Coco fiber?

[0311usmc]

First time hearing that coco fiber dosent hold up to burrowing tarantulas. Let me tell you it in fact does. You have to add it in layers, pack it down and add another layer till you get the height you want. "Coco fiber tends to collapse in deep burrows", get the hell out of here with those lies. I use coco fiber and keep mainly obligated burrowers and i have NEVER seen a collapsed burrow in the 10 plus years keeping fossorials. I could blow this thread up with photos of obligated burrowers living in 100% straight coco fiber with no issues or collapses at all.

 

[ErinM31]

First time hearing that coco fiber dosent hold up to burrowing tarantulas. Let me tell you it in fact does. You have to add it in layers, pack it down and add another layer till you get the height you want. "Coco fiber tends to collapse in deep burrows", get the hell out of here with those lies. I use coco fiber and keep mainly obligated burrowers and i have NEVER seen a collapsed burrow in the 10 plus years keeping fossorials. I could blow this thread up with photos of obligated burrowers living in 100% straight coco fiber with no issues or collapses at all.

Maybe it depends on the species and how much they web to further reinforce the burrow? I tried what you describe, packing the coir down, but I was doing it with relatively dry coir so it may not have been packed enough.

 

[14pokies]

Maybe they don’t use it because of the environmental impact caused by palm plantations and manufacturing.

 

[Matts inverts]

Isn’t coco choir way more sustainable than peat or other dirt collected in a forest area. Choir is just the outside of the coconut nobody really wants so they turned the fiber into liner and the choir into soil or substrate

 

[The Grym Reaper]

I can't stand the stuff personally, it doesn't hold a burrow very well unless you soak it and then compress the hell out of it, if you use it in dry enclosures it just becomes loose on the surface (and tarantulas aren't that fond of walking on loose fibres), it's a magnet for various types of mould, it looks terrible, and literally every batch I've ever gotten has had bits of plastic/screws/sharp stones/seeds in it.

Switched to a topsoil/sedge peat/fine vermiculite mix years ago and haven't looked back since.

 

[ConstantSorrow]

I use the coconut coir because it's easy to come by and I haven't had any issues. My Aphonopelmas have made some truly impressive burrows in that stuff and if I get some mold, I add springtails. I find the smell of it oddly pleasant and it's easier on the environment than peat.
For dry enclosures I put some sphagnum moss on top and for moister enclosures, I put a layer of sphagnum in the middle of the substrate.
I haven't had a reason to switch to anything else.

 

[Smotzer]

I dont know why people are not using it as a matter of fact in your videos, it only really comes down to preferance as far as I am aware. I personally do not like it its too fluffy and molds easily, I prefer peat cause I use it for plants and T substrate. I did recenetly use peat and excavator clay and other stuff to make up a Scolopendra heros substrate, and I liked it a lot so I will be using some of it on a moisture dependent burrowing tarantula in the future to try out.

 

[MeekoTheKidd]

Maybe they don’t use it because of the environmental impact caused by palm plantations and manufacturing.

Holding creatures against their will doesn’t bother them, haha? Lol cuz I mean that’s basically what we do.

 

[Venom Man]

I use coco fiber alot and don't have any problems i guess some people don't like it because it does not hold up well for burrowing species I like it because it keeps moisture well.

 

[Neonblizzard]

I can't stand the stuff personally, it doesn't hold a burrow very well unless you soak it and then compress the hell out of it, if you use it in dry enclosures it just becomes loose on the surface (and tarantulas aren't that fond of walking on loose fibres), it's a magnet for various types of mould, it looks terrible, and literally every batch I've ever gotten has had bits of plastic/screws/sharp stones/seeds in it.

Switched to a topsoil/sedge peat/fine vermiculite mix years ago and haven't looked back since.

I've noticed bits of plastic and random debris in my coco fiber too! I have some of my dry species on it and it seems OK, but i would like to try and move to top soil if i can find a brand I'm not scared of

 

[The Grym Reaper]

I've noticed bits of plastic and random debris in my coco fiber too! I have some of my dry species on it and it seems OK, but i would like to try and move to top soil if i can find a brand I'm not scared of

I've used Westland for years and not had any issues with it, you can pick up a 35L bag for about £3 or so in B&M or Wickes if you have one nearby.

