Dollar Store Potting Soil

[Jacobospider5]

Hi guys, I saw some potting soil at the 99 cent store and it said it does not have "human or animal waste" in it. Would this work as substrate?

 

[Poec54]

It should. I use top soil from Home Depot that costs about $1.30 for a 40 lb bag. At those prices, they don't add fertilizers or other chemicals. I much prefer soil over cocofiber.

 

[Jacobospider5]

What are the advantages other than the price??

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

It should. I use top soil from Home Depot that costs about $1.30 for a 40 lb bag. At those prices, they don't add fertilizers or other chemicals. I much prefer soil over cocofiber.

how do u find soil so cheap ???my home depot is like 15x as expensive...I use eco earth

 

[Newflvr]

I use "bacto" top soil that comes in 40lb bags, no fertilizer added. Most potting soil has fertilizer added.

 

[Poec54]

What are the advantages other than the price??

For one, it's dirt; a natural material that spiders actually live in, in the wild, as opposed to cocofiber.

 

[PlaidJaguar]

For one, it's dirt; a natural material that spiders actually live in, in the wild, as opposed to cocofiber.

For another, people who are allergic to coconut can't handle spiders that live in coco fiber substrate. Something to consider if you have any "ambassador Ts" that you allow other people to handle. One of my friends is allergic-- she likes my spiders because I keep them on topsoil, but she can't even go into the T room at my dealer's house because he uses eco earth (invert dealer, not drug dealer lol!).

 

[Kazaam]

I've used bread as substrate without problems...

(invert dealer, not drug dealer lol!).

As if that makes any difference to the people on these boards.

 

[Texas T]

For one, it's dirt; a natural material that spiders actually live in, in the wild, as opposed to cocofiber.

Agree with Poec54. Also been doing some reading about this in the TKG. It does say that tarantulas prefer soil that is firm and solid. I have 5 Aphonopelma anaxes. I am using top soil as the substrate for three of them. One of my A anaxes is molting as I am writing this and after it molts I intend to change the substrate from cocco fiber to top soil this weekend. The place where I got my A. anaxes the ground is really hard and firm. Here is a picture I took a few weeks ago.

 

[stewstew8282]

As if that makes any difference to the people on these boards.

truer words have never been spoken...