Coconut fibre substrate question

[forfun]

Hey,

Ive been using coconut fibre from exo terra most of the times. All my current tarentulas want dry substrate so ive been breaking it up by hand for them which was kinda annoying, haha

Now i tried to put coconut fibre in water just to dilute the brick, it was fast and super easy. But im kinda afraid that mold will build up. I have the moist/damp coconut fibre in a open plastic container. How long does it take for the substrate to dry out? Maybe i could put it in oven ?

Thankful for suggestions! How you do it or whatever

 

[Devin B]

Ive always used water to break up the brick of coco fiber and I've never had a mold problem. It usually takes mine about a week to dry out. However if you still are worried you can put the wet substrate into the oven for a bit to dry it out.

 

[forfun]

Ive always used water to break up the brick of coco fiber and I've never had a mold problem. It usually takes mine about a week to dry out. However if you still are worried you can put the wet substrate into the oven for a bit to dry it out.

Good to hear then i dont have to worry about mold building up! It was such a relief to break it up with water lol

 

[Trenor]

I usually mix up a few bricks at the time. I add water in slowly and usually only use as much as it takes to soften up the brick. I then mix it with dark sand and topsoil till it's how I like it. If the sub in the bin is so dry it wont pack I add a bit of water to some till it packs well. When I say packs well I mean when you squeeze a hand full in a tight fist it holds it's shape without dripping water. I add it in and let the rest dry out if the species has to have bone dry substrate. Most species don't need substrate that dry and are fine with moist as long as it isn't soggy.

I've not had a lot of trouble with mold unless the substrate is kept really wet.

 

[forfun]

I usually mix up a few bricks at the time. I add water in slowly and usually only use as much as it takes to soften up the brick. I think mix it with dark sand and topsoil till it's how I like it. If the sub in the bin is so dry it wont pack I add a bit of water to some till it packs well. When I say packs well I mean when you squeeze a hand full in a tight fist it holds it's shape without dripping water. I add it in and let the rest dry out if the species has to have bone dry substrate. Most species don't need substrate that dry and are fine with moist as long as it isn't soggy.

I've not had a lot of trouble with mold unless the substrate is kept really wet.

I actually just did that and this may be the best way to do it to avoid too much water content into the substrate. I put it in a plastic container and poured warm water slowly and worked it up with my hands Thanks for ur suggestion

 

[viper69]

Hey,

Ive been using coconut fibre from exo terra most of the times. All my current tarentulas want dry substrate so ive been breaking it up by hand for them which was kinda annoying, haha

Now i tried to put coconut fibre in water just to dilute the brick, it was fast and super easy. But im kinda afraid that mold will build up. I have the moist/damp coconut fibre in a open plastic container. How long does it take for the substrate to dry out? Maybe i could put it in oven ?

Thankful for suggestions! How you do it or whatever

It takes centuries to dry out when it leaves a bucket of water. I drop mine onto a pan and into the oven at about 175C or warmer if I'm impatient.

 

[SchubertHelm]

Everybody has already covered your question but in regards to the brand of coco fibre you buy I would suggest getting coco fibre from a hardware store or garden centre. The bricks sold at these locations are significantly cheaper and provide a much larger yield when expanded. You'll save a lot of money.

 

[Red Eunice]

Here's how mine is dried, 40 lb. bag of topsoil (best substrate), the sun does the work.

 

[Moakmeister]

You can just buy a bag of the stuff. Like this

 

[darkness975]

I buy the bags , already expanded and dry. No messing with bricks and water.

 

[edesign]

I buy the bags , already expanded and dry. No messing with bricks and water.

But so expensive compared to the three pack bricks vs the volume you get I've found if I just prep a bit ahead of time it's not so bad to moisten the bricks (out of habit I use hot water to soak it, dribble it on slowly for max absorption before the water pools in the mixing container, and wait an hour or two, break up by hand, add more water if necessary, come back in another hour or two and finish hand mixing/stirring) and work out about how much water you need per brick. Hardest part, for me, is remembering that I have some drying and I find it bone dry lol. At least at that point it rehydrates a bit quicker with some added water I have been very tempted to buy the bags when I was in a rush though.

Everybody has already covered your question but in regards to the brand of coco fibre you buy I would suggest getting coco fibre from a hardware store or garden centre. The bricks sold at these locations are significantly cheaper and provide a much larger yield when expanded. You'll save a lot of money.

Maybe a dumb question but is the consistency the same? I've considered doing just what you've suggested but wondered if it was more fibrous. Sometimes the bricks I buy vary in quality too.

