Need help with my GBB

[Arachnophobphile]

I quit buying peat moss because of it getting dry and kicking up urticating hairs . Although with the price of coco fiber I’m almost considering it again.

Coco fiber has become insanely pricey.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

Coco fiber has become insanely pricey.

I spent like $20-30$ on top soil because prices keep rising I paid a a whopping $3 a bag! So I might just use all top soil and suffer with outrageously heavy tanks . Or go and buy a Bag of peat moss. I gotta look up what it cost at Lowe’s. I may just use what I got and not buy anything. I’ve got one brick of coco fiber left out of my $13 3 pack.

 

[SpookySpooder]

Do not buy peat moss. Just use normal sphagnum moss and save yourself the money.

 

[Arachnophobphile]

Do not buy peat moss. Just use normal sphagnum moss and save yourself the money.

If you are using reptisoil you are using peat moss

 

[SpookySpooder]

Yeah but no need to add more

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

Do not buy peat moss. Just use normal sphagnum moss and save yourself the money.

I meant susbstrate not Sphagnum it doesn’t come in huge 2qt bags.
I have a bag of that stuff already, it’s not An alternative to coco fiber . I use it ontop of my top layer of susbstrate.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Sphagnum-Peat-Moss-8-47-oz-Organic-Peat-Moss-Moisture-Control/999984956

So right now I’m mixing coco fiber and it’s getting pricey I need an alternative .

 

[Arachnophobphile]

I've had 2 bags of Timberline topsoil sitting here for years. Never prepared it as in baking it first. You have to understand I don't just have bad luck I'm actually cursed.

If I even attempt to bake it I'll probably set the house on fire.

Well that and an actual oven that works.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

I've had 2 bags of Timberline topsoil sitting here for years. Never prepared it as in baking it first. You have to understand I don't just have bad luck I'm actually cursed.

If I even attempt to bake it I'll probably set the house on fire.

Well that and an actual oven that works.

I favorited this soil thread not sure if cooking is necessary . I usually sift for rocks if I seee them still haven’t used my new sifter.

Substrate: universal potting soil

Hey! I see alot of people use potting soil or top soil as substrate. I used coco fiber but now I want to mix coco fiber with potting soil, for burrowers. So I have this at home, I just want to know if this is ok to use, ill post a picture on what is in the soil, and I know it says 5% manure but...

arachnoboards.com

And this

Topsoil problem?

1 bucket, half gallon of water, throw the brick in. wait 20 min, stir, wait another 10 and its done. practically zero work. Considering you scoop dirt and youre done, its more work AND a lot more hassle....buckets if water and a half hour...lol...sounds like clean up will take just as long....lol

arachnoboards.com

 

[SpookySpooder]

Thanks for that reading on peat moss @Ultum4Spiderz

@Arachnophobphile I derail this thread a bit further and ask this:

I bulldozed 25 years worth of shrubs, weeds, and grass then graded the area. Then I sifted the soil for any debris larger than 1/4".

It's very woody and holds moisture forever. I can guarantee no fertilizers or pesticides in decades.

Do you think this a good top soil alternative to reptisoil if I mixed this up?

Soil piles on the left are sifted. Right isn't. I've been using it as a potting mix.

 

[TLSizzle]

I love a good substrate conversation! Helps me determine if I'm using the right stuff.

I just mixed together a concoction of scotts top soil, coco fiber and sphagnum peat moss. Most of my Ts like it dry and straight top soil is too heavy. So far I've seen no complaints. My T albo was able to tunnel perfectly fine.

 

[Arachnophobphile]

Thanks for that reading on peat moss @Ultum4Spiderz

@Arachnophobphile I derail this thread a bit further and ask this:

I bulldozed 25 years worth of shrubs, weeds, and grass then graded the area. Then I sifted the soil for any debris larger than 1/4".

It's very woody and holds moisture forever. I can guarantee no fertilizers or pesticides in decades.

Do you think this a good top soil alternative to reptisoil if I mixed this up?
View attachment 457006
Soil piles on the left are sifted. Right isn't. I've been using it as a potting mix.

With any type of soil pulled directly from the ground I recommend baking the hell out of it to eliminate anything organic, as in living.

My #1 concern with anything pulled directly from the ground will always be possible nematodes. It's always possible there might not be any. I always go with the odds are always higher that it's possible there might be nematodes.

 

[SpookySpooder]

With any type of soil pulled directly from the ground I recommend baking the hell out of it to eliminate anything organic, as in living.

My #1 concern with anything pulled directly from the ground will always be possible nematodes. It's always possible there might not be any. I always go with the odds are always higher that it's possible there might be nematodes.

Been getting sun baked for a few months.
That area gets about 10+ hours of direct sunlight. I've been using it to pot plants and I haven't found a single living organism in it. Not to say that there aren't any, I just haven't seen any at all.

I would definitely sterilize it if I were to use it. I typically sterilize and quarantine everything I collect if I'm bringing it inside to use. Old habit from aquaria.

 

[Smotzer]

For tarantulas and the like there is really not a need to ever bake anything in my opinion. Just wash and dry thoroughly and it will be fine!

 

[GlizzyGladiator]

I think there's a good chance your T is in premolt. It may be trying to find some security by finding a secluded corner to web itself up in, however you keep rehousing it which forces it to go through the whole process all over again. I would leave him alone

Well you were right. he ended up coming down from that corner he was in, webing up a small corner on the bottom. and molting. As of now it looked like he was almost completely out of his old spider skin but still not quite out. gonna leave him alone a bit longer.

 

[Smotzer]

gonna leave him alone a bit longer.

Continue doing so, in almost all circumstances the best course of action is to leave them be!

 

[GlizzyGladiator]

Continue doing so, in almost all circumstances the best course of action is to leave them be!

He must have started the process in the middle of the night. Because as of about 9pm yesterday he was sitting normally in his new corner on the ground. Now this morning it looked like he was molting on his side. I coudnt get a good look without moving the enclosure so I just left it. Hope he makes it out

 

[Smotzer]

I coudnt get a good look without moving the enclosure so I just left it. Hope he makes it out

I’m sure it will make it just fine! Most cases it always goes off without a hitch. It can just be nerve wracking when you’re newer in the hobby when tarantulas molt! I do indeed remember what that was like myself!

 

[dman13760]

Well you were right. he ended up coming down from that corner he was in, webing up a small corner on the bottom. and molting. As of now it looked like he was almost completely out of his old spider skin but still not quite out. gonna leave him alone a bit longer.

congrats! that's great news

 

[GlizzyGladiator]

I’m sure it will make it just fine! Most cases it always goes off without a hitch. It can just be nerve wracking when you’re newer in the hobby when tarantulas molt! I do indeed remember what that was like myself!

Yep this is what hes looking like now. it appears his old skin is right next to him and hes fully out, but its hard to really tell. snapped a quick photo and let him be His new legs look blue asf!

 

[GlizzyGladiator]

I’m sure it will make it just fine! Most cases it always goes off without a hitch. It can just be nerve wracking when you’re newer in the hobby when tarantulas molt! I do indeed remember what that was like myself!

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.



Its actually pretty interesting if you compare todays photo with mondays. His blues have really gotten brighter, and he keep moving the old molt around lol