soil for H. lividum

[Black Dave]

Hi all, does anyone know if I can use vermiculite as a soil for an adoult cobalt blue? 10x

 

[becca81]

You *can,* but I really recommend something that is a little more sturdy, such as peat moss, to allow it to make a strong burrow. I personally use 50/50 peat moss / vermaculite in most of my tanks with success.

 

[Mike H.]

you can use some peat and mix in some soil or black earth...


Regards, Mike

 

[Black Dave]

Thanks
thats what I will do... It just that I wanted a brighter soil ..

 

[Pennywise]

I guess it will work

Mine has pure peat moss about 5" deep. They quickly dig themselves out of
sight, reinforcing the walls with silk as they go. After that you might have
to get up at 3:00 am if you want to see it.

 

[TheNatural]

white sand + vermiculite + earth you will have a brighter substrate.
1/3 of each.

 

[odinn7]

Mine has pure peat moss about 5" deep. They quickly dig themselves out of
sight, reinforcing the walls with silk as they go. After that you might have
to get up at 3:00 am if you want to see it.

I agree with that. Mine has made a wonderful hole and it's all re-inforced with webbing. It's a wonderful hole that I get to look at all the time. I don't even know what she looks like anymore.

 

[Vys]

I agree with that. Mine has made a wonderful hole and it's all re-inforced with webbing. It's a wonderful hole that I get to look at all the time. I don't even know what she looks like anymore.

I was just beginning to wonder whether I was reading sarcasm after that second sentence, haha.

Pre-burrowing a burrow (against a side of the tank) is always a good idea, even if it doesn't always work. Provided you keep the terrarium rather dark, they won't web it to total opaqueness in most cases.

As for the question at hand: Chances are the lividum would think it rather iffy to construct burrows in dry 100% vermiculite, which moves around as soon as they move. If you make it damp though, it would be a little easer, and perhaps you could even pre-create a burrow that it would use that way.

 

[Meribre]

Hi everyone!
I'm using 3/4 potting soil plus 1/4 sand as suggested by Volker von Wirth / Martin Huber. As H. lividum lives in deep holes in nature, I keep them in tall containers where they have sufficient space downwards.

Cheers - Mario.

 

[joe8421]

i make the soil of my H.lividum this way
20/100 white sand and 80/100 peat well mixed to make my subs brighter

 

[Mattyb]

I use 100% peat moss in all my tanks with success. My cobalt made a very nice burrow out of the peat moss.


-Matty