What soil should i use for my mexican red knee?

[Daniel Richardson]

Hey guys n gals,new to site[and computers really]so dont know what i'm doing really!!!!!! anyway the spiders i've had b4 i all kept them on vermiculite alone,but i've heard that its got to use soil or peat and a bit of vermiculite on top. I've already bought peat from BandQ will this be ok? its safe 4 growing food in. please someone get back to me quick t's coming on friday. thankz-Dan

[Matthew Baines]

Peat should be fine. I usually put it in the microwave on full power for 9 minutes just to make sure any nasties are dead. Then just mix in a couple of handfuls of vermiculite . Oh yeah and let it cool down.

[Samantha Lewanewsky]

I just stick it in.

[Colin D Wilson]

First of all welcome to the forum Daniel.

The list for substrate (and combinations of) that people use is probably as long as your arm...and a lot depends on what spiders you will be putting in the enclosure.
I think everyone has a slightly different opinion on whats best and in reality if the spider has an enclosure that relates to it's natural habitat then it will be fine.

Mixtures of peat (or soil / compost) and vermiculite are the most common as you get the "feel" of a nice substrate with a little "lightness" and "water holding factor" thrown in with the vermiculite.

I've tended to go for cheaper store named compost that has no additives, when it dries out it gives a good representation of the natural habitat for the spiders that i keep (which are spiders from mainly dry areas i.e. Grammostola, Aphonopelma)
If i need it to hold a little more moisture then i will mix in a little vermiculite like Matt said above (this i use more for burrowing species as the slightly moist substrate helps to hold the shape of the burrow when they've constructed one)

Hope this helped a little, any more questions....just fire away.

[Daniel Richardson]

Thankz alot people

Thanks to everyone that replyed so soon to my post,i did'nt think anyone would get back to me so soon ,it just shows what nice people keep trantulas.

[Andy Wood]

One other tip Daniel, if you're nuking peat in the microwave it's best to wait
till the missis / mother / partner goes out...... They never seem to happy
about it for some reason....

AndyZoo

[Craig Mackay]

One other tip Daniel, if you're nuking peat in the microwave it's best to wait
till the missis / mother / partner goes out...... They never seem to happy
about it for some reason....

AndyZoo

Lol, god knows why

[Lisa Grose]

Hello Daniel.
I dont think that you can go wrong really with substrate as long as it has no pesticides added. When my chilean Rose didn't like her substrate because I had got it too wet, (these type like really dry conditions which I didn't know at first) she did not walk on it at all and avoided the floor.
All you need to do is watch your spider for a long time when you first set up a new tank and their reactions should be able to tell you if they are happy or not and what is wrong eg. if they hang round the water dish and never move from it, trying to tell you that it is too dry and wants it more humid. If it never moves from heat mat, trying to tell you that too cool, and so on. Common sense really so study your tarantula. Oh and you could try reading the best book I found which was the most help which is 'The tarantula Keepers guide' by Stanley A. Schultz. I'm sure you will enjoy watching your spider as it gets settled in and molts. They really are fascinating creatures and such a joy to own. Let us know know how you get on. Lisa