What Wood Chips should you NOT use for tarantula bedding?

Corbet

Arachnopeon
Joined
Apr 16, 2003
Messages
17
Can someone tell me what kinda of wood chips you should NOT use for tarantula bedding? Or what kind works best?
 

Mendi

Arachnowolf
Old Timer
Joined
Jul 19, 2002
Messages
1,385
Don't use any wood chips with tarantulas at all is best, but if you must, make sure it is a hardwood. All evergreen trees contain a natural insecticide.

Peat moss is what most use and you'll find it in any garden store or dept., and it is likely cheaper than the wood chips you are talking about. I us it mixed with vermiculite, but some Ts once grown, are fine without it's moisture retentive qualities
 

Corbet

Arachnopeon
Joined
Apr 16, 2003
Messages
17
My father has had tarantulas in the past (Hes had about 4), and he said that peat moss would be a mess to clean up. He said he used to use fish tank gravel.
 

invertepet

Arachnolord
Old Timer
Joined
Oct 4, 2002
Messages
608
No wood chips in general, unless it's a mulch-type jungle mix (the titular version of which is rather good for large enclosures, not for small ones). Especially stay away from Pine and Cedar.

bill
 

Steve Nunn

Arachnoprince
Old Timer
Joined
Aug 30, 2002
Messages
1,781
Originally posted by Corbet
he said that peat moss would be a mess to clean up. He said he used to use fish tank gravel.
Hi Corbet,
Peat moss IS a mess to clean up, but it's the substrate of choice nowadays. Fish tank gravel used to be very popular, as your father mentioned, but it's not something that's used anymore.

Chers,
Steve
 

SpiderTwin

Arachnoangel
Old Timer
Joined
Mar 17, 2003
Messages
910
I use the shredded coconut bark for my T's, this and organic growing medium come in bricks that you soak in water to expand it and break it up. This stuff is good because it gets lighter in color as it dries out and you can see if the enclosure needs more moisture. When it's dry, it is just like dry dirt when it comes to cleaning it up. Use something like this and stay away from the wood chips and the gravel.
 
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