About substrate

[HairyPetRocks]

Tell me your substrate recipe for burrowing T's. I've used plantation soil/coco fibre but I feel that it's so ''fragile'' when it's dry.

 

[viper69]

Female virgins hand pick coconuts and shave off one piece at a time, and they grow organic moss mixing them together as they recite ancient Polynesian prayers.

 

[Mustafa67]

Tell me your substrate recipe for burrowing T's. I've used plantation soil/coco fibre but I feel that it's so ''fragile'' when it's dry.

I use only coco fibre

 

[TheraMygale]

I have brachypelma emilia and kochiana brunnipes. They have burrows. I have them in cococoir. Maybe a bit of peat moss in one.

my nhandu color is in reptisoil.

Nothing has collapsed. Yes it dries fast.


but if packed down well when moist, it will hold.

others have really elaborate recipes that work for them and have been used by other members. I know @l4nsky has a mix that i want to try one day. If you search in his threads you should find it.

The Husbandry of Moisture Dependent Slings

DISCLAIMER: This writeup is specifically for the husbandry of moisture dependent slings and I’m going to be talking about the controversial topic of *humidity*. If you would like to argue about the merits of its application or importance in the husbandry of moisture dependent species, please...

arachnoboards.com

moisture dependant burrowers, kept in modified enclosures, can have water inserted through holes in the burrow. This helps to keep it moist and not dry out to quickly.

when coco and peat dries out, its very hard to rehumidify. It can be moistened in small batches.



top is dry in this enclosure. Bottom moist. I also drop some water in the burrow. I never make it “ rain “. I use a pipette. This is for k brunnipes. She also tends to wick her water bowl. So i dont want this to get swampy.

her burrow is very stable. Shes webbed it up anyways.

Next photo, b emilia. Burrow goes all the way down, across, and diagonal. Cocofiber and peat.

You can see color change bottom Left side. I pour water in a tiny hole only in that side of enclosure. Its also where it always goes and molted.

nhandu color. Her burrow goes down, and then perpendicularly through middle. Reptisoil. I have been drying out enclosure because of mold. Its working.

i hope this can help you figure out what is best for you. Tons of info on this board about fossorials, burrows and substrate. Just takes a bit of time to read through it. But its worth it, you’ll learn extra while you search.

 

[kingshockey]

i tried mixing repti soil and coco fiber once and all it did was give me mold issues for a bit other than that i just use coco fiber with zero mold issues or burrow colapses just get it a lil damp pack it down tight and keep it wartered here and there and it stays p muticus in its 32 ounce deli cup when it was a pip squeak it had the bottom few inches hollowed out of all the coco fiber always diggin as it grew moregonna be fun once i get it into its final cage to see what it does

 

[Matt Man]

for me coco fiber, sphag, reptisoil and cheap top soil in most cases. Been pretty reliable but as @kingshockey says, you need to watch for mold

 

[Brewser]

I use dirt and mulch.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

I use top soil and coco fiber about 40:60.

 

[Hardus nameous]

My P. muticus lives in a sixty pound ten gallon tank of plain old dirt for the last six years or so. I used to mix other stuff in but mostly just use dirt anymore. It's cheap, natural and holds burrows well. It works so well most tarantulas prefer to use it in the wild too.

 

[Wolfram1]

forest dirt & potting soil (sans fertilizers)
about 50/50

some leaf litter on top and shredded leaf litter mixed into it

you really got to experiment with different mixes yourself though

 

[Sterls]

Experimented with a variety of things, but I've ended up going back to coco fiber for the most part. Usually I'll mix in some moss for appearance.

I also use Reptisoil from time to time, but like others I have had issues with mold/fungus at times.

 

[Stu Macher]

I use reptisoil and I love the stuff. Expensive though

 

[TheraMygale]

I use reptisoil and I love the stuff. Expensive though

How much does the big bag cost you?

i emailed a director at a local petshop because they sold the big bag 20$ more then a store thats an hour away. They gave me the rebate.

it was probably a one time deal thing, but its worth a try.

i have an almost unused bag. It wasnt even opened. But it ended up full of mold.

i am letting it dry out. I will see what i do with it. Its way to much money to throw away and the mold does cycle out.

i am even thinking dumping it in a giant aquarium i have in basement, and add tons of springtails and isopods and do a test: see if they cycle it out. Then use it as a culture in my enclosures.