Is coco coir pith the same as coco fibre? Can I use coco coir for my regal jumper habitat?

[jlo1938593]

I’m wondering if coco coir specifically is acceptable. I’ve never used it for a jumper. It says online that coco Fibre is best for jumpers. So can I use my coir?

 

[The Snark]

For the record, 'coir' is a slang adopted from Malay term kayar, a probably bastardized pronunciation of the word coil. The Malay origin word is Kayaru, to twist as in ropes made from the coconut trunks and pith surrounding the nuts.
There are three forms of coconut fibers, the raw Fiber, the Pith - chopped or ground up, and the Dust - particulates from the chopping or grinding process which is used to make a form of peat.

The main popularity of coconut fiber is it is slightly acidic and has natural anti fungal properties. Additionally it is very anti hygroscopic. It resist absorbing moisture but once the dust fully absorbs moisture which can take several months it retains the moisture for very long periods of time. The down side to this with terrariums is if you have the peat mixed in the soil it remains a source of moisture that can take weeks in the sun to dehydrate.

Behind the scenes. The coconut palm is unique in that it employs the oceans to propagate the seedlings. The pith or husk coated nut has been known to remain boyant, float on top of the water protected by a tough skin, rind like coating, for several years. Once the nuts wash ashore on beaches a moisture equilibrium eventually is met and the seed germinates. The surrounding pith provides the nutrients and proper amount of moisture to create an independant environment suitable for the seedling to grow up to about a half meter tall. The young plants then develop a root ball which breaks free of the pith and rind, forming into a ovate ball that absorbs and retains moisture which serves as a counterweight for the growing tree. The propensity to slowly absorb and retain moisture extends to the root ball which with mature palms can weigh up to several tons.
Synthetically getting the nuts to germinate requires they be allowed to dry out, usually left in the sun for a few weeks. The milk within the nut slowly turns rancid, rots, and starts a slow decomposing process creating it's own independent ecosystem within the shell.

Trivia. Coconut shell is up at the very top of hardwoods density wise at over 87 pounds per cubic foot. Compare to the world's heaviest true hardwood, Black Ironwood, at 84 lbs /cubic foot.

 

[jlo1938593]

For the record, 'coir' is a slang adopted from Malay term kayar, a probably bastardized pronunciation of the word coil. The Malay origin word is Kayaru, to twist as in ropes made from the coconut trunks and pith surrounding the nuts.
There are three forms of coconut fibers, the raw Fiber, the Pith - chopped or ground up, and the Dust - particulates from the chopping or grinding process which is used to make a form of peat.

The main popularity of coconut fiber is it is slightly acidic and has natural anti fungal properties. Additionally it is very anti hygroscopic. It resist absorbing moisture but once the dust fully absorbs moisture which can take several months it retains the moisture for very long periods of time. The down side to this with terrariums is if you have the peat mixed in the soil it remains a source of moisture that can take weeks in the sun to dehydrate.

Behind the scenes. The coconut palm is unique in that it employs the oceans to propagate the seedlings. The pith or husk coated nut has been known to remain boyant, float on top of the water protected by a tough skin, rind like coating, for several years. Once the nuts wash ashore on beaches a moisture equilibrium eventually is met and the seed germinates. The surrounding pith provides the nutrients and proper amount of moisture to create an independant environment suitable for the seedling to grow up to about a half meter tall. The young plants then develop a root ball which breaks free of the pith and rind, forming into a ovate ball that absorbs and retains moisture which serves as a counterweight for the growing tree. The propensity to slowly absorb and retain moisture extends to the root ball which with mature palms can weigh up to several tons.
Synthetically getting the nuts to germinate requires they be allowed to dry out, usually left in the sun for a few weeks. The milk within the nut slowly turns rancid, rots, and starts a slow decomposing process creating it's own independent ecosystem within the shell.

Trivia. Coconut shell is up at the very top of hardwoods density wise at over 87 pounds per cubic foot. Compare to the world's heaviest true hardwood, Black Ironwood, at 84 lbs /cubic foot.

Wow! Thank you for the lesson on the origins of coconuts. I appreciate you taking the time to help me. So In that case, coco coir and coco fiber are the same, and both can be used for a jumping spiders home?

 

[The Snark]

coco coir and coco fiber are the same, and both can be used for a jumping spiders home?

Yes, but with two caveats.
1. Think of coir as a slow motion sponge. Eventually, over a period of months or even a year or more, it will become saturated with moisture. Then the ever so common complaint of mold growing, undesirably damp and so forth and the always suggestion to increase ventilation. Once that fiber is damp all the ventilation provided by a series of tornadoes won't dry it out.
For example, making peat from the dust requires 3 to 6 months submersion in water and several months in direct sunlight to dry it out again.
2. Coir is not hygienically handled. Not even close. Think third world minimum wage workers and the rampant use of herbicides anywhere and everywhere. A random spraying or drift of over-spray of any of dozens of herbicides or pesticides is always possible.

