Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I buy jungle mix substrate and it always ends up with mites. I don't have this problem when I use bark based substrate. I wash out the tank and buy new substrate but after a few weeks I have mites gain. How can I avoid this?

I use a potting soil mix for my tarantulas. I never change the substrate without baking it in the oven first.
I got the spiders because when I started teaching "reptiles & rodents" for kids the catalog said I would have tarantulas because the teacher before me had them. When I got to class & didn't have them OMG I never heard so much whining so this is why I went out got pet spiders.
The man I got them from has a Ph.D. in entomology, he told me to bake the soil & that's why I do that. In the oven at 250F for 30-45 minutes.. I have NEVER had a mite & I've had these girls since 2000.
All of the above is why I'm sold on baking my substrate before I use it.
You might try it.
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PHRatz

PhRatz, would microwaving the soil be as successful?

Just curious, in an age (and a State) where our power bill went up by over 20%, or in hot areas, I'd consider microwaving, if the results are comparable.

Wanda

>>PhRatz, would microwaving the soil be as successful?
>>
>>Just curious, in an age (and a State) where our power bill went up by over 20%, or in hot areas, I'd consider microwaving, if the results are comparable.
>>
>>Wanda

microwave.. bad bad idea. any metallic substance in the substrate will damage microwave. You can't guarantee the contents of the substrate.. many types are actually mixtures of various things as some put cheap 'fillers' in and you can't always tell when they do that. Also, a microwave doesn't operate in the same manner as an oven.. you want to DRY out the substrate with an even air moving heat - drying from the outside in. You do not bombard wet/damp stuff with radiation and cause the moisture inside to boil from the inside out as a microwave does...might cause some chunks to explode under the pressure.

I learned the hard way with an insect collection once. Large beetle (found dead of natural cauces), teacher said to slowly dry out in the oven to keep it from stinking. I stupidly tried to rush things and use the microwave... not a pretty site... my mother wasn't happy to hear about beetle guts splattered everywhere either.

oh yeah, depending on the organic/live components of the substrate you may have to leave your windows and doors open while baking it in the oven.. some can be quite stinky when the heat gets to it.
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PHWyvern

5 star reply, as far as I am concerned. I had no clue, and assumed microwaving brought the same desired effect. I even microwaved soil for my houseplants...

Thanks!

Wanda