Substrate question

[Den]

Hey guys. I have a 2 in. OBT that just moulted into a 3 in. OBT. She, I hope, is to big for her web tunnel but will be fine in the enclosure until her next moult. Is it okay to reuse her substrate. She was the only been used for her before. It's also relatively fresh. It's only been in use for about 2 months. So my overall question is, can I reuse this substrate/redo her enclosure to give her a larger set-up in the same enclosure?

 

[fartkowski]

I don't see why not.
I have done this before with no problems.

 

[Musicwolf]

I never re-use for another tarantula, but sure - - for her own house, I don't see why that would be a problem if it's still clean.

 

[Rob1985]

I have reused substrate before. Just pop it in the oven to kill of anything that might have grown while she inhabited it. Any pics?

 

[Den]

I have reused substrate before. Just pop it in the oven to kill of anything that might have grown while she inhabited it. Any pics?

That's a good idea. In fact, I'll make a video of taking her out re-doing her cage and putting back in. And hopefully I can sex the moult. I'll see I can post it Saturday or Sunday.

 

[paassatt]

I never re-use for another tarantula, but sure - - for her own house, I don't see why that would be a problem if it's still clean.

I agree with this. As long as it's for the same spider and is clean, it isn't an issue.

 

[Den]

Dumb old me just found 3 bricks in the closet. :wall: Oh what we find in our closets!

 

[Tym Hollerup]

Personally I give new too all of my T's. But this brings up one other question... I have a hide that I got from a friend that he used when he had a Tarantula. He had a G. rosea. The question is... Can I use this hide for another T, or will it sense "danger" in a way and freak out? I haven't used it at all yet, nor have I cleaned it very well yet. As I'm still unsure as if I can (or even should) use it again.

 

[Den]

Personally I give new too all of my T's. But this brings up one other question... I have a hide that I got from a friend that he used when he had a Tarantula. He had a G. rosea. The question is... Can I use this hide for another T, or will it sense "danger" in a way and freak out? I haven't used it at all yet, nor have I cleaned it very well yet. As I'm still unsure as if I can (or even should) use it again.

I think if you wash it under hat water. cook it. boil it. let it cool/dry. It should be fine.

 

[curiousme]

I think if you wash it under hat water.

lol I doubt hat water would be a good thing, but hot water would.

If it is something that can be rinsed in hot water, as hot as it gets, then that would be all I would do. If it needs deep dried, then the oven or microwave work.

 

[Bosing]

Thank you for this thread. Just a related question. Will a tarantula be stressed if he/she was given a substrate that was previously used by another T? a different specie at that?

Sometimes I just transfer Ts from one canister to another and let them occupy a previously occupied enclosure. Is this bad?

 

[Musicwolf]

Thank you for this thread. Just a related question. Will a tarantula be stressed if he/she was given a substrate that was previously used by another T? a different specie at that?

Sometimes I just transfer Ts from one canister to another and let them occupy a previously occupied enclosure. Is this bad?

I would think that it could cause stress - - it may just sense danger . . . but that is just a guess. Eventually it would realize that there was no danger and would adopt it as it's own.

 

[grayzone]

i took substrate from my parahybanas enclosure and used it for my regalis and curly hairs homes and theyve been livin just fine ever since. been about 2 months and all spiders r happy, eating, both slings have successfully molted and r growing......... my ? is how would they even sense another spider? if they cant see too great, dont have noses to smell, and are based on vibration/ movement they SHOULD BE clueless to reused substrate ( sterilized/baked ) or not rite?

 

[curiousme]

We have done this with several Ts with no noticeable side effects. We have even had 4 different Avicularia species in the same 10 gal. planted enclosure.

 

[Musicwolf]

i took substrate from my parahybanas enclosure and used it for my regalis and curly hairs homes and theyve been livin just fine ever since. been about 2 months and all spiders r happy, eating, both slings have successfully molted and r growing......... my ? is how would they even sense another spider? if they cant see too great, dont have noses to smell, and are based on vibration/ movement they SHOULD BE clueless to reused substrate ( sterilized/baked ) or not rite?

I was just thinking that they would "feel" the remnant webbing or urticating hairs from previous spiders . . . . but it seems that I was wrong - - glad to know this for the future :clap: though I'll probably still take the top layer off just to make myself feel better - lol.

 

[advan]

I don't think you are wrong. Some people do it some people don't, it's all personal preference. I use new substrate everytime, but I have been guilty of missing some webbing when cleaning a previously occupied home for a newcomer.