Replaced substrate with reptisoil, felt a bit itchy to me - is this normal for Reptisoil?

[poodude289]

I really hope I didn't just essentially rehouse my T just to find out it's too itchy for it and starts climbing the walls.

 

[Ratmosphere]

It might stress the T out for a bit, mainly because it's brand new substrate. Why did you replace it?

 

[poodude289]

It might stress the T out for a bit, mainly because it's brand new substrate. Why did you replace it?

I didn't like the loose coco fiber and I didn't like the sphagnum peat moss substrate. The sphagnum peat moss substrate was moist all the way through and I couldn't tell if it was becoming moist or not from my syringe. It had been several months and there was no change. I was getting quite a few mold issues, and I didn't like the loose coco fiber because it had a bunch of things sticking out of it.

With this other substrate, I like the look of it more, and I can easily tell if the corner is moist or not. Also, the other substrate had become so compacted that I couldn't properly push down with the end of brushes or straws to create channels for a moist corner. I just decided I wanted to start new now that I had better experience.

 

[poodude289]

It also gave me the opportunity to make its hide better, instead of just flat on the substrate, I dug downward and placed the cork on a slant upwards. Now it has more room for molting, etc.

 

[poodude289]

I made sure to take the long sticks out, now there is just some small pieces of bark around.

 

[poodude289]

I also wanted to remove a bit of substrate because I felt there was a bit too much.

 

[Ratmosphere]

Nice! I hope it all works out for you. Let us know how the tarantula adjusts to its new environment.

 

[Le_kelscifer]

I really hope I didn't just essentially rehouse my T just to find out it's too itchy for it and starts climbing the walls.

I use reptisoil mixed with coco fiber. The reptisoil does have quite a bit of splintering in it. Even with my geckos, if I mess around in it and get almost small like hairs stuck in my skin. It also has a tendency to get really dry on top and create a harder outer crust. So, there's that.

 

[poodude289]

I use reptisoil mixed with coco fiber. The reptisoil does have quite a bit of splintering in it. Even with my geckos, if I mess around in it and get almost small like hairs stuck in my skin. It also has a tendency to get really dry on top and create a harder outer crust. So, there's that.

My Tarantula appears to be unbothered by it, went into its new hide and hasn't been climbing walls.