Need help with my GBB

[Ultum4Spiderz]

thats what i mean, you can ether accept they are everywere use smart but not excessive prevention methods, fokus on the known threats like Tarantobelus jeffdanielsi

OR

go asolutely nuts about every single one


i won't judge anyone ether way, trying to work with "clean" media is one strategy, if it works... it works

and yes there are some terrifying worms out there, no arguments here

Didn’t find any creepy worms , but I found 3 pill bugs in a bag of timberline substrate. The rest looks fine, a little bit of wood chips but not enough to worry over.

 

[Wolfram1]

Then the phorid fly larvae is something just recently I'm trying not to focus on.

that issue can easily be prevented, given a healthy environment the spider will not only regularly clean itself but also have a robust immune system able to deal with simple maggots.

second you can choose to make the ventilation fly proof, by using airtight containers and fly proof stainless steel gaze.

for smaller enclosures you can (with a
little more Work), add the gaze over the ventilaton openings by melting it into the plastic, and thus you can make them fly proof.

Whats inside cant get out, whats outside cant get in... with exeptions ofc depending on the mesh width of the gaze.

 

[Arachnophobphile]

that issue can easily be prevented, given a healthy environment the spider will not only regularly clean itself but also have a robust immune system able to deal with simple maggots.

second you can choose to make the ventilation fly proof, by using airtight containers and fly proof stainless steel gaze.

for smaller enclosures you can (with a
little more Work), add the gaze over the ventilaton openings by melting it into the plastic, and thus you can make them fly proof.

Whats inside cant get out, whats outside cant get in... with exeptions ofc depending on the mesh width of the gaze.

I have nylon stockings I ordered off Amazon just for that. Can cut to dimensions and tape or glue over all air vents. It also works great on T egg incubators, (the standard plastic cups suspended over water) to keep mites out.

I had a mite infestation years ago that messed me up. I don't know who was more traumatized me or the tarantula at the time of discovery. It was just grain mites introduced via superworms.

At that time I never realized that I needed to change out the oatmeal for substrate once a week. Yup I learned quite a bit from that.

I don't know, any thought of possible invasions of anything into my T's enclosures sends shivers up my spine.

 

[Smotzer]

lucky most of them are harmless

 

[Dorifto]

I hate to resurrect this post yet again, but lastly, I just want to make sure there is nothin else I can do for this guy. For some reason ive really started to feel bad for the lil dude haha. Hes in weird positions every time I check on him and never leaves his old molt, hes still alive and skittish as hell. I was able to open the enclosure and sneakily replace his water dish with fresh water. I dont think he has left the corner to get water in ages tho even before the molt, so I also dripped a couple drops of water onto the the top of his web next to him, just in case hes unaware of the water dish. Anything else I should do? Probably gonna try feeding a cricket this weekend.

View attachment 457444

Trying to offer some water droplets it's a good idea, to prevent any possible dehydtation if you keep the whole setup dry.

Even if they come from a xeric environment, it doesn't mean they don't have access to moisture, like morning dew, so it's a good natural way to mimic their moisture source.

If you keep the whole setup dry, make sure that the water dish it's big enough to provide enough humidity, since they come from a very humid environment, too dry and they suffer molting and dehydration issues. If not, just overflow that dish from time to time.


Don't know why people freak out so much with the nematodes and mites, we should read a bit more... and start ignoring dumbtubers.

My tanks are full of nematodes, earthworms, mites, mini centipedes, isopods, springtails, mycelium... And they are thriving like champs. Zero issues.

 

[Smotzer]

Don't know why people freak out so much with the nematodes and mites, we should read a bit more... and start ignoring dumbtubers.

My tanks are full of nematodes, earthworms, mites, mini centipedes, isopods, springtails, mycelium... And they are thriving like champs. Zero issues.

Because people fear the things they don’t understand and also the things they are told to fear!

And same mine are the same way and the tanks,soil, and tarantulas and other animals in any tank are extremely healthy! Often they do better than tanks of the opposite and “sterile” or bare!

 

[Arachnophobphile]

Trying to offer some water droplets it's a good idea, to prevent any possible dehydtation if you keep the whole setup dry.

Even if they come from a xeric environment, it doesn't mean they don't have access to moisture, like morning dew, so it's a good natural way to mimic their moisture source.

If you keep the whole setup dry, make sure that the water dish it's big enough to provide enough humidity, since they come from a very humid environment, too dry and they suffer molting and dehydration issues. If not, just overflow that dish from time to time.


Don't know why people freak out so much with the nematodes and mites, we should read a bit more... and start ignoring dumbtubers.

My tanks are full of nematodes, earthworms, mites, mini centipedes, isopods, springtails, mycelium... And they are thriving like champs. Zero issues.

*passes out*

 

[Dorifto]

And same mine are the same way and the tanks,soil, and tarantulas and other animals in any tank are extremely healthy! Often they do better than tanks of the opposite and “sterile” or bare!

That's because the humidity

 

[Arachnophobphile]

Soooo you're saying I shouldn't be using gravel, (the big rocky kind) for substrate but nematode laden soil laced with mites and whatever else?

I can do that, I'll just grab it from the backyard.

Maybe I'm hypochondriacing about it. I did read through an old thread and I like the cricket test for top soil or whatever else. Put some crickets in an enclosure with the soil you plan to use for your T's. If crickets survive after a while the soil is good if they die don't use it.

