substrate dampness

daveemory · substrate dampness

Okay, folks, I'm just fed up with all the contradictory information which I am getting, between various web resources and my local herp-friendly store.

Among various concerns: I am using organic peet moss for substrate. I have the following five spiders:
B. emilia 3"
B. vagans 1.5"
B. smithi .5"
G. rosea 2"
C. cyaneopubescens 4"

When I first got one, the rosea, I tried the method suggesting to me of moistening the dirt, squeezing all the water out of it, and putting it in the enclosure. The spider freaked out and stayed on the walls, drooling. So I switched to ENTIRELY DRY substrate. The spider eventually began digging around and looking like it's having fun.

I've followed this rule of thumb - DRY - for all five enclosures. I mist one side of each enclosure once or twice a week. (Twice/three times for the vagans, which I understand likes it slightly more humid.)

Over the past weeks, I've watched my rosea re-make its surroundings several times over, carving out different burrows, sealing old ones. It looks like a bunch of hills and valleys now, and recently it seemed to cover almost the whole thing in webbing. I told someone this, and they said, "that means it's unhappy and your substrate is all wrong, because tarantulas want ONE comfortable burrow for life, so if it's changing it around, something is wrong."

Well, this just sent me over the freakin' cliff. So, folks:
1. HOW moist do you all think the substrate should be for any or all of these spiders?
2. If "slightly", then how do you actually get the substrate moist without dampening it too much?
3. Is the guy who gave me the advice above full of krap?

Help.

PC

darth skippy

i think you're fine... rosies are just weird.

the answer to #3 is yes

daveemory

llamamama

Peter, I have all of those, and I keep them all on dry cocofiber/ecoearth/whatever you call the stuff. The little ones I mist once a week and the bigger ones each have a water dish, which I allow to overflow a tiny bit when I fill it.

I have a rosea that did nothing to her enclosure for months, and then decided to move things around and web the place. I have a B. albopilosum who complete redecorates every several weeks, to the point of uprooting fake plants and putting them elsewhere, to say nothing of what she does to the substrate. Don't worry, everyone likes to redecorate once in a while!

darth skippy

i switched to coco fiber and vermiculite from the petting soil i was using before but i don't think it makes too much of a difference. i just like to make a big batch at a time and am too lazy to diversify my bedding

squirrel

My rose hair doesnt dig, I have a water dish on the "wet side" which keeps it about 70% humidity. The New river has set up its burrow under its log (def. a digger).

I was told that the eco-earth was the best bet for them and it seems like they are happy. errrr......well the new river is kinda skippy but thats expected since its young. :)

BTW...PetSmart had the coco fiber eco-earth for 7.99 for a 3 pak online, if you buy at the store they are like 5.00 each so you can save buying online :)

daveemory

T_Stew

mitchrobot4

if you're looking to buy coco fiber or peat moss in bulk, check out a local indoor hydroponic gardening shop. i got 3.8 cubic feet for $24, the thing is massive and easily enough to clean ALL of my cages, its clean and already comes slightly damp (just on the verge of drying)

T_Stew

DeeCasey

I dont recommend vermiculite because it has traces of asbestos.

I really dont want to take the chance and the coco fiber does the job.

I buy natures substrate. http://naturesubstrate.org/. Its organic and I love it!
You can order online or get it at more mom and pop shops.
I the natures substrate from Amazon Pets.

daveemory

squirrel