Baking cocofiber in aluminum tray??

[Cecil]

So I’m baking some rehydrated cocofiber just to have some substrate on hand that (hopefully) won’t mold. It’s in one of those disposable aluminum pans I got from Dollar Tree. I have two questions: I’m baking it at 225°F how long do you think it’ll take to fully dry? The layer is about 5” thick with a hole dug in the middle. Also, I’m worried about toxins from the aluminum seeping into the substrate because of the heat. I don’t know anything about chemistry or the toxicity levels of aluminum and its effects on Ts. Does anyone have any advice? Do I have anything to worry about? Thank you!

 

[TownesVanZandt]

Why would you bake the substrate? If anything you will just create conditions more favourable to mould.

 

[Cecil]

Why would you bake the substrate? If anything you will just create conditions more favourable to mould.

I was thinking the lack of moisture will prevent mold and fungus from growing since I’m just keeping it in a big bin and won’t be using it for a while. Am I wrong to do it this way??

 

[TownesVanZandt]

I was thinking the lack of moisture will prevent mold and fungus from growing since I’m just keeping it in a big bin and won’t be using it for a while. Am I wrong to do it this way??

Just let it dry out on its own and rehydrate it when you need it. There is no need to bake it

 

[Mirandarachnid]

I was thinking the lack of moisture will prevent mold and fungus from growing since I’m just keeping it in a big bin and won’t be using it for a while. Am I wrong to do it this way??

When you bake it you are sterilizing it, which means if mold spores come into contact with it, there will be no competition and it will grow like crazy.

If you're keeping it in a big bin, just thoroughly mix it every week or two, that could help air it out and prevent mold. You could also just throw some springtails in it. They'll keep the mold down while the extra sub is moist.

As far as chemicals from the aluminum, there could be something nasty if it has a non-stick coating. But, you're supposed to cook food in it to eat, so I can't imagine it's too bad. Although, what is toxic to T's may not be to us, I personally wouldn't risk it.

 

[Cecil]

When you bake it you are sterilizing it, which means if mold spores come into contact with it, there will be no competition and it will grow like crazy.

If you're keeping it in a big bin, just thoroughly mix it every week or two, that could help air it out and prevent mold. You could also just throw some springtails in it. They'll keep the mold down while the extra sub is moist.

As far as chemicals from the aluminum, there could be something nasty if it has a non-stick coating. But, you're supposed to cook food in it to eat, so I can't imagine it's too bad. Although, what is toxic to T's may not be to us, I personally wouldn't risk it.

I’ve heard about isopods munching on a molting tarantula so I’m hesitant about using those, but I haven’t heard anything about springtails doing that. Does anyone know if springtails could be harmful to a tarantula at any time?

 

[chelicerate]

I’ve heard about isopods munching on a molting tarantula so I’m hesitant about using those, but I haven’t heard anything about springtails doing that. Does anyone know if springtails could be harmful to a tarantula at any time?

No, springtails are never harmful for a tarantula.

 

[Mirandarachnid]

I’ve heard about isopods munching on a molting tarantula so I’m hesitant about using those, but I haven’t heard anything about springtails doing that. Does anyone know if springtails could be harmful to a tarantula at any time?

Springtails are no problem.

But never.

ever

ever

ever

TRUST AN ISOPOD

 

[Vanisher]

I’ve heard about isopods munching on a molting tarantula so I’m hesitant about using those, but I haven’t heard anything about springtails doing that. Does anyone know if springtails could be harmful to a tarantula at any time?

Yes, there are no point in baking the substrate. As said, you get more problems with things you wanted to kill in the first place, like mold, fungus and mites later on. Best thing is to let it air dry!

 

[T Lurksalot]

I bake all my coco fiber (I buy the zoo med eco earth bags) in exactly that way, I’m careful to wash the pan out thoroughly first though. The plain aluminum turkey pan types are safe and have nothing toxic. I’ve never had mold, mites, or fungus in any enclosure.

