Substrate Peat Vs. Cocoa Fiber Vs. Eco Earth

[tarantulagooroo]

Hey Everybody I Was Just Wondering The Setup You Have For Your Tarantula. I Have Been Wondering About Substrate. Should I Use Peat? Cocoa Fiber? Eco Earth?

If I Use Peat Where Should I Get It And Are There Any Things I Should Watch For In The Peat For Ex: It Contains Fertilizer Or Anything Harmful To My T.

If I Use Cocoa Fiber Where Could I Purchase It? I Have Checked At Pet Stores And Cant Find The Brick. All I Can Find Is Some At Lowe's That Is Use For Flower Pots Or Something. Do I Need To Get It Without Any Fertilizers? And If I Got It How Should I Set It Up?
Should I Soak It In Water Add Vermiculite Or What?

And Last But Not Least What Are Your Feelings On Eco Earth?

 

[jebbewocky]

OK, first things first. Standard English grammar rules of capitalization dictate that words are only capitalized at the start of sentences, or when they are proper nouns.

Secondly--yes, you want peat and coco fiber that are pesticide and fertilizer free. Or at least pesticide free, and I imagine fertilizer would stink and might be harmful.

Thirdly, Eco Earth is a specific brand name of coco fiber.

Fourthly, personally I have used 100% coco fiber thus far, and will soon be switching to coco fiber and potting soil mix (I found some that is 100% dirt nothing else) because coco fiber just doesn't hold well enough for terrestrials or burrowers IMO. It also is a bit problematic in humid setups.

Lastly, use the search.

 

[Abby]

I personally use coco fiber for my Ts, they are all terrestrial.

I find it as a compressed brick big petstores in the reptile section, or in small shops where they also have small reptiles.

All my T's seem to like it, and I don't have any issues since my Ts like the substrate dry. I have Grammostolas and Brachypelmas.

 

[maitre]

LOL on the capitalization thing... but I digress.

What works for me is a blend of coco fibre, peat, and vermiculite in roughly 5 : 3 : 1 proportions. Because of the peat, it isn't as loose as straight coco fibre but it still holds humidity well because of the vermiculite and cocofibre.

The peat I use isn't straight peat btw. It's actually an organic cactus mix that is a blend of a bunch of things. It's quite dark on its own but looks very natural when mixed with cocofibre.

Cocofibre blocks won't have fertilizer/pesticides in it. Neither will vermiculite (I buy it straight in a big bag). Just watch out when you're picking a potting soil or peat mix. If the label is 'organic', you know you're good to go!

 

[jebbewocky]

LOL on the capitalization thing... but I digress.

What works for me is a blend of coco fibre, peat, and vermiculite in roughly 5 : 3 : 1 proportions. Because of the peat, it isn't as loose as straight coco fibre but it still holds humidity well because of the vermiculite and cocofibre.

The peat I use isn't straight peat btw. It's actually an organic cactus mix that is a blend of a bunch of things. It's quite dark on its own but looks very natural when mixed with cocofibre.

Cocofibre blocks won't have fertilizer/pesticides in it. Neither will vermiculite (I buy it straight in a big bag). Just watch out when you're picking a potting soil or peat mix. If the label is 'organic', you know you're good to go!

It is probably good to go if organic.
Even organic dirt tends to have some sort of additive--"organic" just means it has to be a natural additive. I'm not sure if fertilizer would "hurt" your T, but I for one wouldn't want to be kept in something that includes poop. A T, probably doesn't care either way, but the dirt might smell a little weird.

Really, the ideal substrate depends on what T's you are keeping, and what environment you live in.

And Bryn, as long as I'm correcting people's English---"fiber."










(Fibre is perfectly valid, provided you're British. I'm just messing with you. )

 

[maitre]

It is probably good to go if organic.
Even organic dirt tends to have some sort of additive--"organic" just means it has to be a natural additive. I'm not sure if fertilizer would "hurt" your T, but I for one wouldn't want to be kept in something that includes poop. A T, probably doesn't care either way, but the dirt might smell a little weird.

