Dry out the soil.

serpents-zoo

Arachnopeon
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Jan 8, 2006
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How in the world do you dry out your soil? I'm having an Grammostola Rosea on soil and i have mixed it with sand. She only stay on top of her shelter where it's dry and if i put her on the soil then she walk up on top of the shelter after a few minutes.
i have had the soil in her tank for about 6 days and it´s not dry enoug for her yet. Can it be the sand who is making it difficult to dry?
 

Mushroom Spore

Arachnoemperor
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Oct 14, 2005
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Why is the soil wet in the first place? :confused:

Anyway, I've always heard you should never use any sand, since it can get in their little lungs and joints and stuff. Pure peat moss or soil or some mixture thereof (some people throw in vermiculite) is most popular. I use only peat, but I haven't been at this long so take that for what it's worth.
 

Cirith Ungol

Ministry of Fluffy Bunnies
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I don't think a little sand is gonna pose so much of a problem, but then I'm a straight peat user also...

I don't think it's the sand that causes the problem. Open up all ventilation and wait, or exchange the substrate.
 

jgaglio1

Arachnopeon
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Dec 24, 2005
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I wouldn't worry. Don't do any misting and the soil will dry out on its own. Small amounts of sand in the mix should not be a problem. Oh, be sure there is a shallow water container in the enclosure.
 

serpents-zoo

Arachnopeon
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Jan 8, 2006
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Why is the soil wet in the first place? :confused:
Well, when you buy soil (or peat, whatever it's called in english) its moist.

Mushroom Spore said:
Why is the soil wet in the first place? :confused:

Anyway, I've always heard you should never use any sand, since it can get in their little lungs and joints and stuff. Pure peat moss or soil or some mixture thereof (some people throw in vermiculite) is most popular. I use only peat, but I haven't been at this long so take that for what it's worth.
 

serpents-zoo

Arachnopeon
Joined
Jan 8, 2006
Messages
5
I have SO MANY air-holes in the box, it realy shouldn't be a problem, but it is. I thin i'll take some of it out and replace it with some new soil.

Cirith Ungol said:
I don't think a little sand is gonna pose so much of a problem, but then I'm a straight peat user also...

I don't think it's the sand that causes the problem. Open up all ventilation and wait, or exchange the substrate.
 

serpents-zoo

Arachnopeon
Joined
Jan 8, 2006
Messages
5
Well, i actually put alot sand in it.

jgaglio1 said:
I wouldn't worry. Don't do any misting and the soil will dry out on its own. Small amounts of sand in the mix should not be a problem. Oh, be sure there is a shallow water container in the enclosure.
 

Potatoemoe

Arachnosquire
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Sep 22, 2005
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The best thing you could do is set some soil out side for a couple of days when its supposed to be sunny, and maybe turn it a couple of times. If you do this it should dry out very well. After it is dry I would change the substrate and get that sand out of there. By the way soil is soil and peat refers to peat moss, don't know if you can get peat moss in Demark.
 

serpents-zoo

Arachnopeon
Joined
Jan 8, 2006
Messages
5
Hi,

It´s Terrabasis, to be used for reptiles. I think it's the same as potting soil without fertilization additive. http://www.reptilica.de/shop/product_info.php/products_id/552/lang/espanol/
And the sand is http://www.reptilica.de/shop/product_info.php/products_id/3040/lang/english/
Not quite the same picture on the back, but it's the same product as i use.

I think ill go up and see how much terrabasis i have left and then remove as much of the substrate as i can and then fill it with new.

Thanks for helping.

Potatoemoe said:
The best thing you could do is set some soil out side for a couple of days when its supposed to be sunny, and maybe turn it a couple of times. If you do this it should dry out very well. After it is dry I would change the substrate and get that sand out of there. By the way soil is soil and peat refers to peat moss, don't know if you can get peat moss in Demark.
 

DanHalen

Arachnobaron
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Sep 25, 2005
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479
I came up with a really weird way of drying out soil relatively quickly. What I did was take a large ceramic bowl and fill it up with the peat. I then got a large sheet of tin foil and placed it over the top. I made some small holes in the foil around the outer edges, and a larger one in the middle.

I then took a hair dryer and placed it over the larger centre hole and switched it on to high power. The tin foil stopped the peat escaping, whilst the moisture could evapourate through the outer holes. Worked ok for me :D
 

Siienceofdeath

Arachnosquire
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Jan 11, 2006
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Blowdryer incident

I love the blow dryer idea and wanted to try it... I ended up with a facefull and kitchen full of peat lol. My blowdryer was a bit too strong and my holes in the sides of the foil a bit too big, so remember when doing this, the smaller the holes in the foil the better :D
 

Mattyb

Arachnoking
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Jun 28, 2004
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serpents-zoo said:
Well, when you buy soil (or peat, whatever it's called in english) its moist.
I have no idea where your buying your substrate at but when I get my bags of peat, they are NEVER moist.


-Matty
 

taorchard1987

Arachnobaron
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Jan 12, 2005
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Mushroom Spore said:
Why is the soil wet in the first place? :confused:

Anyway, I've always heard you should never use any sand, since it can get in their little lungs and joints and stuff.

I agree i wouldnt use sand. I did once with my juvi avic avic, ppl on the boards told me not to, but of course i knew better:? , so one day i came home and i had a dead avic :8o
 

taorchard1987

Arachnobaron
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Jan 12, 2005
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When i got my first T, a B.Smithi, i didnt really know to much about them 2 be fair and i had the same problem as the pet shop i got it from sold me an enclousre with no air-holes at all. Everyday id see the tank and there would be condensation all over the glass. I tried changing the soil, reducing temp so that the humidity decreases. In the end all i done was wipe the tank down with a dry cloth ot tissue every day and maybe take the lid of the enclosure, oh and i stopped all misting. Now my Smithi is on a bone dry substrate
 
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