How to Bake Soil for Your Tarantula

Substrates are the substances with which people line the bottoms of animal cages. Tarantulas require a substrate that will not overheat and that provides adequate moisture and the ability to burrow. Soil and moss are both ideal for this purpose, but tarantulas are highly susceptible to pathogens from soil. Consequently, many people bake their tarantula's soil to kill dangerous bacteria. The process is simple and requires little time.

Things You'll Need

  • Soil or other substrate
  • Oven
  • Baking pan
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Instructions

    • 1

      Select an appropriate substrate. Avoid using anything that has been treated with chemical additives or preservatives -- baking will not eliminate these dangerous substances. It's safe to use soil from your yard as long as you have not added fertilizer to it. If you're not sure about using yard soil, most pet stores carry soil and moss designed for tarantulas that contain no chemical additives.

    • 2

      Place the soil in a baking pan and bake for 10 minutes at 180 F. Remove the pan from the oven and stir the soil around to ensure that all of the soil heats up. Place it back in the oven for another 10 minutes.

    • 3

      Allow the soil a full day to cool down before you use it in your tarantula's enclosure. Even a small hot spot can burn your tarantula.