cocobark

L

Loosey

Second Instar
Hello -

My hissers seem to do fine on just cocobark which gets misted, however I have some giant caves coming and was thinking that just the cocobark may be too dry, there are going to be tropical springtails as well as some darkling beetles in with them and Im wondering if I should put some sphagum moss into the mix so that the medium holds suficcent moisture for the cleaner crew and roaches.

if not sphagum moss, what would anyone suggest to mix with the cocobark that would be condsive to the cleaners and cave roaches as well?

best-

Loosey

 
I have the same set up but I add crushed deciduous leaves to the top of the moist coir. It keep the coir substrate moist and the bottom of the leaf layer.

 
thanks guys.

Hey cracker it is leaf season up here of course they are changing and dropping, would the dead dry leaves need any prep at all other then a rinse so no stowaways make it into the enclosure?

not that I cant just go get a small bag of sphagum moss if thats a bit more sterile.

 
Nope, I cannot remember who, but they rake up leaves (several large black bags) and store them until they need them. In the winter it freezes and in the summer it practically bakes

 
Loosey said:
thanks guys.

Hey cracker it is leaf season up here of course they are changing and dropping, would the dead dry leaves need any prep at all other then a rinse so no stowaways make it into the enclosure?

not that I cant just go get a small bag of sphagum moss if thats a bit more sterile.
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Yes, I bake them in the sun. It gets 150 F in the black garbage bag. You would want to heat them up to at least that to kill eggs of other invertebrates. Some people do this in the oven which is a lot of work. The moss is the easier way to go. :)

 
MrCrackerpants said:
Yes, I bake them in the sun. It gets 150 F in the black garbage bag. You would want to heat them up to at least that to kill eggs of other invertebrates. Some people do this in the oven which is a lot of work. The moss is the easier way to go. :)
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a tray in the oven at 150 for 10 minutes should do the trick no?

 
It probably would work BUT keep a really good eye on it!!! Especially if you use natural gas! Maybe mist the leaves after 5 mins so you dont start a fire

 
Loosey said:
a tray in the oven at 150 for 10 minutes should do the trick no?
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Good point from the post above this one. I am not sure about the oven. I have found it easier to boil small amounts of wood and leaves in thew microwave. I too am concerned with filling my house with smoke or burning it down. Good luck!

 
it worked out just right, and at 150 nothing to worry about survived.

you really have to keep your eye on it.

sitting around waiting for the post man to bring bugs SUCKS.

 
unfortunately it didnt show! thats a bummer im not known for patience. guess it should be tomorrow, but thats another whole day of waiting for my bumbling post man... hes a real barney fife type.

 
I have 6 nymphs, and I have only seen two since they hit the enclosure. Same evening I got them, one moulted, 4 have hidden in the substrate, and the largest one has seen fit to do a mixture of hiding and chillin on a large upright bit of bark. Added the darkling beetles and tropical springtails as well.

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