- Joined
- Oct 11, 2012
- Messages
- 255
Sphagnum moss is what most people called long fiber phagnum, it's pretty much just the dry, dead moss itself. It can be hydrated to hold a significant amount of water. Sphagnum peat is peat composed of very broken down, acidified sphagnum moss.
Peat is acidic and inhibits mold growth by preventing mold from germinating, but when boluses drop onto the peat, they are not as acidic and the mold spores that come into contact are provided cues telling them they're in good growing medium and start to germinate. Once mold has begun to grow, it can handle less than ideal environments and will spread. I used to use peat and a single bolus left on damp substrate would lead to mold running its hyphae all over the surface of the peat before penetrating throughout it and producing spores everywhere.
Paper towels are no good for terrestrials for obvious reasons, but they're fine for arboreals as they aren't as heavy-set and prone to falling unless startled into a panic. Substrates like coconut fiber and peat can provide more cushion than say, a single layer of paper towel on a hard surface, but if a heavy tarantula's going to fall a long way, the substrate is nowhere near well-cushioned enough to prevent damage. This is why terrestrial tarantulas are kept in enclosures with less open, vertical space.
Peat is acidic and inhibits mold growth by preventing mold from germinating, but when boluses drop onto the peat, they are not as acidic and the mold spores that come into contact are provided cues telling them they're in good growing medium and start to germinate. Once mold has begun to grow, it can handle less than ideal environments and will spread. I used to use peat and a single bolus left on damp substrate would lead to mold running its hyphae all over the surface of the peat before penetrating throughout it and producing spores everywhere.
Paper towels are no good for terrestrials for obvious reasons, but they're fine for arboreals as they aren't as heavy-set and prone to falling unless startled into a panic. Substrates like coconut fiber and peat can provide more cushion than say, a single layer of paper towel on a hard surface, but if a heavy tarantula's going to fall a long way, the substrate is nowhere near well-cushioned enough to prevent damage. This is why terrestrial tarantulas are kept in enclosures with less open, vertical space.