 

[Neonblizzard]

I've used Westland for years and not had any issues with it, you can pick up a 35L bag for about £3 or so in B&M or Wickes if you have one nearby.

Thanks very much for the tip! Forgot there's uk spider friends here

 

[LucN]

In my 2nd year of T keeping, my then 2-2.5" B. boehmei had a burrow for herself that went to the bottom of her cage. Coco fibre was dry and it held nicely. Nowadays, none of my Ts burrow, they do shove a little bit of sub here and there. It's a bit loose on the edges, but it doesn't seem to bother them. I've only used this as substrate and never had issues.

 

[14pokies]

Holding creatures against their will doesn’t bother them, haha? Lol cuz I mean that’s basically what we do.

Bro, bro, bro you expect humans to make sense.. Nahh.. Look at all the people that go to BK or McDonald’s order a bunch of trash and then order a Diet Coke or Look at the new EPA rules on street cars, can’t mod them to be driven on track or tune them in a way that might bypass or increase certain emissions, adding larger injectors,forced air,hot cam, heavy valve springs and lifters. Now your car is sucking in more air and fuel and creating more exhaust so your four banger is now putting out the emissions of a OEM 6cyl. It’s clean air but not the amount your car is supposed to make so your basically in violation of the law.each fine is 10k + Meanwhile one of there yachts spews more diesel fumes in a weekend than my street car will in it’s entire life and they get to preach to and penalize us. So yea look at everything like a greedy,borderline psychopathic child and the whole world will make sence and your life will improve. Trust me.. See watch this..

 

[spideyspinneret78]

I think it works fine, except when you have moisture dependent species. I've noticed that it tends to grow mold faster than other substrates I've used for species like T. stirmi, Asian fossorial species, etc. I really like Repti Soil for those environments, but for other spiders I have no issue with coco fiber.

 

[RevS]

It's okey-ish substrate without any major issues. I started experimenting with mixtures after about a year due to:
1. Dry coco-fiber = collapsing burrow.
2. It starts going back to brick with "age".
3. Tried adding some live plants and they didn't do well on coco fiber.

Tried two mixtures so far.
Coco fiber with some fine sand - looks good, seems to hold burrows well but none of the spiders wanted to dig much in it for some reason. Didn't even try with plants. Scrapped the idea.
Coco fiber with topsoil - looks good so far. Spiders like digging in it. I didn't see any clumps forming and the burrows are holding well. Plants stay alive.

I had no mold outbreaks so far with any of the above.

 

[MeekoTheKidd]

Bro, bro, bro you expect humans to make sense.. Nahh.. Look at all the people that go to BK or McDonald’s order a bunch of trash and then order a Diet Coke or Look at the new EPA rules on street cars, can’t mod them to be driven on track or tune them in a way that might bypass or increase certain emissions, adding larger injectors,forced air,hot cam, heavy valve springs and lifters. Now your car is sucking in more air and fuel and creating more exhaust so your four banger is now putting out the emissions of a OEM 6cyl. It’s clean air but not the amount your car is supposed to make so your basically in violation of the law.each fine is 10k + Meanwhile one of there yachts spews more diesel fumes in a weekend than my street car will in it’s entire life and they get to preach to and penalize us. So yea look at everything like a greedy,borderline psychopathic child and the whole world will make sence and your life will improve. Trust me.. See watch this..

Hahaha! True!

 

[Edan bandoot]

On the topic of finding debris in the coco fiber, mine comes with random pieces of quartz in it.

Someone's trying to convert my spiders into spiritual healers I figure.

 

[Wolfram1]

I prefer using dirt straight from my local forest. Its very silica heavy and contains lots of life.

nothing against cocofibre but i just dont like it

I dont own any fossorial species so i havent tested it with them but as long as its bottom layers are kept slightly moist they can dig tunnels that hold up well. if it dries out completely it gets hard as a brick though...

love the mushrooms that grow on the moist side from time to time when i water it


that said adding other organisms is a risk, but one i am personally willing to take