Potting mix question

[SpiderJoe]

HI,

I now have a peat mix for my tarantula's bit it's very darkish and I would like something on top, I would like to use reptibark but I heard it wasn't good for my spiders. So I'm planning to use some coco-peat. Anyone more info on this?

Greetz
Joey

 

[MatthewBerfield]

I use potting soil with peat moss already mixed in, its dark, prolly just like yours, i don't have anything on top other than a safe shelter, and a tree limb for them to climb on....

 

[MatthewBerfield]

oh and of course the water dish...

 

[SpiderJoe]

I just wanted to make the enclosure more colorfull but hey, if it's good why mes with it

Tnx,
Greetz Joey

 

[eksong]

You could always use a little bit of moss.

 

[SpiderJoe]

of course...
why didn't I think of that in the first place tnx!

Greetz
Joe

 

[MatthewBerfield]

if you want to make it more colorful then maybe you can put some fake fish tank things in there like seedweed, or like little plants....unless the plastic will hurt the T's which i doubt it will....

 

[madox]

Hi,

I use coco peat.
It is good, moisture keeps long and it less grows mouldy

 

[eksong]

When you say coco-peat, do you mean the expandable brick bedding made, at least partially, from coconut husks?

If so, I'd recommend it. Once the top layer dries out, you're left with a very natural looking and texture variable substrate. It has good drainage, which is nice if you're actually using live moss, and my spiders dig easily in it. To maintain humidity, I just make sure the sub-surface layers stay moist (I pour in water about once every 2-3 weeks for my slings). Did I also mention that it has a nice earthy smell as well?

The one thing to watch out for is mold. I have had one occurrence of mold infestation (not patches, but a huge lawn of mold), I think my whole apartment may have been swimming in a spore bloom at the time, though.

Hope this helps,
Eric

 

[SpiderJoe]

Hi,

Do you have made the substrate completely out of the coco-peat stuff?
I thought you always have to use peat, I once used only repti bark but some people came down on me like a ton of bricks telling me that it does not work for tarantula's. Anyway, I first used repti brak as ''topping'' on the peat mix, but the coco-stuff sounds more apealing.

Greetz
Joey