New P. Scrofas not touching substrate!

[James Cairns]

I have recently recieved two adult P Scrofas - they feed ravenously and are generally fine, apart from the fact that neither spends any real time on the ground! I keep them at a warm room temperature and at around 70-80% humidity as recommended by the spider shop (http://www.thespidershop.co.uk/insec...oducts_id=1439)
I first had them on the 'terra spider' coir material, and they both seemed to abhore the stuff - I then switched one of them to a coir/vermiculite mix as an experiment...and after being on that for a few days hasn't touched the stuff. They both have hides which they haven't yet used...
Does anyone have any advice? Any would be much appreciated!

James C

[Colin D Wilson]

Hi James,

You don't say how damp the substrate is in their tanks, being from Chili they will be prefering a dryer substrate in general.
Some spiders just don't like the "feel" of coir / vermiculite either.

I personally say you can't go wrong with a dry peat/topsoil/compost type mulch, dampening one corner occasionally.

[James Cairns]

Tank A's coir came from a block which needed to be hydrated for use, so this could possibly be too damp as you suggested? Tank B's coir came from a premixed bag so was completely dry although admittedly I added a bit of moisture because I thought it was too dry! However the top inch of substrate on both tanks looks completely dry anyway..

Perhaps peat could be an option - how exactly do you dry it out? When I envision it, peat always looks damp! lol

JC

PS or maybe could try completely dried out coir? dampened out in one corner of course.......

[Lee Ardern]

If a drop of water can be squeezed out of the substrate its to wet but should moist enough to bid together when squeezed. With bigger spiders only use coir. We only use a little bit of vermiculite with spiderlings so they can tunnel easier.

Lee