11/01/2026
I LOVE to set up new bins. It relaxes me and eases tension and anxiety life can cause.
Everyone sets their bins up differently and what works for me may not work for you, but one thing is true across the board...Ventilation and airflow. Yes, there is a difference. I always set things up in a way that air can flow throughout. I leave spaces between the bark flats and I elevate them slightly by setting them up on the spagnum moss and they slanttowards the substrate. This gives it a high-Low gradient with the needed airflow required. It gives expecting mother's a place for their offspring that is close and safe next to the moisture. The vertical areas aren't pinched together and that allows flow. You can have 100 vents on a bin and have everything so jammed packed that air can't flow... I will only keep about an 1/8 of the substrate moist but I always mist about 2/3 of the bin and vertical areas, as this bin will be for Ardentiella species. This continues to help humidity levels stay correct and keeps the decomposition of the botanicals moving like a small ecosystem should. I personally like ventilation lower and some a bit higher, depending on the bin size. Again, this works for my setups.
I know I'll be asked so I'll discuss the Thingy in the middle. This particular Dew-pod I call "The Block Party" because it offers food and drink in the same spot and thats about as creative as I've gotten with it. 😆. This will add a middle hydration area with the connected tray for food that you can see attached. These do not wet the soil at all. They are a top side hydration area that offers prolonged moisture that is safe for all and yes, they use them all the time. These have also been working wonderfully with Spanish species that dont require a harsh moisture gradient or high levels of humidity. One person even stacks a bark hide over the top for his Bolavari colony and he sees the babies around that area regularly. As I've said before, I like to offer alternatives.
