In this episode, Billie and I rehouse my P. metallica communal into a brand new bioactive enclosure. The seven spiders were 4-4.5" young adults, and they behaved amazingly!
This was me describing your channel to a friend who isn't in the hobby but fell down a RU-vid rabbit hole about spiders because of something I posted: "Tom Moran is a calm metalhead dad who focuses on the more educational aspect of keeping and is a total sweetheart." Thanks for everything you do for the hobby and thanks for educating people because it helps keep them (and the spiders) safe. Sending love from Florida.
This is the one I’m going to choose to show my boyfriend because he is the sweet, wonderful, smart, helpful Billie to my Tom, and I think this encapsulates your dynamic (and the eerie similarity with the mental block hehe to ours with the same reminder need). Thank you for showing a great example in husbandry as always!
The absolute master of the rehouse right here...I am shocked..no bolts no threat poses no b.s Tom Moran u are God amongst men. Beautiful ts beautiful enclosure!!!! Thank you for ur knowledge and patience
One of the best handlers who does these videos - nice work. It showed some critical errors made where having a person there as back-up saved the plan and kept it smooth. "The Lid; the lid"........... I really believe that your slow steady movements along with never purposefully antagonizing your spiders helps in all of your rehouses. You treat "T's" like they are "T's" and always show them respect; whilst simultaneously, you always take responsibility for anything negative that happens to them. I appreciate seeing your videos and feel that you make your viewers better handlers and hobbyists.
Well, thank you so much, Kevin! Haha Yeah, that darned lid. Talk about a major brain fart. Most don't realize that Billie is always there for backup first and foremost. She an invaluable second set of eyes. Thanks again!
Big shout-out and thank to Billie! Behind every good man is a great woman! Thankfully this rehouse went without incident but your concentration was so strong and palatable I could feel it as well. I jumped when it looked like that one was going to come running up the cork bark and tongues and onto you. LOL I thought that I would like to try this kind of communal but after watching this my nerves told me that nope, you are not ready yet John. For the foreseeable future I will enjoy this ride vicariously through you. Great video and I am glad to see that these P. Metallica are doing fantastic.
Ain't that the truth, John. Amen to that! haha It was actually very interesting to get into the thick of it after thinking about it for so long. I'd been mulling over how to approach it for a couple months. I'm hoping that, in the very least, people can see that they weren't that defensive or naughty at all. Thank you so much, John!
Ahhh Tom watching you rehouse these pokies made me SUPER nervous even though I wasn’t doing it.🤣 Good job though! Tell Billie thank you for reminding you to put the cap on, that could have ended really bad. 😁👍🎉
Hey, California! Hahaha. A lot of people have been saying that! I honestly thought that this was going to be boring. Of course, if Billie wasn't there to tell me to put the top on, it might have been! LOL Thanks!
I just listened to your podcast, may I come over and eat dinner with you, haha. Sorry, just had to get that out! Keep doing what your doing , we all appreciate your wisdom.
I just saw this one! Thank goodness for your wife tonight!! So good, funny, educational, and more. Really shows how you work together. Always love your videos!! You’ve both taught me a lot❣️🥰
Great rehousing Tom and Billie. I gotta say I laughed so much every time you forgot to put the lid on. The new enclosure looks fantastic, I love the plants you’ve used. And who wouldn’t love 7 P. Metallica’s in one tank? Awesome job as always. Thanks for sharing 😊
Hey, Tink! Hahahaha. I had to make it somewhat "thrilling" right? I'm glad that it went well overall, as I really wanted to strip away some of the stigma surrounding these guys. As always, thank so much!!!
Man it's absolutely amazing to see Metallicas live like this, in about 2 months time I will be starting my first communal with about 6 balfouri slings and ur videos helped a lot to gain confidence and be aware of what could or could not happen, thanks a lot Tom
Yeah, I was VERY reluctant to try a P. metallica communal, but I'm glad that I did. This has been fascinating. And that's awesome about your M. balfouri communal! :) Thank you so much!
Bahahahahaha! See, I thought that folks might find this boring! Of course, if Billie hadn't been there to tell me to put the top back on, it might have been a MUCH different video! :) Thanks, Cryssa!
