Ice Cube in the corner.

[Peter Lacey]

normal soil, nuked is what Stanley Schultz often uses*, and he's been doing this for decades. Peat moss is a good alternative.
Why not just remove some of the vermiculite (especially where the T isn't venturing) and replace with soil or peat, give it a quick stir and it'll be fine. Then just add a little more over the rest of the vermiculite. There's really no reason to take it all out again.

No matter that you didn't come, its waiting for you for the next time I decide to have a meet


*I think I'm right in suggesting that Stan doesn't even bother trying to sterilize his soil and if you think of it the soil in a tarantula's natural habitat is far from sterilized.

[Richard Shah]

normal soil, nuked is what Stanley Schultz often uses*, and he's been doing this for decades. Peat moss is a good alternative.
Why not just remove some of the vermiculite (especially where the T isn't venturing) and replace with soil or peat, give it a quick stir and it'll be fine. Then just add a little more over the rest of the vermiculite. There's really no reason to take it all out again.

No matter that you didn't come, its waiting for you for the next time I decide to have a meet


*I think I'm right in suggesting that Stan doesn't even bother trying to sterilize his soil and if you think of it the soil in a tarantula's natural habitat is far from sterilized.

Thanks Peter.
About the soil, I've always known that, cuz obviously it isn't going to be; but I suppose that steralizing it is part of being in captivity. Soa re you suggesting I do not steralize it?
I agree with what you are saying, but tbh I'd rather not have any mites or other creatures that could attack the T. or disturb it and make the area look dirty - also I prefer knowing my room to be a comfortable place and, although I am not naive and think there are no insects in my room, the fact that there could be loads in a box just unnerves me a bit.
I think I'll put it in a bowl and at full heat in the microwave for a few mins.
That should kill off any organisms in it.

[Peter Lacey]

yep, that's what I'd do and I think that's what most people would recommend. One word of warming though, try to remove any pebbles before putting the soil in the mic. And, make sure you allow the substrate plenty of time to cool down, give it a good stir occassional to dissipate the heat.

[Richard Shah]

yep, that's what I'd do and I think that's what most people would recommend. One word of warming though, try to remove any pebbles before putting the soil in the mic. And, make sure you allow the substrate plenty of time to cool down, give it a good stir occassional to dissipate the heat.

I will. Thank you; I think my mum has a huge bag of it in the garden; I'll have to look tomoz, and there shouldn't be stones in there )though it has been there for a while, so I dunno what is living in there.

[Peter Roach]

If you are going to nuke some garden earth i would suggest that it is fairly moist because then the steam from the moist earth will kill most, if not all living organisms in it.

[Richard Shah]

If you are going to nuke some garden earth i would suggest that it is fairly moist because then the steam from the moist earth will kill most, if not all living organisms in it.

Certainly. Cheers