more... you get the idea.
Imagine a newbie coming here with a problem, and then describing how he or she has kept - let's say an Avicularia or a Theraposa - according to TTKG but without mentioning that detail. He or she would be ripped a new one on here because of those husbandry practices.



Again, I think this book is an excellent read, and I had a lot of fun reading it. However, it is outdated. Period. Same goes for all the german-language books, by the way, so there you go. I actually have some experience publishing stuff, albeit on a smaller scale. I know such a book doesn't write itself.
I love books! I have quite the library of tarantula husbandry books dating back into the 1950s. They are all awesome. They are historical documents, and as such very valuable reference material, but they are not good for up-to-date husbandry advice.

True. The only reason I was able to recognize that some info was outdated was because I'd been on these boards for a little while beforehand. Thanks!

 

[Arachnid Addicted]

You are a newbie and want to use this book as a reference. How do you distinguish the good and timely from the outdated and bad information?

I honestly didn't think by new keepers side. You have a good point here. Agreed.

there's the completely obsolete taxonomy

Imo, taxonomy is a tricky subject for any book, regarding tarantula keeping or not, since taxonomy changes constantly. If you see the 3rd edition of Biology of Spiders, for example, there're obsolete taxonomy there too, unfortunately. I don't know if a 4th edition was released, though.

 

[Darklittlelady]

I’m glad I read it as my introduction to tarantula keeping. I’m somewhat archaic in that I primarily read books about various and sundry interests. Books are excellent foundational resources. I use forums to provide the experiential element of information gathering. If you’re a bibliophile you know and compensate for the dated nature of the material in any given context. Now, order, read, and inwardly digest Foelix Rainer’s, Biology of Spiders.

FYI: I downloaded Biology of Spiders for free on academia.edu

Here's the link for anyone else interested in reading

https://www.academia.edu/13113405/Biology_of_Spiders?email_work_card=title

 

[AphonopelmaTX]

Here's the thing: You are a newbie and want to use this book as a reference. How do you distinguish the good and timely from the outdated and bad information? And I am sorry to say that this book contains quite a lot of information that would be detrimental to the animals, as far as we understand husbandry today. Not just ICU, there's the whole swamp dweller thing, there's the completely obsolete taxonomy, there's handling advice, there's advice on how to obtain specimens from the wild, there's many many more... you get the idea.
Imagine a newbie coming here with a problem, and then describing how he or she has kept - let's say an Avicularia or a Theraposa - according to TTKG but without mentioning that detail. He or she would be ripped a new one on here because of those husbandry practices.



Again, I think this book is an excellent read, and I had a lot of fun reading it. However, it is outdated. Period. Same goes for all the german-language books, by the way, so there you go. I actually have some experience publishing stuff, albeit on a smaller scale. I know such a book doesn't write itself.
I love books! I have quite the library of tarantula husbandry books dating back into the 1950s. They are all awesome. They are historical documents, and as such very valuable reference material, but they are not good for up-to-date husbandry advice.

For starters, one must be able to distinguish between outdated information and swings in public opinion or personal preferences. Topics such as handling, collecting from the wild, and the choice of terms to describe habitat (e.g. "swamp dweller") are all examples of preference. The information on those topics in the book are not outdated, but there have been a change in opinion on them and nitpicking on some of the terminology.

The techniques for keeping Avicularia and Theraphosa species in TKG is pretty much the same as described by others on this site, so the only ones that would tear a newbie a new one, as you put it, by using techniques from that book would be the ones who either never read the book or don't have the experience to provide good advice.

 

[Venom1080]

Here's the thing: You are a newbie and want to use this book as a reference. How do you distinguish the good and timely from the outdated and bad information? And I am sorry to say that this book contains quite a lot of information that would be detrimental to the animals, as far as we understand husbandry today. Not just ICU, there's the whole swamp dweller thing, there's the completely obsolete taxonomy, there's handling advice, there's advice on how to obtain specimens from the wild, there's many many more... you get the idea.
Imagine a newbie coming here with a problem, and then describing how he or she has kept - let's say an Avicularia or a Theraposa - according to TTKG but without mentioning that detail. He or she would be ripped a new one on here because of those husbandry practices.



Again, I think this book is an excellent read, and I had a lot of fun reading it. However, it is outdated. Period. Same goes for all the german-language books, by the way, so there you go. I actually have some experience publishing stuff, albeit on a smaller scale. I know such a book doesn't write itself.
I love books! I have quite the library of tarantula husbandry books dating back into the 1950s. They are all awesome. They are historical documents, and as such very valuable reference material, but they are not good for up-to-date husbandry advice.

Handling is opinion. Not grounds to throw out a resource.

Outdated taxonomy isn't a big deal either. Look around on even this forum. Do threads about Avicularia and friends matter if they're written before Mar2017? Course they do.

I think its a great resource. One that helped me as a beginner.

 

[DaveM]

It's worth mentioning that Stan maintains an extensive website with errata and updates for TKG.
Thank you, @Stan Schultz, for a great deal of valuable work