I’ve been listening to your podcast at work for about a week and a half straight now at work… (10 hour shifts). When I came across you describing this rehousing I had to see it myself as I own a P. metallica. I also have 12 other T’s. 2 more of them are OW; H. pulchripes and P. regalis. I absolutely love the Simply brand catch cup idea. It’s great. I’ll have to implement that during my own rehousing. Thanks for the quality content and sharing of your knowledge. Keep up the great work.
Hi, Alexander! Man, 10 hour shifts are no fun; glad that I can help to pass the time. That catch cup has been a godsend for mer. haha I use it all of the time. Thank you so much!
@@TomsBigSpiders an aside, I’m housing my P. regalis in a Big Fat Phids enclosure mainly used for jumping spiders. Decided to switch the bottom half of the enclosure as I noticed the regalis was all the way up top so I was like “ooo. Easy rehousing.” Little did I know Poecilotheria sp. can fuxking LEAP. LOL needless to say, it was a shock but no panic ensued thanks to your videos and podcasts… so, no accidents happened and it’s now in a more fitting environment.
Eddie! Man, thanks so much, bud. That means a ton, as you've been around from the beginning and know how stiff I was. hahaha I'm REALLY excited about the green screen. It's going to give me a lot more freedom going ahead to work a bit more of my teaching style into the videos. As always, thanks so much, bud!
Brother I don't mind admitting I was concerned for you but this was intense viewing and a big shout out to the camera person/ safety advisor, especially when she kept reminding you about the lid on the catch cup. I think I held my breath a few times there lol. Loved the video guys, always excellent quality. It's no surprise your so well respected in the hobby. Looking forward to more videos soon tom.
Hey, bud! Yeah, Billie definitely played a crucial role in this one! I was too busy trying to keep an eye on the spiders left in the original enclosure. haha And thank you so much for the very kind words! :)
wow, I had no idea P. metallica could be communal, and they seem so peaceful! I've always been nervous what I've heard about Old World T's, esp. pokies, so I never got in to them. glad to see everything went smoothly!
Hi, Paul! So far, so good! I've really enjoyed watching them grow up together. I've kept 14 species of pokies, and I've never had an issue. They get a very bad rap for what they COULD do. Thank you!
Very nice job Tom! You handled that like a boss. Most of my Pokies are smaller than yours but they go absolutely bezerk whenever I open their enclosures. Mine have been hands down the most difficult to rehouse because of this. But at least you have someone there with you. I have to prepare everything and plan extensively beforehand because I am doing it all alone. On another note I want to recognize your wife for her camera skills and her "Tom" assistance. I don't think she gets enough credit for her major contribution to this channel and your rehousings. Bravo Mrs Moran!
Hi, Ron! What species do you have an what do you have them in? Yes, Billie is an AWESOME help, especially in a situation like this. I totally agree that she doesn't get enough credit! Thanks again!
@@TomsBigSpiders I keep most of mine in enclosures I made from amac boxes or other such boxes that are larger. I sell these also to help finance this hobby, although I believe I'm coming out on the short end of the stick. Lol.. I had to go down and look to remember which Poecilotheria species I had for sure. It's hard for me to keep up. Lol! But I currently have rufilata, metallica, Miranda, vitta, tigrinawesseli, bara and regalis. Most of which I have more than one specimen of each species. I like getting multiples of a species so I can learn the differences between individuals. Yes I know I'm a nerd. 🤓
After listening to the Podcast I have been anticipating this video!!! Woooo I was holding my breath...glad it went successful!!! Keep up the great work!!!
For the win Tom!!! I have a p.metallica and she is also super chill. They are an amazing species. My p.ornata is the bolting one... we lovingly call her the Flash for this reason
Great video again, Tom! These guys behaved pretty cooperative, very much in opposite to some people thinking of them as "creatures from hell". As a matter of fact, the most difficult rehousings I had were with my Psalmopoeus victori and Pachistopelma bromelicola, both bolting like crazy. And - as you know - they are both new worlds! No problem so far with rehousing my old world's including some pokies...
THANK YOU. It drives me nuts when people come on and tell me how "aggressive" they are. That has NOT been my experience. I was glad that I was able to prove that a bit. And, yes...the Psalmopoeus and Tappis can be so much worse! Thanks again!