I did once open a fresh bag though that had some sort of flies emerge that were presumably laid there as eggs, you never know what might be living in it from the factory. After seeing that I was pretty glad I’ve been baking it since day one, I’m actually pretty surprised seeing the resistance here from others to sterilizing it.

225 is probably too high though, I once had a pan start smoldering at 250 and ended up having to trash it. Never leave it unattended in an oven, this stuff lights up easy when dry and can be a big fire hazard if you’re not careful. I bake mine between 175-200 for 2 hours, stirring it after the first hour. That’s more than hot enough to sterilize and it usually comes out bone dry.

 

[EtienneN]

As others, have stated. There is more headache than help in trying to "sterilise" eco-earth. You are in affect, having the opposite effect when you put substrate that is wiped clean of microflora/microfauna. The tarantula and air particles in your spider room ARE NOT STERILE. Ergo, when you put sterilised dirt in there it leads to a mould explosion pretty frequently, which often frustrates/freaks out owners who are afraid of the mould, even though 99% of it is harmless. It's better just to skip the sterilisation process in the first place.

 

[T Lurksalot]

So the consensus here seems to be that baking eco earth leads to greater mold problems later, yet my experience has been exactly the opposite. If anyone here has actually cooked their substrate and noticed this problem first hand please chime in, I’m curious to know how common this is!

 

[Willa]

Bakes easy. I do a thin layer because it is very resistant to letting go of that water. I mix a lot, keep it about 250. Haven't had an issue with mold yet and I keep it both bone dry and pretty moist.

 

[RezonantVoid]

I have had massive and seemingly spontaneous mite and mold outbreaks from baked substrate so I never do it anymore

 

[Paul1126]

I bet baking substrate is also a wee bit smelly

 

[Willa]

I bet baking substrate is also a wee bit smelly

It smells somewhat like mild clothes detergent. Not unpleasant, but also not what you want your house smelling like.

 

[Cecil]

It smells somewhat like mild clothes detergent. Not unpleasant, but also not what you want your house smelling like.

I like how it smells lmao

 

[viper69]

So I’m baking some rehydrated cocofiber just to have some substrate on hand that (hopefully) won’t mold. It’s in one of those disposable aluminum pans I got from Dollar Tree. I have two questions: I’m baking it at 225°F how long do you think it’ll take to fully dry? The layer is about 5” thick with a hole dug in the middle. Also, I’m worried about toxins from the aluminum seeping into the substrate because of the heat. I don’t know anything about chemistry or the toxicity levels of aluminum and its effects on Ts. Does anyone have any advice? Do I have anything to worry about? Thank you!

At 225, and that deep, it will literally take over a week.

I find it odd you are quite worried and considering doing this at the same time haha

You could mix with less water instead and not worry about drying.

 

[Cecil]

At 225, and that deep, it will literally take over a week.

I find it odd you are quite worried and considering doing this at the same time haha

You could mix with less water instead and not worry about drying.

Yeeeaaah it wasn’t until a few minutes after putting it in that the thought crossed my mind about the aluminum toxicity thing. By then it was too late to do anything As I had already done the potential damage heheheh

 

[viper69]

Yeeeaaah it wasn’t until a few minutes after putting it in that the thought crossed my mind about the aluminum toxicity thing. By then it was too late to do anything As I had already done the potential damage heheheh

Again, I don't see any logic being used here. You have a toxicity concern, you have the material in the oven. What is possibly too late??

It's too late to throw it out?

If one is really concerned about the animal in one's care, and values its life beyond the cost of replacement etc, then one simply takes the material in question, throws it out and starts new. This isn't rocket science, and substrate isn't expensive at all.

However, if one doesn't care, then if something were to happen to your cherished pet, it will suffer from one's lack of caring. There's really no reason for such an outcome to happen at all. Unless an owner doesn't care. If so, why bother own a living animal, just get a rock.