Arachnid Substrate Mix: Tarantula, Scorpion and Spider Substrate

Built for burrowers. Our Arachnid Substrate Mix starts with our moisture-holding Rainforest Substrate Mix and adds extra sand and crushed LECA, so tunnels and burrows keep their shape instead of collapsing. Tarantulas, scorpions and burrowing spiders can dig deep, stable homes the way they do in the wild, while the soil stays open, fresh and able to support a clean-up crew. It’s the same substrate we use in our own invertebrate enclosures.

Ideal for:

• Australian tarantulas, including Phlogius and Coremiocnemis
• Rainforest and burrowing scorpions
• Trapdoor, wolf, huntsman and curtain-web spiders
• Centipedes, which also need deep, burrow-holding substrate (not arachnids, but a good match)

Why choose a dedicated arachnid substrate?
Many burrowing spiders and scorpions spend most of their lives underground. In loose or overly soft substrate, their burrows cave in, which stresses the animal and can trap it during a moult. Our arachnid mix is blended to fix that:

• Holds burrows and tunnels: the extra sand gives structure, so the substrate packs firm and tunnels stay open.
• Stays airy, not soggy: the crushed LECA keeps the mix from compacting or going sour, even when the lower layers are kept damp.
• Holds the right moisture: the rainforest base keeps humidity in the lower layers, where burrowing species spend their time, while the surface stays drier.
• Supports a bioactive setup: it gives springtails and isopods a healthy home to keep the enclosure clean.

What’s in it

• Our Rainforest Substrate Mix: a base of coco coir, peat, sand, horticultural charcoal, bark bedding and aqua soil
• Extra sand: for structure and burrow strength
• Extra crushed LECA: for airflow and drainage
  
• Clay and fibres: for structure

Every batch is mixed from new or sanitized ingredients.

How to use it

1. Fill it deep. Burrowing tarantulas and scorpions need depth: fill at least half to two-thirds of the enclosure, or 10–15cm+ for adult burrowers.
2. Moisten and pack. Dampen the substrate and press it down firmly so burrows hold their shape.
3. Give a starter burrow. Press a piece of cork bark into the surface, or start a small hole under it, to encourage your animal to dig.
4. Keep the bottom damp and the top drier. Pour water into one corner every so often, rather than misting the surface.
5. Go bioactive. Add springtails and dwarf white isopods to clear mould and leftover food.

Arachnid substrate FAQ

What is the best substrate for a tarantula?
A firm, moisture-holding soil mix that holds a burrow. Our Arachnid Substrate Mix is blended for exactly that, so it suits burrowing Australian tarantulas.

How deep should tarantula substrate be?
For burrowing species, fill at least half to two-thirds of the enclosure, and more for large adults. Spiderlings still benefit from deep substrate relative to their size.

What substrate do scorpions need?
Rainforest and burrowing scorpions do best in a firm, slightly damp mix that holds tunnels, like this one. Desert scorpions such as Urodacus suit our Arid Substrate Mix better.

Why do burrows collapse?
Usually the substrate is too loose, too dry or too wet. The extra sand and LECA in this mix help it pack firmly and drain well, so burrows stay standing.

Can I use it for centipedes?
Yes. Centipedes also burrow and need a moist, stable substrate.

Pairs well with: Tarantula Enclosure Starter Kit, Virgin Portuguese Cork Bark, Springtail Cultures, Dwarf White Isopod (Trichorhina tomentosa), Australian Nunn’s Birdeater (Phlogius sp. “Rockhampton”).

Blended in Surry Hills, Sydney, and shipped Australia-wide.