New To the Tarantula Scene

[Malo]

What's the verdict on Lugarti Premium Tarantula substrate?

Tom Moran's channel is excellent for all sorts of information about the hobby, I like his videos the best on teaching those new to the hobby. I've only just started myself and I've been watching many channels for almost a year now. Highly suggest going through a bunch of his vids.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

Gotcha! So when collecting substrate for a T like a GBB it's best to by coco fiber and peat at the store or online?

You know, when I've said that such (quite recent, btw) substrate brand you mentioned above was a scam, was for this reason

I can't say that said brand is crap, would be unfair since I've never used that, thing is, only looking at the price, seems to me an over hyped and priced... dirt. And, one of the (many) 'Pro' of this hobby is that - save certain rare and not so rare species - this hobby is laughable cheap, on that sense 'friendly' to everyone, so I'm always skeptical when I see such stuff.

Check @cold blood and the topsoil he use: with the price of one of said brand bag he can literally buy great topsoil for 500+ T's, probably.

As far your question, I buy substrate online, but here in Italy is literally very cheap. I buy KG of ready to use (so not 'bricks' that take forever to dry) coco fiber or Irish moss peat.

 

[cold blood]

Topsoil

• cold blood
• Dec 29, 2017
• 2

 

[MrP]

I've been looking at Tom Moran's videos on the kind of substrate he uses, but I was confused as to where to find the material and how to mix it. Should it be ground up and like grinded together or is it literally just a "put it in a container, thoroughly mix it, and there you go" kind of thing?

 

[Greasylake]

I've been looking at Tom Moran's videos on the kind of substrate he uses, but I was confused as to where to find the material and how to mix it. Should it be ground up and like grinded together or is it literally just a "put it in a container, thoroughly mix it, and there you go" kind of thing?

Coco fiber needs to be rehydrated from the bricks it comes in before it can be used. Vermiculite can just be mixed straight in with the substrate. Coco fiber can be found at just about every pet shop, and vermiculite can be found at garden center type places or online.

 

[cold blood]

@MrP Mixing is a personal preference, not a necessity...just like your choice of sub. I personally see mixing substrates as time spent on nothing seriously gained. But if that's what someone likes, so be it, its their personal choice...but don't think there's some magic mixture that is superior to all others or that mixing them needs to be done in some certain, specific manner or ratio.

I use just plain dirt, no mixing, and it works just fine and dandy.

 

[StampFan]

@MrP Mixing is a personal preference, not a necessity...just like your choice of sub. I personally see mixing substrates as time spent on nothing seriously gained. But if that's what someone likes, so be it, its their personal choice...but don't think there's some magic mixture that is superior to all others or that mixing them needs to be done in some certain, specific manner or ratio.

I use just plain dirt, no mixing, and it works just fine and dandy.

Stan Schultz has a quote in the book that mixing still ends up with the negative qualities of each....so little gained.

 

[Malo]

I figure I would start with the basics, which is just Coco fiber. With hardy starter tarantulas that don't really require certain ranges of humidity, misting etc.

I just doubt it's something worth worrying about when starting out the hobby.

 

[cold blood]

With hardy starter tarantulas that don't really require certain ranges of humidity

No t requires this.

 

[MrP]

How long do mealworms last?

 

[AnimalNewbie]

How long do mealworms last?

They last a long time. I believe months if kept in the fridge. I personally don’t use them but cold blood does. Next time just open a new thread.

 

[Mirandarachnid]

Can't speak for mealworms, but superworms last an incredibly long time (I want to say at least 6 months IME). They don't need to be refrigerated either.

Next time just open a new thread.

I don't see anything wrong with a new keeper consolidating all of his questions to one thread. Keeps the forum tidy