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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Tomoran" data-source="post: 76646" data-attributes="member: 1152">This is one of the main reasons I started experimenting with soil and peat; it dries quickly, turns fluffy, and loses volume. For my burrowers, especially those requiring moisture, this became problematic. I used to have my M. balfouris on it as well, and I agree...they kept rebuilding them. They are now in a peat and soil mixture and it's been one and done with the burrows. I know many folks use coco fiber without issue; I just personally find that some of the other substrates work better for my tastes.As for vermiculite, I've used it for years mixed in with the substrate for my moisture-dependent species. I don't use it for arid enclosures. When combined with moist soil, there's no dust and it helps the water percolate into the lower layers of the substrate instead of puddling up on the top. I don't put a ton in and it still packs down very well for the burrowers. Personally, I love the stuff but get why folks shy away from it. When I got into the hobby in the 90s, it was what everyone was using (my G. porteri was on it for about 15 years). I think the asbestos insulation contamination freaked a lot of folks out, and you couldn't find the stuff for quite a while.</blockquote>