Is it fine to use clean soil from the ground as bedding for my Tarantula?

Question

I would like to use fresh,clean soil from the ground and a plant or two in with my spider and the tank ...Is this alright?

Answer 1

You can, but you might put parasites in with the spider.  I would suggest using unfertilized organic potting soil.  As for plants, be careful as they are not needed and could add a lot of complications.  Taking care of the plants could be harder than taking care of the spider, plants could attract bugs, and watering the plant might stress the spider.  I suggest using a fake plant.

Answer 2

as long as it is all pesticide and additive free.

Answer 3

What kind of tarantula?  For most of them Coconut grass is the best answer.  Normal dirt from outside can carry fungus, mites, bacteria, pesticide (think rain and runoff).  

If you use outside dirt (or branches) it will need to be sterilized.  Start with rinsing in cheesecloth then spread on a glass baking dish.  Bake in oven on 275-300 ish for 45-60 minutes.  Let it cool.  Then it's ok.

Mites and such in our area is not part of their natural habitat.  Unless you live where the tarantula came from you can expose to things it has no natural defenses against.  Good luck.

Answer 4

As the above answerer's said - with caution. I've used a few decorations from outside in my spider tanks. But everything is either baked, microwaved, or boiled to kill of fungus, mites and other nasties. I stay away from using soil though. Pesticide run off is a real concern - even if you don't use chemicals, with acid rain, run off, and the like it's always a risk.

I am a fan of the coconut fiber bedding (like bed-a-beast) as it holds humidity well for tropical species, works well dry for scrub and desert dwellers and even allows my burrowing species to dig (and not collapse). For a single spider - one block will last a good long time.

Plants from outside is a bad idea - unlike rocks and dead branches - you cannot sterilize them. To easy to introduce deadly stufff to the T enclosure with them. Home Depot and Lowes often have a rack of "assorted foliage" in small (under 4 inch) containers - usually near where they keep cacti. These work great for terrariums. I've had a lot of luck with ferns in my Tarantula tanks (ferns do well with low light). I have some Aloe Vera in my scrubland set ups - it actually helps keep mites away.