To be absolutely clear, I am not an arachnologist. I’m a professional epidemiologist (the study of disease in humans) with a strong personal interest in arachnids. I keep tarantulas and other inverts as a hobby because I find them fascinating, widely misunderstood, and—at times—scientifically ambiguous. That ambiguity is fueled by public perception, occasional misrepresentation by some breeders and dealers, a shortage of rigorous scientific study, and a relatively small number of insular research groups. That said, there are also many outstanding breeders and retailers—far more knowledgeable than I ever expect to be—from whom I try to learn as much as possible. In addition, there are talented scientists and researchers who continue to advance the field of arachnology.

This website is meant to serve as a repository of summarized information about the tarantulas, scorpions, and centipedes we keep. The content is drawn from scientific publications, the World Spider Catalog, select breeders, retailers, hobbyist websites and forums, and our own review of geography, maps, and natural habitats. We are especially interested in where tarantulas live naturally—their micro- and macrohabitat diversity—and the surrounding culture and environments in which they occur.

Our most important species:

My wife and I are incredibly proud of our three children. Watching them grow into thoughtful, hardworking young adults has been one of the greatest joys of our lives. They each have their own strengths and interests, and seeing the way they pursue them—with curiosity, discipline, and good humor—reminds me daily how fortunate we are as parents.

Our twins are now in college, one majoring in zoology and the other in marine biology. Their love of the natural world is genuine and sustained, and it’s been inspiring to see them turn lifelong curiosity into serious study. They also happen to be the reason this tarantula and invert hobby became part of our household in the first place. Long before I was keeping spiders, they were learning, caring, researching, and asking smart questions—often teaching me along the way. This hobby has become an unexpected but welcome bridge for parent–child time, and I’m grateful for it.

Our youngest, a senior in high school, brings a different kind of energy—steady, determined, and focused. While his interests don’t revolve around arachnids, he pursue what he enjoys with real commitment, especially in the gym and when making music beats. There’s something admirable about that consistency: showing up, putting in the work, creating, and improving day by day. In their own way, each of our kids has helped shape our family’s rhythm, and I’m proud not only of what they’re doing, but of who they are becoming.

Looking ahead, this website will continue to evolve as a family project. While it began as a personal repository for my own tarantula collection and notes, the content will increasingly reflect the interests and expertise of our children. Their curiosity and hands-on experience are a big part of what sparked this hobby in the first place, and I’m excited to see how their perspectives shape where the site goes next.

One of our twins is pursuing zoology and has developed a particular fascination with centipedes. Over time, you’ll see more content that reflects that specialization—species profiles, natural history notes, husbandry observations, and thoughtful comparisons across related groups. His interests also extend to scorpions and tarantulas, which will naturally complement the existing focus of the site and broaden the scope in a way that still feels cohesive.

Our other twin is studying marine biology and brings a wonderfully diverse set of interests to the table, with a focus on isopods, beetles, and dart frogs. They also have a growing curiosity about scorpions, tarantulas, and curtain web spiders. As their work expands, so will the website—expect new sections that explore these taxa, their habitats, and the husbandry practices that support responsible, informed keeping.

And then there’s our youngest—whose talents live in a different lane entirely, but one that will add a unique personality to the site. In time, he’ll be contributing original beat mixes for featured videos, giving the media content its own signature sound. The goal is for this website to become not just a catalog of animals, but a living, creative space that reflects our family’s shared interests—science, exploration, and a little bit of style along the way.