Really, the ideal substrate depends on what T's you are keeping, and what environment you live in.

And Bryn, as long as I'm correcting people's English---"fiber."










(Fibre is perfectly valid, provided you're British. I'm just messing with you. )

Hey jebbewocky! Thanks for clarifying the organic thing with me.. I'm gonna have to check that bag of organic cactus soil in a bit! I really don't think there is anything like manure in it though. Off the top of my head, the main ingredient is peat with loam, sand, perlite, and probably a couple other items. I don't remember any manure being included though because the mix is meant for cacti - who dont' need very much fertilizer!! Maybe only once a month for the 4 months of summer.

LOL I'm from Canada.. so it's fibre up here too

 

[tarantulagooroo]

hahahahaha

It is probably good to go if organic.
Even organic dirt tends to have some sort of additive--"organic" just means it has to be a natural additive. I'm not sure if fertilizer would "hurt" your T, but I for one wouldn't want to be kept in something that includes poop. A T, probably doesn't care either way, but the dirt might smell a little weird.

Really, the ideal substrate depends on what T's you are keeping, and what environment you live in.

And Bryn, as long as I'm correcting people's English---"fiber."










(Fibre is perfectly valid, provided you're British. I'm just messing with you. )

hay i just wanted to add in there that this substrate is for an avic. versicolor and for a chaco golden stripe. since the chaco likes it dry and likes to tunnel but the avic likes it humid i dont know what kind i should use.... mabye one would be better for the avic and one would be better for the chaco

 

[rasputin]

If I Use Peat Where Should I Get It And Are There Any Things I Should Watch For In The Peat For Ex: It Contains Fertilizer Or Anything Harmful To My T.

Peat is actually decaying matter: http://www.peatsociety.org/index.php?id=32
Peat is mixed with dirt for the production of potting soil and used as a fertilized, much like dung. It smells like dung too. The hobby needs to get away from the confusion once and for all.

Sphagnum is what people often call peat yet is a completely different matter and you can find sphagnum at your local botanist/greenhouse, Home Depot, Lowes, or other home improvement store that would sell horticultural products. It comes by the bail and more often than not is pesticide free. Big corporate pet stores may also carry it and a few small pet stores may carry it (it's just more expensive when you but it at a pet store).

Coco fiber comes in many different fashions. The bricks are the most commonly available in the hobby but their quality is not the greatest. I get mine from Daryl at http://naturesubstrate.org/index.htm - it's organic, reasonably priced and comes in various shreds - this is a company I carry and recommend above all other coco fibers.

Coco fiber is actually one of the best substrate bases when working with tarantulas - I usually mix it with a sand I produce from a mix of river bed sand and sandstone or lava sand to produce a heavier substrate. If you mix coco fiber with sphagnum you will get a fluffier, lighter substrate - both mixing styles retain moisture well, it's all in what type of earth you are trying to replicate and then you experiment with your mixes and ratios in order to get your desired consistency. I've got some that are just on coco fiber but it's a more arid substrate as it does not retain moisture as well.

I hope that helps.

 

[maitre]

Oh and btw, we can legally keep/grow peyote up here. Marijuana is also decriminalized.

I don't partake in any substances though (maybe a beer every so often?) so it doesn't apply to me but I still think our liberal ways of thinking is pretty cool

Next on the list.... decriminalizing roaches!!! haha

 

[maitre]

Coco fiber comes in many different fashions. The bricks are the most commonly available in the hobby but their quality is not the greatest. I get mine from Daryl at http://naturesubstrate.org/index.htm - it's organic, reasonably priced and comes in various shreds - this is a company I carry and recommend above all other coco fibers.

Hey rasputin, how is the Daryl cocofibre typically sold? Is it a brick or does it come loose? I'm trying to find an alternative to the exo-terra/zoo-med stuff. The only stuff I ever see is this big squarish block of cocofibre at Home Depot or Canadian Tire but never knew if it was safe.

 

[rasputin]

Oh and btw, we can legally keep/grow peyote up here. Marijuana is also decriminalized.

