Rose hair's bedding advice?

[emv0752]

A couple quick questions about my rose hair... I went to a local pet store today for new bedding. I had previously used peat moss before but a worker recommended small cedar chips- is this a better option? Also, when I got home, I put a little tupperware container in her cage (I plan on coaxing her into that and keeping her in there while I clean out her cage) but she was acting aggressive toward me and the container, getting into her attack stance and whatnot...since then she's been going ape and running around in her cage. I'm guessing she's just feeling a little mean today.:evil: How long should I wait to try again? A day or so? And how often should I change her bedding? It was last changed in February... thanks for the help

 

[Dreamslave]

All the info you need to know on rose hairs can be found here:
http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?t=5292

 

[Paramite]

You can pretty much forget everything they tell you in the pet stores. It's truly amazing that they always get something wrong. Is it so hard to read?

Cedar chips ARE NOT a better option.

 

[Dyon]

I use cocopeat for my T's its really soft and holds humidity relatively long

 

[Moltar]

The link posted by Dreamslave pretty much says it all. What is said there about substrate represents somewhat outdated thinking however. Vermiculite in particular isn't as good a substrate as peat moss or thoroughly dried coco fiber (bed-a-beast, jungle floor, etc) because both of the latter tend to hold shape better where vermiculite is light and fluffy enough that it tends to collapse.

Cedar is absoluely NOT ok because it contains natural pesticides, not advised.
Also you will seldom-if ever need to change substrate. Just keep things dry, remove old prey, bolus (chewed up food ball), poop, etc with long tweezers and you'll be fine. I have never replaced the substrate on any T except for to move them up to a bigger enclosure.

 

[8by8]

I keep all my rosea's on bed-a-beast. But only use when dry, they hate wet feet. Ceder contains toxic oils that hurt both T's and herps.

 

[Stan Schultz]

The link posted by Dreamslave pretty much says it all. What is said there about substrate represents somewhat outdated thinking however. ...

The contents of that stickie are now more or less obsolete. Anyone who cares may read, download, and print the up-to-date version at www.ucalgary.ca/~schultz/roses.html.

It would be a good idea for someone, whoever has control of such things, to change that stickie appropriately.

 

[gvfarns]

As others have said, cedar=bad. Use potting soil or coco fiber or some other arachnoboards approved substrate.

Don't bother changing out the substrate unless something very unusual happens to it (like it molds or something). T's don't dirty substrate up. I'd say once a year is more than adequate in general. Actually, I never change substrate unless I'm rehousing them because they have outgrown their housing.

She's acting aggressive because she's freaked out. Too many changes. Tarantulas don't like change. You can just leave her there for a while. By tomorrow she won't remember. The other thing I might point out is that new T owners frequently mistake normal "I'm scared" behavior on the part of a T for defensive behavior. Most likely she's not actually threatening you or anything. Still, better to be safe than sorry. If she seems freaked out, you can give her a day and she'll be fine. Or just leave her alone and never make any changes in her enclosure.

 

[Mushroom Spore]

Yeah, pine and cedar are both toxic to most forms of life, inverts included.