Hahaha. Thanks, Kis! Every time I do one of these videos, some mook comes on and say, "don't be a p****, just grab it!". Drives me NUTS! You have a great year as well!
Hi Tom and Billie great team work !! You did amazing see Tom I feel you do your rehouses and all T care with out trying to tormenting them because a lot of people think that’s what we all want to see but I don’t I love your channel because you just do all the care with out trying to disturb them !! That was a amazing rehouse !! Love your hoodie they are one of my favorites!!
Hey, Nicole! Thank you so much. I really try to show the calmest, safest ways to move them (and the last thing I want to do is torment them with extra poking and prodding). And I LOVE Cannibal Corpse! I love playing them when I'm doing feedings. It just seems like the perfect music for that! :)
Amazing video, they have beautiful color, weather warms on shipping be my next venture. Did manage an over 1 inch sling M Balforia. Can't wait for it to size. Caution on handling, just not Wise! Crazy reason I get so taken on new arrival, did handle the Balfouri, lightening Fast! Enjoy so much, I'm a moth into the Flame! Tnx again for nice video, all went well! Congrats
This was an awesome video, and so far it's the best rehousing video I've come across. One day when I'm more experienced I would like to add a P. Metallica to my collection, but for now I'm gonna have fun watching and learning about the two Ts I started with.
Very nice transfer of all of them Tom. Enjoyed watching the video. Down the road please give us an update on how they are doing and what they make of their new home. Take care as always.
What a super rehousing brother. I love the look of these tarantulas and wish to own one in the future. I only have new worlds at the moment but am taking on an Indian violet from someone local who needs to find a new home for her collection so hopefully that will be my start of an old world collection. Keep safe buddy.
There’s a population of Coremiocnemis tropix in the tablelands that live in densely population areas. They were labelled as a dwarf tropix because they were roughly half the size, but what people noticed is when they were separated and raised in captivity they grew to the size of the type locale tropix. Probably the competition and scarcity of resource left the population at a smaller size. Which is why I find it so interesting that P. metallica grow larger/faster in communal set ups. It’s possible that it’s a survival strategy to grow larger as a communal, in that each individual grows larger so as to out compete the others. There’s also another species of Coremiocnemis that is described as semi-social, in that sac mates will live with and tolerate each other, and also the mothers have been observed allowing her offspring to feed from prey that she has caught. This isn’t uncommon with our other species, though with anything other than this Coremiocnemis it seems that after about a year or two cannibalism starts occurring. Now, I’ve never experimented with communal set ups, so this is just sharing other people’s knowledge and experience.
That's awesome information! And it seems that the P. metallica will only tolerate each other until they become sexually mature. At that point, you will start getting friction. It sure could be a survival strategy! Great stuff!
@@TomsBigSpiders Indeed! Altogether though, that was really a smooth and skillful rehouse. Thanks for always providing great content. I have so much respect 4 u. 🎆
I respect the fact that an old worlds bite can be very painful, but I'm more afraid of there teleporting speed!!! I don't want to loss one, and it die. Great rehouse!!!
Loved the video they scare the life out of me on their own so a communal is like a nightmare for me but still want to do it one day! Would be really interesting if you did a video of your contingency plans! That really would be helpful to us beginners
Yeah, when I first opened the enclosure and looked in, there was a split second where I realized how difficult this COULD be. Luckily, all went well. Actually, that's a really good idea! :) Thanks, Rich!
I have two male P. metallica who're absolute demons, but my big AF is quite sweet in comparison. Nice to see that the cohabitative setup hasn't turned into a battle royale yet, though I personally don't think I'd ever risk it with a species like this. Too many stories about them being okay for a good while until they just out of nowhere murder eachother. Rehouses on my own would be a nightmare without a second pair of eyes as well. Thanks for the update and awesome video, per the usual!
That's a great point about the males being more high strung. I have not had a male yet, so I'll have to see how that goes. And hopefully, this one continues to do well. Thanks!
That communal looks incredible, years from now I hope to have one like that (maybe) lol. It looks so cool. Keep up the great work also great podcasts. Very informative, never background noise for me. It education time, like being back in school taking notes. Great stuff.