I don't partake in any substances though (maybe a beer every so often?) so it doesn't apply to me but I still think our liberal ways of thinking is pretty cool

Next on the list.... decriminalizing roaches!!! haha

:? Okay then. I guess you folks up there better get on that legalization of roaches then.

P.S. you can order peyote by it's scientific name to grow down here, people are just not smart enough to go with scientific names when they want something. But I don't do drugs so I don't care.

 

[tarantulagooroo]

remember this is for a chaco golden knee and an avic. so one likes it dry and likes to tunnel and one likes it humid what substrate will hold moisture good.

and what substrate will stay dry and be good for a chaco who likes to make a tunnel

 

[rasputin]

remember this is for a chaco golden knee and an avic. so one likes it dry and likes to tunnel and one likes it humid what substrate will hold moisture good.

and what substrate will stay dry and be good for a chaco who likes to make a tunnel

Well, sphagnum is a great addition for the humid environment but a waste for the dry environment. Of course, to limit humidity and maintain a dry environment is as simple as not adding so much moisture - by this rationalization any mix or even straight coco fiber would suffice. The thing with coco fiber is that varying shreds do make a big difference in the stimulation of burrowing behavior so I like to take it and mix it with a little bit of sand, moisten it and then let it dry out when I'm working with a species that prefers a drier climate but I need the substrate to be manageable for burrowing.

 

[tarantulagooroo]

thanks
alot

 

[rasputin]

no problem

 

[jebbewocky]

BW:
You have the Queen on your money=British.
Again, I kid.

But yeah, I'm a fan of Canadian politics in some ways, namely same sex marriage and socialized medicine. One of which we may have the US very soon. And I'm in Michigan, which is practically Canada anyway (but only geographically). My grandpa was from a little German village in Saskatchewan. I plan on visiting someday, but probably in the summer. But I'm rambling. Beer does that.

On topic!



Ok. One is for an avic. Coco fiber is probably not what you want. I only started having an avic a few weeks ago, but I think I'm going to trade that out for something else--mold might be an issue. Vermiculite used to be the hobby standard, there was a quality issue with asbestos, but I think that is done now. Either way, for Avics from what I understand from the TKG, substrate in an Avic cages is mostly for appearance sake. They are arboreal, even by arboreal standards if you get my drift--they rarely go to the bottom. So yeah, I'd go with vermiculite. It's inorganic in nature, so mold=no problem, unless you have something else that molds like, say cholla wood. In which you should absolutely NOT microwave it. Found THAT out the hard way this morning. :wall:

As for the chaco--either the moss stuff, or potting soil. Just be sure to get potting soil without extra crap in it. Go to a specialty plant store--you won't find just plain dirt at a grocery store like Wal-Mart. And you shouldn't shop at Wal-Mart anyway, they are the devil.

Actually, potting soil would be fine for the Avic as well. So just get potting soil, and maybe mix in some coconut coir or moss or vermiculite.

 

[maitre]

:? Okay then. I guess you folks up there better get on that legalization of roaches then.

P.S. you can order peyote by it's scientific name to grow down here, people are just not smart enough to go with scientific names when they want something. But I don't do drugs so I don't care.

Actually no, you can't get it even with the scientific name. You can get other types that don't contain M... but not the true lophophora williamsii.

but I digress and the discussion should go back to subtrates..

 

[tarantulagooroo]

but sphagnum is moss and how will adding sand make it easier to burrow in if it is not moist

 

[tarantulagooroo]

how does this sound for the avic. just put some verm. and coconut fiber and keep it moist or something that holds moisture well

for the chaco coconut fiber mixed with some sand for a dry setting but easy to burrow in

 

[jebbewocky]

but sphagnum is moss and how will adding sand make it easier to burrow in if it is not moist

I don't really have much experience with it, but it is pretty fluffy even if not wet from what I remember when I briefly used it for geckos. The geckos didn't like it for whatever reason.

Personally, I wouldn't recommend sand as a base. Maybe an additive, but not a base.