Vinegar smell in my T enclosure

[Otteresting]

Hello !

I am posting this quickly as it seems to be an emergency.

When I came home, the enclosure I have prepared for my chilo smells like vinegar, like white vinegar. Where does it come from ? The substrate is a moist mix of coco fiber and natural humus.

I wont rehouse her inside the tank if there's this smelling but, does anyone already met the same issue ?

Thanks

 

[Chris LXXIX]

An enclosure that smells like my cousin's class A vinegar reserve I use for my salads?
No, never. Sadly

 

[Chris LXXIX]

Joking aside, I wouldn't like something like that, at all. I don't know, but I would check well that 'natural humus' you used, because in general coco fiber is rarely a culprit.

 

[Venom1080]

Whats natural humus? It's not the eco earth.

Dump it out and use just eco earth. Then see if you smell the same thing.

 

[Thekla]

When I came home, the enclosure I have prepared for my chilo smells like vinegar, like white vinegar. Where does it come from ? The substrate is a moist mix of coco fiber and natural humus.

I wont rehouse her inside the tank if there's this smelling but, does anyone already met the same issue ?

Thanks

You said you prepared the enclosure... did you - by any chance - use aquarium silicone to glue anything in it? Because that stuff smells like vinegar. Just a thought.

 

[Garth Vader]

I also wonder if you cleaned the enclosure and if it residue from that cleaner?

What is natural humus? Like the delicious dip made with garbanzo beans?

I just use coconut fiber for enclosures, sometimes a wee bit of moss for moisture.

 

[MetalMan2004]

I’m guessing the hummus is the Home Depot or Lowe’s hummus thats next to the topsoil. I use topsoil for my enclosures. Never tried the hummus for anything but my yard.

The vinegar smell is certainly a new one for me. Interested to hear if you figure it out.

 

[Garth Vader]

I’m guessing the hummus is the Home Depot or Lowe’s hummus thats next to the topsoil. I use topsoil for my enclosures. Never tried the hummus for anything but my yard.

The vinegar smell is certainly a new one for me. Interested to hear if you figure it out.

Oh yes. Here we go: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humus

Because this soil is made of a lot of decomposed materials, that could be the cause of the smell. I notice my garden compost sometimes has a vinegar smell. If I were you, I'd switch it out to just plain eco earth.

 

[Otteresting]

That's what I was thinking to, I am curious why they're still selling this, this smell is exactly the same as if you were opening a vinegar bottle.

Oh yes. Here we go: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humus

Because this soil is made of a lot of decomposed materials, that could be the cause of the smell. I notice my garden compost sometimes has a vinegar smell. If I were you, I'd switch it out to just plain eco earth.

It is harmful to T's ? I don't know, but I wont risk anything. I tried to add a bit a new humus and moisted it to check if it was the cause. When it's dry, or freshly moist, there's no smell tho.

Strangely, they recommand it for humids enclosures..

 

[Otteresting]

Here few pics of the humus I used

 

[PidderPeets]

If it's actually made for animals and not landscaping or something, I'd think it would be alright. Maybe try airing out the enclosure to see if that takes care of the smell? If you'd rather be safe than sorry though, I'd switch it out for just coco fiber.

I find it funny that that stuff is advertised for retaining humidity, and the arachnid they chose to use a picture of appears to be a B. hamorii.

 

[AphonopelmaTX]

The peat in the peat/ sand mixture written on the back label is what is most likely producing the vinegar smell. Peat, being naturally acidic, has a tendency to put off a strong smell when damp and sealed in a bag. As others suggested, let it dry and air out for a few weeks and if you can't wait, try just the coco fiber by itself. By "chilo" I am assuming you mean you are housing a Chilobrachys species so just damp coco fiber by itself should be adequate as a substrate.

 

[Otteresting]

If it's actually made for animals and not landscaping or something, I'd think it would be alright. Maybe try airing out the enclosure to see if that takes care of the smell? If you'd rather be safe than sorry though, I'd switch it out for just coco fiber.

I find it funny that that stuff is advertised for retaining humidity, and the arachnid they chose to use a picture of appears to be a B. hamorii.

They might just choose the first tarantula pic they find on google xD.

I washed the enclosure, cleaned everything and housed her with new humus, which does not smell. I'll see in few days. For now, that's okay speaking of smells

 

[PidderPeets]

They might just choose the first tarantula pic they find on google xD.

I washed the enclosure, cleaned everything and housed her with new humus, which does not smell. I'll see in few days. For now, that's okay speaking of smells

Yeah, but then what are they paying the marketing and research teams for?

Hopefully the smell doesn't return

 

[Otteresting]

I'll sme

Yeah, but then what are they paying the marketing and research teams for?

Hopefully the smell doesn't return

I'll smell again tomorrow, but I think it was just too humid. Thanks

 

[14pokies]

I use peat in all my enclosures and I have never had it smell like vinegar.. I house all of my moisture dependent species on it and wet or dry it doesn't smell.

Maybe your Tarantula was eating pickles while you were out?

 

[Otteresting]

If this smell again I'll change for peat, thanks .

I bet she likes pickles, but she wasnt in the enclosure, I've just prepared it few days ago to make sure everything was fine