New tarantula owner, need really good advice on buying bedding/substrate.

[DreadedNeith]

Yeah. Eventually ill get one or the stuff to make a custom one.

 

[KezyGLA]

Hi everyone, my name is Pete furrowes, and I just recently became a new tarantula enthusiast into the hobby. I want to ask regarding substrate for my tarantulas. (I have my last block that I ordered but would like to stock up so I have plenty for a year or 2, this way it saves me time going out sourcing whereas I would have a container full of substrate for me to use at my disposal)

Okay this is where the problem is, I have been doing consistent research on the types of substrate, but at my local garden center (here in Edinburgh, Scotland) they only have bags of compost that have things mixed into it (I have asked for plain soil, and I got a mysterious look from the staff :/), now I have read not to use anything that has different substances mixed into the original compost itself, so I am left with coco coir/peat, now another problem is peat costs way too much here for me 23.00 per bag (locally) thus I am now on the hunt for decent alternative into this coco coir substrate, I have absolutely no knowledge of this but have been using it for 2 weeks which I got with my new tarantulas from online, which is why I have come here to get really good advice, and where it would be possible to buy in bulk for a cheap price but good quality coco coir.

I have been looking around various online places, but to my avail I have sourced it from 2 places, eBay and Amazon, now Amazon have coco coir, and the big 70L blocks look good, but they state its for gardens, even though its coco coir (is all coco coir the same or does each coco coir differ??) I am unsure so will need advice on this please.

On a side note, I don't plan to mix anything with the coco coir, I tend to use it straight from when it is ready and tiny bit moist), unless I really need to mix, but I don't want to spend so much on things that I do not know/feel uncomfortable about :/.

On eBay, there are good listings: (https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?LH_TitleDesc=0&LH_PrefLoc=1&_sop=15&_odkw=ibm+thinkpad+x61&_osacat=0&LH_BIN=1&rt=nc&_oac=1&_ipg=200&_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=coir+blocks&_sacat=0)

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/24-x-10L-Coir-Block-Coco-Coir-Peat-Pure-Coir-Blocks-Bargain-Price-Brick-Bricks/252599511849?hash=item3ad01aab29:g:dCwAAOSwDNdVvpYb&LH_BIN=1 (THIS one looks really good value and in bulk @ 0.95p per brick, but has anyone tried it, or is it good/safe for my tarantulas) **

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-x-70lt-Coir-Compost-Blocks-Makes-up-to-210lts-Soluble-Fertiliser-10-52-10-TE/170507357698?epid=1188184536&hash=item27b307ce02:g:trYAAOSwUuFWvdlu&LH_BIN=1

On Amazon here too: (https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=sr_pg_3?sf=qz,rba&rh=i:aps,k:coir+blocks&page=3&sort=price-asc-rank&keywords=coir+blocks&unfiltered=1&ie=UTF8&qid=1534423523)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Coconut-Reptiles-Terrarium-Substrate-Briquettes/dp/B00HGHIUQ6/ref=sr_1_41?ie=UTF8&qid=1534423540&sr=8-41&keywords=coir+blocks

https://www.amazon.co.uk/ORGANIC-FRIENDLY-PLANTING-COMPRESSED-BRIQUETTES/dp/B07FW653X2/ref=sr_1_37?ie=UTF8&qid=1534423540&sr=8-37&keywords=coir+blocks

https://www.amazon.co.uk/COCO-COIR-FRIENDLY-COMPRESSED-BRIQUETTES/dp/B07CH7VZ6D/ref=sr_1_36?ie=UTF8&qid=1534423540&sr=8-36&keywords=coir+blocks

** Can anyone here please help me choose, whats good and what to stay clear of/avoid, as I am really confused, and is causing me to go absolutely banana's

Any advice and good online links to best buys/deals would be nice too.

Hey,

I also live in Scotland. You can pick up 35L of Westland topsoil for £2.00 a bag. Best place to get it from is Wickes.

But you can also find it at B & Q, Dobbies, Homebase, B & M.

B&Q also do Verve topsoil which is also perfect for tarantulas.

So in short, you are looking for Westland or Verve top soil. I have been using both for over decade with no issues

 

[KezyGLA]

This is the stuff you want.