Coco fiber

[bartulsesartic]

Would coco fiber hold a burrow while dry?

 

[viper69]

Not necessarily- esp for a large T.
Once dry it collapses pretty easily even on small Ts. I’ve seen it.

If you can’t use top soil- add in material like dry moss to give the coco more texture.

 

[The Grym Reaper]

Maybe if you packed it down solid whilst it was still damp. Tbh, topsoil does a much better job.

 

[RezonantVoid]

I completely stay away from cocofibre these days. Has almost zero structural integrity even when damp, and if mixed in with other substrates I've nearly always found it eventually grows a green mold that spreads like wildfire through my setups and is very difficult to eradicate

 

[FrmDaLeftCoast]

If the coco was wet, and you're asking if it will hold once it dries out. IMHO...yes it will hold. If in doubt, simply add some topsoil (w/no fert) into the blend.

 

[Finikan]

I am recently switching to top soil. So recently in fact, that none of mine have done any burrowing in it yet. In my experience, my Ts have webbed the coco fiber so it stays in place.

Personally, I will not be going back to Coco fiber because I hate the fluffiness.

 

[bartulsesartic]

I completely stay away from cocofibre these days. Has almost zero structural integrity even when damp, and if mixed in with other substrates I've nearly always found it eventually grows a green mold that spreads like wildfire through my setups and is very difficult to eradicate

Okay got it. Ill stay away from cocofiber and use topsoil instead

 

[Finikan]

Make sure to get top soil without pesticides or fertilizers in it. I scanned the board for recommendations before I chose mine. I'm already liking the difference, having switched about 10-15 over to top soil over the past week and a half.

 

[Dorifto]

I love coco fiber for growing mold, it makes the task much easier.


You can use topsoil for wathever enclosure you want, from arid to tropical, is the best all rounder substrate you can find. If you want a more arid or desert look, or if you want a sturdier substrate just mix it with clay and voila!

Never had any issue with it, instead, with the coco fiber I had several collapses and mold issues. I wouldn't recommend it for a heavy burrowers or buldozer like the pulchra. Also, if you want, you can add some dwarf isopods and springtails to keep it more clean and healthier. Because they thrive very good in this substrate.

 

[USNGunner]

I am recently switching to top soil. So recently in fact, that none of mine have done any burrowing in it yet. In my experience, my Ts have webbed the coco fiber so it stays in place.

Personally, I will not be going back to Coco fiber because I hate the fluffiness.

LOL. I have just done the same thing. I did mix my last brick of cocoa and a bag of peat moss into it because I already had it. But the topsoil is my new goto.

 

[spideyspinneret78]

I think it's OK for smaller spiders that prefer drier conditions. But in general I don't care for it because it gets moldy very easily. Reptisoil is what I mainly use, or even Jungle Mix at times.

 

[Dorifto]

I think it's OK for smaller spiders that prefer drier conditions. But in general I don't care for it because it gets moldy very easily. Reptisoil is what I mainly use, or even Jungle Mix at times.

They are almost 99 topsoil, some will add charcoal and others a little bit of sphagnum, but paying 20x the price of topsoil. You can make your own blends waay cheaper, and I mean waaaaaaaaaaay cheaper and usually with better results and quality.

 

[spideyspinneret78]

They are almost 99 topsoil, some will add charcoal and others a little bit of sphagnum, but paying 20x the price of topsoil. You can make your own blends waay cheaper, and I mean waaaaaaaaaaay cheaper and usually with better results and quality.

Yeah, I've thought about trying this. I'm just extremely paranoid about unwanted hitch hikers in the substrate or contaminants of some sort. Maybe I should give it a shot.

 

[Dorifto]

They use the same stuff but with fancy words, like organic, bio, chemical free etc. Check that the brand you choose is pesticide and fertilizers free and you will be fine.

You can read the composition too to know how is going to behave. With clay, more solid and sturdier substrate. With peat more loose but lighter. etc

 

[The Grym Reaper]

Yeah, I've thought about trying this. I'm just extremely paranoid about unwanted hitch hikers in the substrate or contaminants of some sort. Maybe I should give it a shot.

Just get the cheapest stuff you can find (it'll be marketed for lawn renewal or levelling/filling holes), basically all they do to it is screen it for large stones and heat treat it to kill off weeds.

 

[Finikan]

LOL. I have just done the same thing. I did mix my last brick of cocoa and a bag of peat moss into it because I already had it. But the topsoil is my new goto.

I am eager to see if my P. Muticus enjoy digging in it. They started burrowing immediately in coco fiber, but have yet to move the top soil.

 

[Liquifin]

I use topsoil and coco fiber, but I use them for separate enclosures and I don't mix substrates as it's something I don't find interest in. For anyone going to breeding or is within the breeding side of the hobby, I suggest using coco fiber for obligate burrowers. Because once top soil hardens up, it is very, very, very difficult to dig out obligate burrowing females for egg sacs. Trust me, I learned it early on. I only use topsoil for the standard terrestrials, but for most obligate burrowers, I highly suggest coco-fiber if you have any intentions of breeding them long term. It just makes the job a thousand times easier to dig out tunnels for egg sacs especially the species that dig very deep down. But it is just preferences at the end of the day.

 

[Finikan]

I use topsoil and coco fiber, but I use them for separate enclosures and I don't mix substrates as it's something I don't find interest in.

It's great seeing a different perspective on this, as I am keeping some of mine away from top soil for now. Have you also noticed the tarantulas tend to web up the coco fiber to hold a burrow?
I'm very interested in breeding, luckily, the species I'm focusing on haven't been switched to top soil yet or are not burrowers. I'll be keeping this in mind!

 

[JPG]

I always mix with another substrate for burrowing species and pure coco fiber for arid non-burrowing species.

 

[USNGunner]

Have you also noticed the tarantulas tend to web up the coco fiber to hold a burrow?

Yep. When I went to rehouse my N. Incei the entire thing came up in one webbed mass. Made that interesting.