Substrate preference poll

[Heartfang]

I use Bed-A-Beast. I've never, ever gotten any mold with it, it holds in moisture nicely, comes in a brick that when expanded, makes a crap load of substrate for you to use. My T's love it, as far as I can tell. I've had no problems with it what-so-ever. Oh ya, it's pretty inexpensive too.

 

[Cirith Ungol]

I use 100% vermiculte at this point in time. It's my first substrate. I use it for both the T and my P.imp A.K.A. Pimp. It seems you can play ocean with that stuff and nothing happens. I belive that is due to that vermiculite is a sterile mineral substance (completely without any organic traces) and can hold vast ammounts of water.

Since that substrate has a slight tendancy to stick to the animals I'll be switching to peat moss in the future, when my other animals arrive. It's just a bit more natural and I guess it will look better than verm.

 

[Lyle Beach]

I use Bed-A-Beast..... Oh ya, it's pretty inexpensive too.

Whats inexpensive?

I can get a 2.2 cubic ft bale of peat moss for $7.00

 

[andy83]

I use 100% Bed-A-Beast and mostly critter-keepers. Never had a problem with mold or parasites. If there are any baby crickets that have hatched from an adult I just let it dry out and that always does the trick. If I want to increase the moisture I cover the ventinlation of the cages and overflow the water dish.

 

[cryptly]

I've switched to Eco-Earth. The main reason I switched is because it holds moisture really well and doesn't mold. One brick made more than enough for several sling vials and two mini-kritter keepers. The little guys seem to love it, saw no burrowing with peat moss, and now they're little 8 legged bulldozers.

 

[Sandra]

I have 100% organic soil, with a little bit of sphagnum moss around the water dish. No probs with mold.

 

[grammostola1953]

I'm with Lyle on the bale-o-peat...
I mix in a little b-a-b & vermiculite for substance.

 

[reverendsterlin]

straight peat kept dry except for the H. gigas and water dishes for all mine.
Rev

 

[Windchaser]

Whats inexpensive?

I can get a 2.2 cubic ft bale of peat moss for $7.00

I have to agree with Lyle, though I have his price beat. I picked up 2, 2.2 cubic feet bales for just under $10.00. You can buy peat in even larger quantities for less as well. Compare that to Bed-A-Beast at roughly $3.00 to $4.00 a brick. I have seen Eco-Earth as low as $2.00 a brick. But still, that is 7 or 8 liters for each brick. There are 62.3 liters per 2.2 cubic feet. That means even at the best price, Eco-Earth is at least 3 times the price of peat.

 

[Elizabeth]

Hey, I knew this poll on substrate was in here somewhere. I think this will add a lot of info for you:

http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?t=22249&highlight=substrate+poll


I can't remember my answer then, as I started out using my own blend, but switched to 100% dry peat moss at some point. I have never had problems with my substrates.

By the way, the Ts web and dig and do all types of stuff to the peat moss. Their webbing stabilizes the peat, so you don't have to add other things for substance, unless you simply want to.

 

[hamfoto]

I use a mix of Bed-a-Beast (the coconut product) and Lizard Litter "Jungle Mix". I mix about half-and-half and it works great...the T's love it and will dig their burrows in it. It's more expensive than a bale of peat moss, but really, it's not that bad price-wise for the long run.

 

[Windchaser]

I use a mix of Bed-a-Beast (the coconut product) and Lizard Litter "Jungle Mix". I mix about half-and-half and it works great...the T's love it and will dig their burrows in it. It's more expensive than a bale of peat moss, but really, it's not that bad price-wise for the long run.

It adds up when you have a large number of enclosures.

 

[Maniac]

I use the coconut stuff and I'm not going to chang that. My T's love to dig in it and I have no problems with mold (even when sth. molds on it - dead cricket for eg.). Some people form other forums use acidic peat and they also have no probs with mold. In my opinion both are good. I chose what I like best.

 

[galeogirl]

I've always used peat moss mixed with organic soil, just recently picked up some bed-a-beast because it was on sale at the pet store for $3 a brick. I've had to spot-clean the bed-a-beast for mold once already, it seems to be better now that some of the water has evaporated out. I'm going to bake the rest in the oven to get some of the moisture out before I start filling enclosures.

 

[shogun804]

peat moss and potting soil is all i use they both work great IMO. never had any problems with mold...peatmoss when it is wet down properly is very good and almost always holds its moisture and form. and if the ventalation is good then no mold same thing with a mix of potting soil and peat moss. potting soil on its own dries out fairly fast within a week or two and its a pain to re wet becasue then it gets all mushy, so id say peat moss all by itself or peat moss and potting soil, my H lividum is on 100% peat moss right now and loves it it has made a full burrow and no mold

as for all the other ones mentioned that sphagnum moss stuff is a jungle for crickets to hide in so IMO that sucks, and the others like bed a beast i have not tried yet but i will someday im sure just to see what else is out there
but for now its peat moss mostly i guess cause its the cheapest and ive had good results with it.

 

[druid8783]

Currently I use exclusively peat moss. I don't really care for it that much. It's dusty and it's a pain to re-wet once it's in the enclosures.

I don't have that many enclosures so I'm switching to potting soil and eco-earth. I used to use eco-earth with my hermit crabs and I loved it and so did they. It rarely molded (hermits are notorious for burying food) and it held moisture well. Plus when it's dry, it's not that dusty.

I had my A. seemanni on eco-earth before I switched to peat and she hasn't burrowed once since I put her on peat. So, I think she'll be happier on eco-earth.

 

[MountinGal]

So far I've been using 100% peat moss. My G. aureostriata and B. albilpilosum slings have both built intricate burrows in it. I mist the sides of their jars every few days because they are under a blacklight for heat, but no mold problems. And it is cheap; since I only have three slings, a 1 lb. bag for under $2 was the right price.

 

[Gostone]

OK, This is gonna sound really noob but here goes(no laughing please):

When you say peat moss, do you get that at the pet stores, feed stores, or gardening stores?

And do you have to treat it when you buy it, i.e. cook out the bacteria?

Are there brands or is it just in bulk?

I been using the coconut brick stuff but it's a pain to re-constitute especially since I only have 6 spiders.

Thanks.

-Gostone

 

[Windchaser]

When I buy peat moss, I usually get it from Home Depot, Target or Wal-Mart. If I only need a small amount, I will buy a bag of Scott's 110% Peat Moss. However, now that my collection has grown considerably, I buy the 2.2 cubic foot bales from Home Depot. There is no name brand on these bales. I haven't been doing anything with mine as far as cooking it. I have yet to experience any problems.

 

[Rob1985]

With mine so far I bough that Lizzard Litter "Jungle Mix". it seems to be real nice so far and the pet shop near sells it in big bags for like $10. I am putting my E.Pachypus in her permanent home today soooo... I think I am gonna go to home depot and get a some peat moss to spread across the top for extra comfort. :}