is vermiculite still popular in the US? It was ditched a long time ago in the UK in favour of coco fibre (coir).
I have had Ts on vermiculite that can react badly and it is also a medium that can get really dusty.
In its defense, it is light, non toxic usually and has good moisture retention qualities but personally I dont use it anymore, not even in a mix.
Just an observation. I am not saying it is wrong, just curious about its popularity in other parts of the world
The L parahybana’s abdomen isn’t dehydrated or moldy—she started getting the checker marks early on -we’ve had her since a spiderling. She started with one mark and then every time she molts she gets more.
Straight vermiculite can, according to some sources, cause irritation to terrestrial species. It's fine to use with arboreal species because they don't touch it as well as a bottom layer.
Even a tiny bit of vermiculite mixed into substrate at the surface will literally drive my L klugi up one wall and down the other one....over & over again.
Girl knows her stuffThe L. parahybana's abdomen appears to be of an okay size for the species but also appears wrinkled like a raisin somewhat.....usually consistent with dehydration. I'm not saying she is....I'm just wondering why she looks that way. The only time I've seen white spots on a tarantulas abdomen like that is from a type of mold/fungus that grows on them.... I could be wrong.