Ques on Tarantual Cage

I bought a 2gallon or 2 1/2, something like that. I bought some spray foam for weather proofing and put some on a papertowel and sprinkled some substrate on it and kinda mushed it. When it dried I picked it up and most of the substrate fell off. What am I doing wrong? Did I buy the wrong spray to use? or the substrate was in a bag I bought at the last herp show and its a mix and kinda damp.

In other words, what have ya'll used for the background? Cameron if your listening, what did you use for the 10 gallon I have the ornamental in?

when i did my foam background on my vivarium I used silicon. sprayed the foam first...let it set for a few days.... then covered the foam with black silicon and coated it heavily with eco earth, pressing it into the silicon a little as well.....

Sylvias wrote:when i did my foam background on my vivarium I used silicon. sprayed the foam first...let it set for a few days.... then covered the foam with black silicon and coated it heavily with eco earth, pressing it into the silicon a little as well.....

This. You have to spread silicone all over the great stuff to get the coconut fiber to stick.

Ok, stupid ques. but what do you use to spread the silicone? A papertowel? (Larry would love that one). It's gonna be hard in that little tank. Maybe I could do the foam outside the tank and the silicone and then cut it to fit and then all I would have to worry about is siliconing it around the edges after I slide it in the tank? Would that work?

Spider Woman wrote:Ok, stupid ques. but what do you use to spread the silicone? A papertowel? (Larry would love that one). It's gonna be hard in that little tank. Maybe I could do the foam outside the tank and the silicone and then cut it to fit and then all I would have to worry about is siliconing it around the edges after I slide it in the tank? Would that work?

Robin, sorry this is so late. I haven't been on here much and just found this while looking around. Silicone is the way to go. Just squirt a bunch on the foam and spread it around with your fingers. You can put rubber gloves on to keep your hands clean. Once you get the silicone spread out, then put your substate on it. Press it down firmly. If you are using the spray foam, I would do it all inside the tank. It may seem like little space but a lot easier.