substrate

[Mrs Linda Street]

Hi, we use the eco-earth with a number of our spiders and find it convenient and long lasting, the price appears to be around £3 to £4 per brick. Today I bought an identical looking block of 100% organic coco peat block from the pound shop. Same instructions and size but just with a recommendation 'suitable for all plants'. Has anyone had any experience with this, as this could be a big saving.

[Colin D Wilson]

I know a lot of people who use the blocks from places such as wilkos and pound shops with no problems. If there are any additional chemicles in the block it should say so on the packaging.
I assume it's the normal story where if it has "perfect substrate for reptiles/amphibians/inverts" the price goes up by 500% even though it's the same product and only the packaging is different

I once went to an open air garden show where a stall was selling a few pet accessories. He had bundles of 10 - 3inch flower pots for £1.00 at one end of the stall and the same pots cut in half for 50p each with a sign saying "reptile hides" at the other.
Thing is i saw people buying them...

[Mrs Linda Street]

substrate

You may be right, the devil is in the detail, it does say 'contains plant nutrients, natural enzymes and humous'. Perhaps it would be okay to use if we mixed it up and bake it in the oven with the next cake I do, before using it as substrate.

[Colin D Wilson]

"plant nutrients" are normally nothing to worry about.
If there were any active chemicles (such as pesticides) then they should be listed on the packaging.

I tend to microwave or over bake all substrate before use just as a precaution.


I should really have said in my original reply (as i noticed it was your first post)
Welcome to the forum !!!!

what spiders do you keep?

[Phil Rea]

If it's 100% organic, you would expect it not to contain any additives, I should think.

Oh, and welcome to the forum

[Mrs Linda Street]

substrate

Thanks Phil & Colin for welcoming us to your forum, we are waiting to join BTS as soon as we get membership forms, we have energized the coco block, and placed it in the oven for 30 mins before using on our next tank cleaning sessions. By the way we have to say that it is a most enjoyable and informative site. We have 25 tarantulas todate having just purchased three from B.T.S. Classifieds column. We have Red Legs, Red Knees, Red Rumps, Curly Hairs, Salmon Pinks, King Baboons, Cameroon Red, Costa Rican Zebra, Pink Toe, Bolivian White Knee, Giant White Knee, Chili Roses, Cobalt Blue, Thailand Black etc., plus 4 scorpions

[Phil Rea]

Sounds like you've got quite a collection there

I've moved the thread into the general forum which is a more appropriate place for it I think

[alan gimson]

I use terra spider from the spider shop.