"It's like being back in school taking notes." As a teacher by trade, I LOVE that! That's pretty much the feel I'm going for! Thank you so much, Michael!
@@TomsBigSpiders it's great how informative you are with your explanations on tarantulas, it's just incredible how knowledgeable you are about the subject. But I have learned so so much you through your podcasts and videos. I have to say thank you and hope you'll still be doing this year's to come as I become a more experienced tarantula hobbiest/enthusiast.
@@ic3778 That means a ton, Micheal...thank you! I think I'm helped by the fact that I teach for a living. And I don't plan on quitting any time soon! :)
That set up is beautiful! Thank god for Billie you would have had pokies running all over you if she wasnt there. Id love you to do a care video for E. murinus "skeleton leg" i havnt found much on care for them. Ive been wanting to get one soon. But i always make sure i know the husbandry well before i get any new spoods. Been wanting one for a while and saw fear not had some super exciting so ive been trying to research as much as i can. Your videos are always super helpful on different species care. Thank you for another great video always looking forward to the next!
Hey, Stephanie! Yeah, this would probably have been a much different video were she not there. haha. And I'll get on that. I think I have some footage from mine, who turned out to be a male. If not, I can always just give you the run down! Thanks again!
Damn Tom... you made that look so easy! 😅 it's so awesome seeing all these pokeys grow together and peacefully. Just like many, Pokeys are some of my top favorite T's and I always wondered if you could communally keep different types. (Example: 3Rufilata, 3Metallica, 3Formosa) Seeing your communal thrive is awesome and I'm even more interested now with this new enclosure and their size all living communally. 🔥🤘
Ha! Thanks, Rick! I'm glad that it went well. I don't think that it works if they are not the same species unfortunately, You'd likely end up with a couple very fat spiders. :)
Hi Tom, Very nice and calm review and beautiful enclosure! Knowing how quick Poecilotheria sp. can be if they want, I was just wondering whether it would have been even more save with holes in the top to poke them out of the catch cup without unscrewing the top? I have to say it made me a bit nervous seeing you with that cup open on both sites with a fast spider in it 😉
Thanks so much, Matthias. I DID actually consider that, but I've found that with the bottles that taper to the mouth, the spiders will usually move to the most narrow part. That makes it easier to direct them right into the dark area behind the hides. But, yes...you could definitely do that as well!
FYI, with Gooties being photosensitive, I would recommend a short piece of 2" PVC pipe, with a loose fitting cap. A clear plastic OJ bottle is probably pretty terrifying for them to climb into, that's why they run up to the cap.
Hi, Dan! I use clear so that I can always see where the spider is in the catch cup. I tried using an opaque one to transport spiders back in the day, and I got surprised a couple times. And I usually use the taper of the container and the cap for just that purpose. They will bolt away from the wide end up to the cap and hide, which reduces the possibility that they'll turn around and come back at me (although one nearly did). Again, this is just how I rehouse; I always encourage people to use whatever works for them.
I totally agree with what you were saying in the beginning of the video. I feel like old worlds are definitely demonized, and it scared me away from them for a while. I'm still kind of scared of them bc of their venom potency, but I always try to be cautious when interacting with them. I now have a few old worlds in my collection, and none of them have given me any trouble. Granted they're not adults yet, but still worth the mention.
Yeah, it's gotten really bad (or maybe I'm just more sensitive to it now). So many people get completely scared away from old worlds due to all of the negative information out there about them. And that's the key...be cautious and treat them with respect. And it's best to start with slings, because you get to grow with them! You'll get to see how they change when they put on size. :)
@@TomsBigSpiders I agree with you on that, I'm on the hunt for a hanamavillasumica first so I have every poecilotheria species in the hobby and then I may have to go the metallica comunal route
Awesome video. I use the same technique to get my more defensive Ts out. If u make a small whole in the lead big enough for a pipe clean to fit in. It makes it easier to get the t out without having to keep taking that top off an on. U just have to touch them an they'll run out.
Hello! Thank you so much! I've done it that way as well. For this one, I wanted them in the narrow end so that I could get them into that dark area behind the cork bark (which would make them less likely to get spooked and to bolt while I was getting another spider). I tried it out with the large end first, and there were just too many places for the spiders to go besides right in that hole. Still, I definitely could have done it the other way and not had to worry about the cap. :) Thanks!
