CAPILLARY MATTING.........????

[Sally]

Whats all the fuss over this Capillary matting?

A . is it the same stuff as you use for plants etc?

B is it safe to use for Tigers that need a more moist environment?

C does anyone use it - whats it like? How does it work?

So far it's a toss up between peat (but not sure as it can ware the shells?) and cocohumus so i just wanted to find out about this matting before i start buying.......

It's such fun and so exciting getting a new tank ready!!!!! ;D

[Deleted]

A. yes
B. yes, but some tigers like burrowing so you might want to use coir/peat/soil
C. lots of people. it holds moisture very well, keeps the tank humid, the snails love it. its like a sponge.

[section8angel]

Mike's got it in 1 Well 3 actually lol

I use it with my margies and it's perfect. Keeps them lovely and wet just how they like it
If you still want to use it but want to give them somewhere to burrow you can put a seperate tub of peat/coir/soil/moss in so they can go in that or just throw loads of moss everywhere lol.

[LisaLQ]

It's ok as long as your snails dont rasp at it and wear it away like mine did. And it can go mouldy easily too. I think it is ok for big snails, because they can compact soil/moss down a lot, but you'd need a digging pot with moss or soil in - although I think soil would be impractical in a digging pot - moss you can pick off the capillary matting, soil will only get it dirty and you'll need to rinse it more often.

I dont use compost or soil as both get waterlogged in my experience, I use sphagnum moss - but I'm thinking of changing my big margies back onto capillary and moss tub combo for practicality.

Some of my snails prefer moss on it's own, no capillary or soil, so it depends on the individuals. It took a while for my big margies to get used to, though. Perhaps cos they're wild caught?

[section8angel]

I've not had it go mouldy or smelly ... I dunno what I'm doing differently? I don't wash it as often as other people do, so in theory it should smell and/or get mouldy?

I know I use food dishes, but the food doesn't always stay in them lol

[ambystoma]

maybe a stupid question, but how does capillary matting looks like, I cant picture it..

[Paul]

I think capillary matting has its uses but for big snails I would never use it on its own unless necessary. Snails love to burrow, particularly African ones. Which is why a lot of people use it in conjunction with sphagnum moss so they can hide under that. Many snails seem to prefer moss and I suppose in the wild they hide under leaf-litter as well as bury themselves.

Providing a pot of soil isn't gonna give them all that, unless all of them can easily fit in it which is likely to be the case for small snails or babies.

One point about coir, is that it drains well, and doesn't hold moisture like peat does. You'll find it gets very wet at the bottom, more so than soil or peat. The answer to this is to stir it up often and turn it over. Not enough of a problem to warrant not using it. I've been using it for months now, and I won't be going back to peat or soil. Another thing is that my snails aren't keen on freshly hydrated coir, it seems to take a bit to settle down perhaps before they will burrow in it.

[Sally]

Paul, have you got a piccie of what coir looks like as i don't think have seen it before?

Can you get it from the likes of B&Q?

I have to admit with all these different substrates i'm not really sure which one to go for now .............my Tiger babies are currently on cocohumus with Gabi.....maybe it is best to try the tank with half cochumus and half peat or capillary matting when i get them?

[section8angel]

I think coir IS coco humus? It says it's made from coco fibers.
This is what coir looks like
www.invertsupplies.co.uk/product-17.html and www.exotic-hibiscus.com/images/coco-coir.jpg

And Ambystoma, capillary matting looks like this:
cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7747867435

It's fabric. That one is green on the top and white on the bottom (Or you can have it the other way I think) or you can get some that's all green or all black (I think). I had one that was all green before and but was rubbish compared to the green and white.

[sezzy5889]

Some pics of some of my snails on capillary matting, you can make it as wet as you want

[section8angel]

Lol thanks Sarah. I couldn't get my pics as photobucket has gone weird for me

[Deleted]

I use cappillary matting for all my snails that dont burrow. but for the ones that do (tigers, megalobulimus, rodatzi) i use coir.

[ambystoma]

@ sian, thanx, it looks real handy, if I can find the dutch name of it (and the product itself) I think this will be on the bottom of my tanks as wel.

[LisaLQ]

Well I gave in and bought some more. I've got tubs for moss for digging in, so hopefully they'll be ok on it

[Sally]

Thanks Sarah and Sian for the capillary matting and coir info.

It's been such a massive help i can't tell you!

I cannot believe the price of the coir compared to the £5.00 per brick i have quoted by other places!!!!

Freda nd Eric my Fulica like to burrow so i think i will use the coir for them. My baby Tigers are currently on coir with Gabi so i think when i get them i will stick to that altough i really like the idea of capillary matting.......maybe i will do the tank half and half!!!!!

ohhhhhh the possibilities!!!!!

Thanks again everyone ;D

[LisaLQ]

Oh and for anyone needing any:
cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7747867435&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

[maidmarion]

im tempted now, iv always used compost but its such a faff, i think ill go and buy some cappillary matting and moss.