When it gets near rice harvest time around here the stench of pesticides is unavoidable. Thousands of farmers out all day every day for weeks with backpack sprayers and a 55 gallon drum of pesticide solution in the back of every truck. They spray everything, under orders of the crop brokers. All crops are mortgaged and the lender instructs the farmers what to do and when. It's always spray, spray, spray, anywhere and everywhere. Health is of no concern, only getting their money with interest back from the harvests. This applies to all cash crops coming from S.E.Asia and most likely all other third world countries. Getting a load of some farm or forest product refused on the shipping docks for pest infestations is completely unacceptable.

I have to laugh at the ever so common refrain, "Oh no! I get my coir from reputable suppliers!" BULL. FEATHERS. As in all exportation of vegetable products from Asia to Europe is either banned or placed under a microscope. A while back Cilantro broke the record by having 600 times the allowable limit of pesticides and that was shipped by a highly reputable and government certified exporter. What exactly does first world people expect when all government employees have For Sale signs on their backs and plain white envelopes slid surreptitiously across desks is standard business procedures.
(When we bought our house here the government stooges pointed out the back lot line was over in a riparian flood control zone. Simple solution suggested by a Gov. employee, pay the title transfer fee twice and they will say our lot line was grandfathered in. No problem.)

 

[jlo1938593]

Yes, but with two caveats.
1. Think of coir as a slow motion sponge. Eventually, over a period of months or even a year or more, it will become saturated with moisture. Then the ever so common complaint of mold growing, undesirably damp and so forth and the always suggestion to increase ventilation. Once that fiber is damp all the ventilation provided by a series of tornadoes won't dry it out.
For example, making peat from the dust requires 3 to 6 months submersion in water and several months in direct sunlight to dry it out again.
2. Coir is not hygienically handled. Not even close. Think third world minimum wage workers and the rampant use of herbicides anywhere and everywhere. A random spraying or drift of over-spray of any of dozens of herbicides or pesticides is always possible.

When it gets near rice harvest time around here the stench of pesticides is unavoidable. Thousands of farmers out all day every day for weeks with backpack sprayers and a 55 gallon drum of pesticide solution in the back of every truck. They spray everything, under orders of the crop brokers. All crops are mortgaged and the lender instructs the farmers what to do and when. It's always spray, spray, spray, anywhere and everywhere. Health is of no concern, only getting their money with interest back from the harvests. This applies to all cash crops coming from S.E.Asia and most likely all other third world countries. Getting a load of some farm or forest product refused on the shipping docks for pest infestations is completely unacceptable.

I have to laugh at the ever so common refrain, "Oh no! I get my coir from reputable suppliers!" BULL. FEATHERS. As in all exportation of vegetable products from Asia to Europe is either banned or placed under a microscope. A while back Cilantro broke the record by having 600 times the allowable limit of pesticides and that was shipped by a highly reputable and government certified exporter. What exactly does first world people expect when all government employees have For Sale signs on their backs and plain white envelopes slid surreptitiously across desks is standard business procedures.
(When we bought our house here the government stooges pointed out the back lot line was over in a riparian flood control zone. Simple solution suggested by a Gov. employee, pay the title transfer fee twice and they will say our lot line was grandfathered in. No problem.)

So I should not use coir for my jumper because it has pesticides then?

 

[Tarantuland]

So I should not use coir for my jumper because it has pesticides then?

I use coir (eco earth) for my spiders and never had a problem, but I don't doubt what @The Snark said to be true

 

[The Snark]

Going by how many people use coir without problems it is -probably- safe to use. Keeping in mind the occasional keeper who discovers their animal(s) dead or dying without any obvious cause. When it comes to even the tiniest trace amount of pesticide that can cause shortening of an animals life span and strange deaths without apparent cause, you are swimming in uncharted waters.

The other problem with coir is in it's water absorption and retention capability. It seems quite often people discover damp and sometimes moldy substrate which gets blamed on poor ventilation. That can be coir doing it's natural thing. When they make coir peat the powdery stuff is dumped into barrels or vats and soaked in water for up to six months or so before it becomes fully saturated. Without a strong radiant heat source like leaving it spread out in the sun for weeks, it will retain that moisture for months or over a year. No amount of ventilating is going to significantly speed up that drying process.
This is ideal for potted house plants but not so good in terrariums. The spilled water from dishes and sprayings or mistings is pretty much forever in the coir dust peat once absorbed.