Exo terra stone desert substrate

[ReleaseTheQuacken]

Hey so exo terra sells these substrates the stone desert and the ochre one... and they look to be clay soil mixed with other substrates. Kind of like what you would find in an actual desert- but not the sandy kind.

Would this actually be a good substrate for a tarantula? there's also this substrate i see on etsy labeled as mojave soil... basically someones just digging up the soil from the desert and selling it per pound. Looks very natural, either of them. Any ideas?

 

[Smotzer]

Never used them so can’t say what they are made of but to be honest there’s no need to buy fancy soil mixes, plain topsoil, peat moss, and coco-fiber are staples for reasons; they work, theyre cheap, and they’re readily available.

 

[ReleaseTheQuacken]

Never used them so can’t say what they are made of but to be honest there’s no need to buy fancy soil mixes, plain topsoil, peat moss, and coco-fiber are staples for reasons; they work, theyre cheap, and they’re readily available.

Oh. I know they work, I just like the look but wanted to make sure it's okay to use.

 

[viper69]

What subs???

 

[ReleaseTheQuacken]

What subs???

Either of these from exo terra


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Or these which are being sold on etsy as soil from mojave desert in california.



Are any of these okay to use? There's 3 different products I am speaking of. 2 different ones from exo terra, and 1 from a vendor on etsy which is grabing the soil off of the mojave desert.

I liked the look of these and wanted to know. I'd put coconut fiber at the bottom layer to keep humid for dwarf isopods and springtails....

 

[viper69]

Haven’t used them- thank you posting.

Im sure they’d be fine with the right species.

Only thing I’d wonder is how easy it would be to pack down the sub. Ts don’t like loose sub.

They adapt to coco, but it’s soft. More granular /hard sub that is loose- concerns me

 

[ReleaseTheQuacken]

Haven’t used them- thank you posting.

Im sure they’d be fine with the right species.

Only thing I’d wonder is how easy it would be to pack down the sub. Ts don’t like loose sub.

They adapt to coco, but it’s soft. More granular /hard sub that is loose- concerns me

Can it be mixed with a bit of cocohusk? and like the granules sifted out. Like if i manually sift it... it would basically be silt. I guess I was trying to make it look rather natural.

My pleasure. I know the goal for a lot of keepers is to own a lot of species (kind of noticed its a bit like stamp collecting or pokemon card collecting) but for me I just wanted to have a few species in superb enclosures. I mean the way I sees it, it's an animal that basically stands around and doesn't move as much as say a reptile or a fish. So I thought I'd at least make it all look extra nice.

The exo terra one I realize is basically like the last 2 photos except its less... granual....


So these are the ones ones that are offered by exo terra. I believe it is steralized so no hitch hikers. I wonder if this would work for say an a. anax?





Last one shows the 3 soils provided by exo terra. Was thinking based on your comment I could sift it out and maybe add a little bit of coconut fiber to it?

 

[viper69]

people mix all sorts of subs together

I can’t speak for others- but my goal was never to own many species. However as I learned more, became more experienced, I wanted to see what other species were like.

Some are unique like I mira, or very pretty etc

It’s like any hobbby, you often have people owning more than one camera, car, computer etc

They use the word addicting around here- I find that use of the word stupid- though I get why people use it.

They are like fish IMO too in some ways.

You want firm sub basically.

They have 8 legs, they want firm sub, it’s what they expect in the wild.

I always watch mine walk on coco in the beginning to see if it’s packed enough. I’ve observed them enough to know if they are OK with it or not.

 

[ReleaseTheQuacken]

people mix all sorts of subs together

I can’t speak for others- but my goal was never to own many species. However as I learned more, became more experienced, I wanted to see what other species were like.

Some are unique like I mira, or very pretty etc

It’s like any hobbby, you often have people owning more than one camera, car, computer etc

They use the word addicting around here- I find that use of the word stupid- though I get why people use it.

They are like fish IMO too in some ways.

You want firm sub basically.

They have 8 legs, they want firm sub, it’s what they expect in the wild.

I always watch mine walk on coco in the beginning to see if it’s packed enough. I’ve observed them enough to know if they are OK with it or not.

So basically pack it down? it actually has clay in it. If it gets really wet it eventually hardens a bit. I don't know what it is called but there's area in some arid areas in which water would pool up briefly and as it dries up the soil becames rough and hard. It crusts. Not sure what it is called.

Edit: I understand what you mean. Just some peoples comments (every forum, or group) there's those who say to not invest so much in the set up so I can get more specimens. But for me half the reason I want a tarantula is for a naturalistic environment with personal touches.

 

[vespers]

That stone desert substrate is like zoo med's excavator clay, but with a blend of different size particles. You wet it when you install it, let dry, and it will harden and hold its shape.

 

[ReleaseTheQuacken]

That stone desert substrate is like zoo med's excavator clay, but with a blend of different size particles. You wet it when you install it, let dry, and it will harden and hold its shape.

kind of. yes.

 

[viper69]

I've seen excavator clay used very successfully with Ts

 

[ReleaseTheQuacken]

I've seen excavator clay used very successfully with Ts

Alone or mixed in? Wet or as is dry? By wet I mean, did they wet it first to let it harden?

 

[viper69]

By wet I mean, did they wet it first to let it harden?

Yes

 

[ReleaseTheQuacken]

Yes

like this?

 

[viper69]

like this? View attachment 412225

have no idea what you are talking about

 

[ReleaseTheQuacken]

have no idea what you are talking about

Ah my apologies. I didn't see it very well. I misclicked. So that it becomes like this? I'd add a bit of sand and stuff to give it consistency

 

[viper69]

No, the clay didn't crack open at all. It remains solid.

 

[ReleaseTheQuacken]

No, the clay didn't crack open at all. It remains solid.

Do you have a photo of it? Can that be used for the top of the whole enclosure or parts of it? With a premade "burrow"?

 

[viper69]

Do you have a photo of it? Can that be used for the top of the whole enclosure or parts of it? With a premade "burrow"?

Nope- there's a video online of a European outfit that makes great setups. They used it, I was impressed. That's all I know.