 

[SchubertHelm]

But so expensive compared to the three pack bricks vs the volume you get I've found if I just prep a bit ahead of time it's not so bad to moisten the bricks (out of habit I use hot water to soak it, dribble it on slowly for max absorption before the water pools in the mixing container, and wait an hour or two, break up by hand, add more water if necessary, come back in another hour or two and finish hand mixing/stirring) and work out about how much water you need per brick. Hardest part, for me, is remembering that I have some drying and I find it bone dry lol. At least at that point it rehydrates a bit quicker with some added water I have been very tempted to buy the bags when I was in a rush though.



Maybe a dumb question but is the consistency the same? I've considered doing just what you've suggested but wondered if it was more fibrous. Sometimes the bricks I buy vary in quality too.

Not a dumb question at all. I can't really confirm the quality of other brands as I only buy one brand that I find at my local hardware store in Ontario, Canada but I havent noticed any differences between said brand and Eco earth. To answer your question, no, the fibres when broken up are no different than the fibres in Eco earth bricks. I'm not sure where Eco earth coco fibre comes from or how it is stored but I can't imagine the methods used differ very much from the hardware store brands to make it a superior product in regard to contaminants. I haven't experienced any increase in mold issues or decrease in Tarantula health in the two years I've used a hardware store brand after switching from about a year of Eco earth use. The main tarantula dealer in Canada called Tarantula Canada uses hardware store brands for their T enclosures as well and even recommend its use on their website.

 

[edesign]

Thank you sir! I'll give it a shot. I've got a few hardware and gardening stores near me to check.

 

[Ellenantula]

I buy the bags of loose dry coco substrate also. Easier. I guess it depends on how many Ts you keep. I don't keep enough Ts for substrate costs to be a big deal. In fact, all mine are adults now and will probably never be rehoused again.
But if I kept large numbers of Ts, esp slings, I'd probably be buying cheap plain topsoil.

 

[SchubertHelm]

Thank you sir! I'll give it a shot. I've got a few hardware and gardening stores near me to check.

You're welcome. Zoo med really bends you over and has there way with you when they want $10 for a small bag of dried door mat. I was told I could find bricks at Canadian tire but I couldn't find any there so I had to look around a bit. Hope you find what you're looking for.

 

[SchubertHelm]

I buy the bags of loose dry coco substrate also. Easier. I guess it depends on how many Ts you keep. I don't keep enough Ts for substrate costs to be a big deal. In fact, all mine are adults now and will probably never be rehoused again.
But if I kept large numbers of Ts, esp slings, I'd probably be buying cheap plain topsoil.

Tom Moran on YouTube seems to prefer top soil over coco-fibre for its ability to retain moisture well. I've always thought that top soil carries more bacteria and other contaminants than coco-fibre. Is my view unwarranted?

 

[Ellenantula]

Well, Ts do live in the wild in plain old dirt, amidst whatever naturally occurring bacteria and contaminants are found therein. That's my thinking anyway. Granted many come from other lands and I cannot swear every single bit of dirt in the world is the same, obviously.

My concern is chemicals, organic composts and manures added to bagged soil.
You would want plain old topsoil with nothing added. Anything naturally occurring in soil.. I wouldn't worry about.

 

[SchubertHelm]

Well, Ts do live in the wild in plain old dirt, amidst whatever naturally occurring bacteria and contaminants are found therein. That's my thinking anyway. Granted many come from other lands and I cannot swear every single bit of dirt in the world is the same, obviously.

My concern is chemicals, organic composts and manures added to bagged soil.
You would want plain old topsoil with nothing added. Anything naturally occurring in soil.. I wouldn't worry about.

Hmmm... I might use top soil then for some moisture dependant scorpions I have. Tho I think top soil might still be a bit more expensive then coco-coir bricks for me to use it in all of my T enclosures. Thanks for the reply.

 

[Walker253]

A couple things, I don't find straight coco fiber very conducive to molding at all. Also, if you go through larger quantities, bags loose will cost you a ton. Bricks are way more economical. One thing I do might be of consideration. I use as hot of water as I can handle to mix. I am able to use less that way. If it called for 4 cups, I can get away with 3. It mixes well and evaporates some as it's mixing. By the time it's complete, I can get it to dry faster as well because it's not soaking wet.
I also but 11 pound bricks on Amazon for usually about 15 bucks. I store it in a Rubbermaid tub. When it gets low, I buy another brick.