Has any one tried...

[phoenixxavierre]

Originally posted by Dean W
phoenixxavierre, im not sure where u ehard thatperlite is the little white balls thta look like styrofoam, commonly found in potting soil. Im pretty sure its safe.

Perlite is:

"Natural glass with concentric cracks such that the rock breaks into small, pearl-like bodies. It is formed by the rapid cooling of viscous lava or magma. Perlite is porous and has a waxy to pearly luster and is commonly gray or greenish but may be brown, blue, or red. Since c.1950, large deposits have been worked in New Mexico, Nevada, California, and other W states. Heat-treated perlite is a substitute for sand in lightweight wall plaster and concrete aggregate. Perlite is used for heat and sound insulation, lightweight ceramic products, and filters."

Hope that helps, Dean.

Best wishes,

Paul

 

[Joy]

Originally posted by Dean W
I'm having some difficuly deciding on the substrate for my rosea. She seems to dislike dirt greatly, and will do anything to stay off of it. I was wondering if any of you have had success with the reptile turf they carry in stores?

Dean, it seems I'm the only one willing to confess to using reptile turf for tarantulas! I do so with great reluctance, too, as this definitely qualifies as a shameful secret in tarantula circles

I use it with only one tarantula: a female B. smithi whom I acquired as an adult specimen. She had been kept for years on astroturf by her former owner. The first thing I did, as a right-minded tarantula keeper, was get rid of the astro-turf. But she was so visibly unhappy with every other substrate I tried that in the end I went back to it. Her vivarium has astroturf on one side, vermiculite on the other. She spends about 90% of her time on the astroturf side, and she is happy there. I have never observed her scratching at the edges of it (one of the risky behaviors associated with this substrate per the Tarantula Keeper's Guide) or doing anything else with it. She just uses it to sit on--and to play the occasional round of golf

Joy