What kind of vermiculite do you use?

[antinous]

Sorry @Dovey , I’m paranoid lol

Wanted to test out how well vermiculite holds moisture in the coco fiber sub I use and was wondering what brand do you use as I tend to go on trips every now and then and don’t want to worry about the sub drying out.

This is the brand in question:
https://www.menards.com/main/outdoo...608034794.htm?tid=-2494666137576826473&ipos=3

Does it look okay to use? Is there anything I should keep my eye out for?

 

[Teal]

I don't get all fancy with my substrate...

I just use potting soil.

 

[antinous]

I don't get all fancy with my substrate...

I just use potting soil.

I have a lot of coco fiber that was handed down to me so for the time being I’m planning to use it up before switching to topsoil. But for now I’d like to try and use a vermiculite mix to see how well it hangs on to soil moisture.

 

[antinous]

bump heading to the store today, any input would be appreciated

 

[Jayk]

http://www.thespidershop.co.uk/vermiculite-p-64.html#.W6zOAtL2a70

I use that stuff. It holds the moisture really well. stays relatively moist in critter keepers.

 

[MikeofBorg]

Vermiculite is vermiculite. Just be sure to read the ingredients to be sure it’s only vermiculite. Stay away from anything Miracle Grow, they always have additives in their products like fertilizer. Personally I like to use a mix of Pool filtration sand, peat moss, organic potting soil and vermiculite. For every 2 pounds of soil I add 2 cups of vermiculite,1 cup of sand and 3 cups of peat moss. This mix has done great for both my Ts and the live plants in their enclosures. I know the live plants are more work to maintain, but all my Ts are on display when company stops by. None of mine are in plastic tubs so I like the enclosure to look good even if the spider isn’t out.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

I use vermiculite for inverts that needs a more humidity parameter for thrive. Works perfectly for mantain the humidity level in the long run, but I use fine grain vermiculite only (not the rough one, seems sand, basically).

 

[antinous]

Are there any cons for using the coarse/rough ones compared to the finge grain? I just picked up a bag of the ‘coarse’ one

 

[Chris LXXIX]

Are there any cons for using the coarse/rough ones compared to the finge grain? I just picked up a bag of the ‘coarse’ one

Never used that, so I can't give to you a first hand opinion. The one I always used since forever, IMO is really great: basically sorta sand, I usually mix well a couple of Tea spoons of that in the substrate (of course while preparing the set up), and voilà.

Anyway I've viewed (here on this site) a good dozen of T's pics with that more bigger, vermiculite, used as sorta of substrate and not as additive. I don't know, honestly

 

[The Grym Reaper]

Are there any cons for using the coarse/rough ones compared to the finge grain? I just picked up a bag of the ‘coarse’ one

I only use the fine grade for aesthetic reasons (i.e. it's not as obvious and unnatural looking as the coarse stuff).

As for brands, it doesn't really matter as long as it doesn't have any crap added to it, I just order bags of it from eBay.

 

[cold blood]

I use vermiculite for inverts that needs a more humidity parameter for thrive. Works perfectly for mantain the humidity level in the long run, but I use fine grain vermiculite only (not the rough one, seems sand, basically).

its maintaining moisture within the sub, NOT humidity.

 

[Dovey]

Blood, you are so deliciously hardcore on this issue. Power to you. That's how cultures get changed and language evolves.

 

[MikeofBorg]

Are there any cons for using the coarse/rough ones compared to the finge grain? I just picked up a bag of the ‘coarse’ one

That stuff that is more coarse is used for big yard projects as a soil additive I think. Is it in the huge bags like peat moss bails?

 

[basin79]

Non. I just use moss peat.

 

[MikeofBorg]

its maintaining moisture within the sub, NOT humidity.

It can help with humidity by slowly releasing the water it absorbed over time. But it generally releases it into the substrate, only the first few centimeters on the surface will release its water into the air. It is also great to stabilize substrate for burrowers when it has moisture in it, it will hold soil particles together. Great stuff for T enclosures and don't forget your garden if you have one. I added it to mine this year and had great results. I have really bad clay like soil here in West Central Ohio. Go about 15 miles north and you hit the old Black Swamp area and they have perfect black rich soil. Not here though, it gets as hard as concrete without rain.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

its maintaining moisture within the sub, NOT humidity.

I know, and my point was that, actually. Just that 'humidity' and 'moisture', in Italy (when it comes to something like substrate) are both terms that share the same meaning/term, a word called 'umidità': I still think fast and in Italian, that's why a bit of confusion

 

[cold blood]

I know, and my point was that, actually. Just that 'humidity' and 'moisture', in Italy (when it comes to something like substrate) are both terms that share the same meaning/term, a word called 'umidità': I still think fast and in Italian, that's why a bit of confusion

lol...the rest of the world says humidity is moisture within the air.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

lol...the rest of the world says humidity is moisture within the air.

It's like when, here, I type 'specie' instead of 'species': in Italy the word 'specie' means, actually, 'species', but 'specie' in English has another meaning

 

[viper69]

so there's a difference in pressed mica between makers hahah, just use whatever you have.