tropical terrarium substrates

[LToush]

anyone use or have an opinion on Reptibark or Reptisoil 10 for a tropical terrarium?

 

[Dorifto]

Do your own substrate, much cheaper and easy to do. You only need some clay, sand, coco fiber and unfertilized top soil.

Mix the clay, the sand and the top soil, as a drainage layer, then add a mix of coco fiber, a little bit of sand and the top soil.

 

[Rhino1]

Reptisoil and reptibark are fine imho, I've used them for saltaurius species (leaf tailed gecko's) where I wanted a sanitary substrate in an enclosure where eggs were to be laid.
These days I'm on the "make my own sub" bandwagon like @Dorifto, with either peat or Coco fibre as the main part.
If it's suitable for the critters you intend to keep, then use whatever you want
I love rainforest enclosures so please post some pics when you're done. Good luck with it mate

 

[LToush]

ty

 

[Thekla]

anyone use or have an opinion on Reptibark or Reptisoil 10 for a tropical terrarium?

What kind of animal do you want to house in your tropical terrarium? I wouldn't use Reptisoil for dart frogs, for example.

 

[LToush]

thinking of two of them; one for a crested gecko and another for a pink-toed tarantula. Both are arboreal and tropical

 

[Thekla]

thinking of two of them; one for a crested gecko and another for a pink-toed tarantula. Both are arboreal and tropical

Well, I can't say anything about how appropriate they would be for a crested gecko, but if you intend to do a tropical terrarium for an Avicularia... then don't. Because it sounds as if you want to set up a terrarium with high humidity, real plants, etc., and that would probably kill your T in no time.

Please read these threads first, before you get your Avic or set up its enclosure:

• Avicularia and Caribena (by Venom1080): These are the most beginner-friendly arboreal species, commonly sold as pinktoe tarantulas. These species are less tolerant of newbie mistakes, so we recommend getting feedback on your enclosure beforehand.
• Avicularia and Caribena (by viper69): More helpful advice. See above.

 

[LToush]

you have a recommendation for a beginner tarantula? Did I get some misinformation that the pink-toe needs high humidity?

 

[Thekla]

you have a recommendation for a beginner tarantula?

I highly recommend reading this, there're also some threads regarding beginner tarantulas and how to keep them:

Admin Announcement - Tarantula Information for Beginners (and More)

Below are some helpful resources. (Rather than having half a dozen or more pinned threads, which clutter the top of the board, we are pinning this index.) While the focus is on beginners, there are other threads on health and more advanced species that may be useful to more experienced keepers...

arachnoboards.com

Did I get some misinformation that the pink-toe needs high humidity?

Yes, you most probably did. If you read the threads I linked you know now how to keep them. And as for your other thread... a 12x12x18" enclosure would be way too big for a 2,5" juvenile Avic.

It is absolutely possible to keep an Avic or one of their relatives (like C. versicolor) as a beginner, but you need to do proper research first.

 

[LToush]

even though Exo-terra tanks have vents top and bottom; maybe better to make my own tanks