Great video Tom. I really like the one plant you have in the terrarium. What is the name of the plant you said was one of your favorites? The two tone plant on the left.
I’m in the process of getting my first T. A female Gooty - while it’s possible I can get a male as well at the moment, I’m not really ready to do so. I would love to breed them but my luck he would get eaten. While it’s my first T. , I do have experience caring for them quite a bit . I always wanted this particular one in a group of 5 - watching this gives me hope to some day take the plunge and do a community enclosure. Awesome content, thank you so much !
That's awesome! As for the comunity enclosure, I'm not sure that I'd do this again. On the plus side, many of them seemed to grow quite quickly...faster than the one I kept by itself. However, at about 5", one of the males went missing and I ended up splitting them up. I think that if you start with slings, it goes great until they hit young adulthood. At that point, you'll want to separate them. Good luck!
Beautiful rehouse! I have a large female I want to breed. Now that I just started my balfouri communal, I need to find a male for my p Metallica. They’re calm pokies. My buddy sold me this female and shocked me when he just simply picked her up from the enclosure. I don’t recommend it, but I did handle her multiple times. I think it’s just this specific T that’s so calm. Beautiful enclosure as well bro! Good content.
Hello, Oleg! Thanks so much! I'm glad that it went so well. My females have all been very calm, but someone just told me that their males were crazy. I'll be curious to hear if you get a male, how it acts. Thanks again!
Your manhood. Well I am guessing that your 'manhood' is physically just fine since Billie is still hanging around you AND you have kids. As far as metaphorically your 'manhood' is also just fine because you're not doing something stupid and you are respecting the Tarantulas in your care. That is also why I am re-watching you are P Metallica communal videos because I'm going to start one myself. I just ordered 6 of them from fear not. I appreciate your experience and knowledge and support of the tarantula keeping community. Thank you for everything the BOTH of you do.
Hahahaha Very good point, John! I put that in there because there is always some idiot that makes a comment like "just grab them with your hand." I figured that this time, I would just respond with the timestamp of my comment. haha And congrats on your communal! Please let me know how it goes. Thanks, and sorry for the late reply!
Well shortly after I posted this comment above I came to my senses and changed my mind about the communal. I have enough on my plate with my current Zoo. I have enough going on without adding to it.
I love how i saw your excitement/nerves. Tho picking out the lid with your hands :P. i wouldnt. But awsome work, iv modified the way of rehousing to be more like your's. And Poeci's are my favorite. I completly ignored the oldworld/newworld BS. Treat them al like old worlds and there is no diffirence. Started in May this year with 1 B. emilia that my daugher wanted. Now have 43, of wich 30 old worlds. :D (all slings/juvi's)
"Treat them all like old worlds, and there is no difference." That is is EXACTLY! You just practice good habits so you don't find yourself doing something foolish or dangerous. They are NOT the monsters people make them out to be. Most Old Worlds are terribly shy! Thank you so much!
Wooow 😱. 3month ago i hate Spiders 🕷🕸 😨. Now...........i always afraid about them, baut i begin to love some 🤗😍🕸🕷. Thank you all like you, the The Dark Den, Exotics Lair etc........thanks for your Work 🙏👍🤓😁🍾🥂
In my mind I was hearing the counting of them in the voice of the Count from Sesame Street... not going to lie though after the 3rd reminder to put the top on, I was expecting to see one running up your arm and ending up on your head =P Awesome job and you guys make a great team! A great start to a new year, cant wait to see what the rest of the year has in store for us.
Gery, that's EXACTLY what I was taunting my son with. I do The Count impersonation all of the time around here, and it drives him nuts! hahahaha. Billie and I are both laughing at this! Yeah, we almost had the head contingency. Thank God for Billie!
That's awesome! Well after watching this video, I added a Goody to round out my "Easing back into the hobby" collection (everyone needs a challenge O.o) Nhandu Chromatus is up to 2.5 inches, Grammostola Pulcha is about 1 inch (will feel like forever before it gets bigger), Chromatopelma Cyaneo is up to 1.75 inches, and we added the Poecilotheria Metallica, 1.75 inches, last night. Heee Haw, hopefully I don't end up with mine on my head!
