Endless Thread How the internet changed the spider trade
Oct 13, 2023
The podcast explores the impact of the digital age on the arachnid industry, from fears to fascination with spiders. It covers the emergence of websites and platforms for spider enthusiasts, the ethical implications of the spider pet trade, and the influence of the internet on collectors' desire for new spider species. The hosts also share their experiences with tarantula keeping and say goodbye to their last pet spider.
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Tarantula Purchase That Sparked A Community
- Scott and Debbie bought a tarantula named Harry at a Renaissance Fair and learned care mostly by trial and error.
- Harry's molting moment converted Debbie from terrified to fascinated and sparked their Arachnoboards project.
Niche Forums Bring Collective Expertise
- Arachnoboards grew into a dense, expert community with 90,000 members and millions of messages sharing deep husbandry knowledge.
- That concentrated expertise filled an information gap and transformed hobbyist practices across the trade.
Classifieds Opened Global Spider Trade
- Classified-style listings on Arachnoboards made exotic and juvenile tarantulas widely available by mail.
- That accessibility massively expanded collectors and demand for novel species.