Beginner 2.0

[Snakecharm]

Sort of... lol. So I used to have a thundering herd of fuzzies, but for a number of reasons got completely out of exotics for about the last 2-3 years. Well, somehow I came home from a reptile show over the weekend with a RCF rosie and an A. hentzi. (And a tub of discoids.)

So, set these guys up in 5.5 gallon Sterilites. But I'm having second thoughts about my choice of substrate. I used to be able to pick up a small bag of peat moss at Walmart more than sufficient to set up a number of small enclosures. Unfortunately, this time of year that doesn't seem to be the case. Hunted around, couldn't find a decent price on coco bedding either. (That, and I dreaded dealing with expanding and drying it out.) They had a small bag of peat at Lowes, but the damned stuff had some sort of plant food mixed in and I wasn't taking the chance of it being harmful.

What I did find was a nice, small, cheap bag of 100% vermiculite, and I had a clear memory of someone saying they used it and preferred it. Well, now that I have the bugs bedded down in the stuff, I can't find any references on here to back up that idea.

Anyway, my question to those less rusty than I is can I leave them on it or do I need to continue my search for some peat to mix in with it?

Thanks in advance~!

 

[WARPIG]

Welcome back (first and foremost:})

When I first got in the hobby, a number of folks posted they used the stuff, but you know, over the last four years, I haven't seen anyone post that they use the stuff straight or at all anymore.

I would say it would be ok, but, IMO I would look for a small bag of peat (peat tends to come in large bags) or a small bag of organic dirt.

I'm not big into eco/coconut husk products.

But again, I don't think that it will hburt them in the short run.

GL

PIG-

 

[Bill S]

I haven't used vermiculite for tarantulas, but I've used it for hatching snake eggs. From what I remember, it clings to everything. In my mind I can picture a burrowing tarantula coated with tiny particles of vermiculite. But, as I said, I haven't tried it myself, so maybe someone else can offer a different perspective.

Drying the coco fiber isn't difficult. Don't oversoak it to begin with, let it expand overnight, keep it warm and dry (and loose) after that.

 

[Snakecharm]

Thanks guys. I think I will definitely keep my eye out for some peat and see if we can't achieve more of a 50/50 mix~