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What's your "best" substrate for tarantula keeping?
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<blockquote data-quote="octanejunkie" data-source="post: 193877" data-attributes="member: 3872"><p>For what it's worth, here is what I do</p><p></p><p>I dehydrate coco coir bricks, I purchase the two following one(s) from Amazon</p><p></p><p>Zoo Med Eco Earth <strong>Loose</strong> Coconut Fiber Substrate, 8 Quarts</p><p>- CHEAPER than same brand bricks by weight</p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00167VVP4/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00167VVP4/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20</a></p><p></p><p>Zilla Reptile Terrarium Bedding Substrate Coconut Husk Brick</p><p>- first time purchase, cheaper than the "other brand" by weight</p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001F9COL8/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001F9COL8/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20</a></p><p></p><p>I hydrate as recommended and use a 5-gallon bucket for this. If I make it too wet, i then let it dry back out some by leaving the bucket open for a few days, covered with an old t-shirt so bugs don't roost in it, stirring it once to twice a day. It's easier not to over moisten, believe me.</p><p></p><p>Before using, I mix the dehydrated coco coir 1:1 with peat moss. I like this one, a lot, also from Amazon</p><p></p><p>Hoffman 15503 Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss, 10 Quarts</p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000CBITW/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000CBITW/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20</a></p><p></p><p>I leave it in the bucket with the lid loosely on top, allowing the substrate to naturally dry out over time and re-moisten as necessary or before use.</p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 18px"><em>But that's just the beginning</em></span></p><p></p><p>For some species Ts I add vermiculite if more moisture is required. For other species I add <s>clean dry play sand, from Home Depot or similar.</s> leaf litter, charcoal or organic wood mulch* if I am setting up a biometric enclosure.</p><p></p><p><em>*make sure any woods you use are free of insecticidal toxins, avoid pine, cedar and any wood saps.</em></p><p></p><p>EDIT : sand will scratch plastic and glass enclosures, I <s>use it less and less frequently</s> stopped using sand.</p><p></p><p><strong>Honestly, just mixing the coco coir (fiber) and peat moss equally is pretty much all I use these days for most of my tarantula enclosures. It holds moisture well, doesn't mold and Ts can dig in it and the burrows hold shape.</strong></p><p></p><p>Sometimes, I just use the peat moss. It is MOLD RESISTANT and dark in color, offering natural feel, good odor, no strings and holds moisture better than coir alone.</p><p></p><p>Tom Moran ([USER=1152]@Tomoran[/USER]) turned me on to the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kc8ydOa_rMo" target="_blank">peat moss/coir mix in this video</a> and it's been a blessing!</p><p></p><p>As always, I <strong>pack my substrate down firmly</strong> to simulate "terra firma" lol so I have all of this stuff on Subscribe and Save with Amazon</p><p></p><p>What do y'all do?</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="octanejunkie, post: 193877, member: 3872"] For what it's worth, here is what I do I dehydrate coco coir bricks, I purchase the two following one(s) from Amazon Zoo Med Eco Earth [B]Loose[/B] Coconut Fiber Substrate, 8 Quarts - CHEAPER than same brand bricks by weight [URL]https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00167VVP4/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20[/URL] Zilla Reptile Terrarium Bedding Substrate Coconut Husk Brick - first time purchase, cheaper than the "other brand" by weight [URL]https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001F9COL8/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20[/URL] I hydrate as recommended and use a 5-gallon bucket for this. If I make it too wet, i then let it dry back out some by leaving the bucket open for a few days, covered with an old t-shirt so bugs don't roost in it, stirring it once to twice a day. It's easier not to over moisten, believe me. Before using, I mix the dehydrated coco coir 1:1 with peat moss. I like this one, a lot, also from Amazon Hoffman 15503 Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss, 10 Quarts [URL]https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000CBITW/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20[/URL] I leave it in the bucket with the lid loosely on top, allowing the substrate to naturally dry out over time and re-moisten as necessary or before use. [SIZE=5][I]But that's just the beginning[/I][/SIZE] For some species Ts I add vermiculite if more moisture is required. For other species I add [S]clean dry play sand, from Home Depot or similar.[/S] leaf litter, charcoal or organic wood mulch* if I am setting up a biometric enclosure. [I]*make sure any woods you use are free of insecticidal toxins, avoid pine, cedar and any wood saps.[/I] EDIT : sand will scratch plastic and glass enclosures, I [S]use it less and less frequently[/S] stopped using sand. [B]Honestly, just mixing the coco coir (fiber) and peat moss equally is pretty much all I use these days for most of my tarantula enclosures. It holds moisture well, doesn't mold and Ts can dig in it and the burrows hold shape.[/B] Sometimes, I just use the peat moss. It is MOLD RESISTANT and dark in color, offering natural feel, good odor, no strings and holds moisture better than coir alone. Tom Moran ([USER=1152]@Tomoran[/USER]) turned me on to the [URL='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kc8ydOa_rMo']peat moss/coir mix in this video[/URL] and it's been a blessing! As always, I [B]pack my substrate down firmly[/B] to simulate "terra firma" lol so I have all of this stuff on Subscribe and Save with Amazon What do y'all do? [/QUOTE]
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What's your "best" substrate for tarantula keeping?
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