Brands of soil that are safe for tarantula/arthropod use

so, I've got my tarantulas on Eco Earth, but I recently found a brand of organic starter mix potting soil at walmart. It's Ferry Morse brand and it's called "organic starter mix all purpose" ingredients say: Sphagnum peat moss, horticultural vermiculite, perlite, and organic wetting agent"...

arachnoboards.com

 

[Smotzer]

That's because the humidity

Ahhh the Dorifto-Smotzer debate resurrects

 

[Dorifto]

Soooo you're saying I shouldn't be using gravel, (the big rocky kind) for substrate but nematode laden soil laced with mites and whatever else?

If they are not harmful and they are part of a healthy and balanced ecosystem why not?

They help keeping the soil healthy, free of mold, pests etc. If one of them have an oubreak, their predators will balance their population easily, without any disturbance for the T. Once that imbalance dissapears, everything comes back to normality.

They are essentials? No, they help? YES

I can do that, I'll just grab it from the backyard.

Another Why not? If it's free of chemicals and/or harmful pesticides go for it. Much more natural than gravel or coco fiber...

 

[Smotzer]

I did read through an old thread and I like the cricket test for top soil or whatever else. Put some crickets in an enclosure with the soil you plan to use for your T's. If crickets survive after a while the soil is good if they die don't use it.

This is more to test for chemicals/added fertilizers in the soil, not natural organisms.

 

[Dorifto]

This is more to test for chemicals/added fertilizers in the soil, not natural organisms.

Agree, but a bit useless imo. One chemical that can kill Ts can be absolutely harmles to crickets, and vice versa.

Anyone who wants borrow some soil, should look if there is any archnids there or nearby, mites included. If there is a nice microfauna around, it should be fine. I'd be much more worried of I found a fully sterile soil.

 

[Smotzer]

Agree, but a bit useless imo. One chemical that can kill Ts can be absolutely harmles to crickets, and vice versa.

I agree!!

Anyone who wants borrow some soil, should look if there is any archnids there or nearby, mites included. If there is a nice microfauna around, it should be fine. I'd be much more worried of I found a fully sterile soil.

Yes this is exactly it!! When I would have a request to sample soil for any horticulture clients, the state of the soil in terms of microfauna and types present in an area was almost always a good indicator of the general health of an area! It is very easy to tell like you have said what soils are sick! When I cant easily find microfauna in soil its instantly a redflag!

 

[Arachnophobphile]

This is more to test for chemicals/added fertilizers in the soil, not natural organisms.

Duh....of course that's obvious

Well maybe I'll put these 2 bags of Timberline topsoil to use that's been sitting here for years

 

[Smotzer]

Duh....of course that's obvious

I dont like to assume as a general rule, better to just give the information because others who may not know can read it too!

 

[Dorifto]

Well maybe I'll put these 2 bags of Timberline topsoil to use that's been sitting here for years

Make sure it's not fermented, if it has a sour smell, ditch it.

 

[Arachnophobphile]

I dont like to assume as a general rule, better to just give the information because others who may not know can read it too!

Sorry wasn't poking fun of you. That's my fault for not making it clear whether testing for chemicals, fertilizers or organisms. I should of been clearer.

Make sure it's not fermented, if it has a sour smell, ditch it.

Thanks that's good info.

____________________________


Well the whole substrate for T's debate has been going on for a very long time. When or what year it actually began I do not know, Controversial topic....yes.

As far as scientific clinical studies what's best to use for tarantulas free of every contaminate as substrate......well that doesn't exist as far as I know.

So we are relying from each other what has been proven to work raising slings to adult T's with no question of contaminates of any kind.

Those that have kept T's for a decade or longer are the most reliable source on what is myth, fact and most importantly what works.

From my perspective coco-fiber or topsoil seems to have been proven to work with no signs of harm to tarantulas. Either one will work.

Coco fiber is more reliable for having no contaminates most often. Topsoil is dependent on brand, non-organic and most importantly how it was stored from warehouse to transport to store. Was it on the truck in transport with bags of fertilizers or other chemicals next to it? What about the warehouse or store where it sits? Those are the risk.

Now outside of those two is soil just dug up somewhere by yourself. IMO that is not a controversial topic that is a 50/50 chance of problems to arise. That has many variables to it.

 

[Dorifto]

Topsoil is dependent on brand, non-organic and most importantly how it was stored from warehouse to transport to store. Was it on the truck in transport with bags of fertilizers or other chemicals next to it? What about the warehouse or store where it sits? Those are the risk.

Even coco fiber could have been exposed to chemicals, and never saw a bag ofncoco fiber with any labels of containing chemicals. Topsoil in the other hand usually are labeled with the percentage of those elements, at least here.

The real issue it's the amount of those substances, people often freakout when they see fertilizers in a bag, and that alone it's not an issue at all, or Ts are not exposed in the nature to decaying matter that releases nitrogen, potasium, sodium or other elements? Probably a regular topsoil bag will have much less of those elements (fertilizers) than the soil they live in (nature).

Other different thing it's a soil purposely aditivated to fertilize the soil present already, those are the ones to avoid, not the regular bag that contains less than 0'1-0'05% of fertilizers on it.

 

[Smotzer]

Sorry wasn't poking fun of you.

In no way did I think you were!

IMO that is not a controversial topic that is a 50/50 chance of problems to arise. That has many variables to it.

Wait, are you saying that using natural soil has a 50% chance of problems?