Hello from the isle of wight!

[james fenton]

I have three tarantulas,common pinktoe,chille rose and king baboon anyone got any tips for keeping pinktoes? am new to aboreal species. james

[Brendan Owens]

Hi James,

I don't know what substrate you are using, although as an Aboreal is should spend most of it's time off the ground anyway. But when I first got mine I used coir but I found that switching to vermiculite helped to keep the humidity a little higher, but obviously this is just my opinion I am sure some of the more experienced Avic keepers will give you better advice

[james fenton]

thanks brenda, i use vemiculite with potting soil ( only 1 inch deep) with a layer of that rainforest substrate and i mist that daily, i am just wondering though, as the species is known to be skittish, can they be held at all? i have tried but it just jumps off and promply legs it!
also i am usin small locusts as food is this ok as crickets did not seem to climb to the top of the terreria?

[james fenton]

and what is coir substrate?jam

[Phil Rea]

Coir is made from the fibrous husk surrounding the outside of a coconut (the seedpod I guess). It's essentially a byproduct of the coconut harvesting industry and would generally just be discarded, but is processed and then widely used by gardeners and in the horticultural industry.

You generally see it in compressed blocks, which you soak in water. They then expand to make lots of substrate!

It's more ecologically friendly than peat, what with the widespread exploitation and disappearance of the peat bogs, and is an excellent choice for spider keeping

It supports burrows, and it can be mixed with vermiculite and used just like peat.

[james fenton]

thankyou i will lookout 4 some next time i got to the pet shop. 180 tarantulas......wow!

[Phil Rea]

thankyou i will lookout 4 some next time i got to the pet shop. 180 tarantulas......wow!

There is branded stuff available from petshops, but you'll likely get it much cheaper at a garden centre. If you do, make sure it has no fertiliser added, and it's exactly the same material

Oh, and welcome to the BTS forum

p.s You wouldn't say wow if you had to feed them

[Ed Sherman]

over here we call it eco earth or bed a beast and I generally put around 4 inches in the bottom of my avic's enclosures it holds moisture very well at that depth and is mold/rot resistant (or so I've read)

[Colin D Wilson]

Welcome to the Forum James.

top tip i can give for your Avicularia sp (pink toe) is to maintain a reasonable humidity at all times but at the same time allow for plenty of ventilation..can take some time to get it "just right"

I've found if you mix some sand in with the peat / coir it tends to hold the moisture just as well as adding vermiculite. (this seems to be appreciated by the burrowing species more than others i've found)
childrens play sand / bird sand is the cheapest i've found so far.

[James Box]

welcome to the forum!
i use alot of coir myself, it is fairly good stuff, though sometimes have to water frequently for humid species as it dries fast.

p.s You wouldn't say wow if you had to feed them

i know your pain!

[Mrs Linda Street]

Hi James, and welcome to the forum.

[Phil Rea]

welcome to the forum!
i use alot of coir myself, it is fairly good stuff, though sometimes have to water frequently for humid species as it dries fast.

i know your pain!

You can mix vermiculite in with it. That holds moisture a lot better

[Brendan Owens]

thanks brenda, i use vemiculite with potting soil ( only 1 inch deep) with a layer of that rainforest substrate and i mist that daily, i am just wondering though, as the species is known to be skittish, can they be held at all? i have tried but it just jumps off and promply legs it!
also i am usin small locusts as food is this ok as crickets did not seem to climb to the top of the terreria?

Hi James,

To be honest i try not to handle any of my T's unless I have to (like they escape). Locusts will be fine I tend to change between crickets, locusts and roaches and obviously locusts are good for the avic as they tend to head towards the top on the enclosure

[James Box]

You can mix vermiculite in with it. That holds moisture a lot better

good thinking!
will try that a bit more often then.

Brad...i know what you mean...it's the "docile" T's that always seem to make a break for it, thankfully though! with my collection at least, the more defensive ones tend to stay put and on guard, which actually makes things easier...unless they decide just for a change to be a bit more inquisitive or assertive!