Fishy Smelling Enclosure?

Hi,
I recently added spaghnum moss to my BP Flynn's enclosure. Today when I checked on him, I realized him and his vivarium smelled horrible, like fish. I figured it might be the wet moss. Should I remove it, or will the moss air out? Could the smell be caused by something else? Thank you!

I don't remember it having an odor but it's possible. How wet is the moss? It should really only be damp. You can remove it and let it dry out a little but it will dry up in the cage anyways. You checked the entire enclosure for any poo or urates?

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Sometimes the urine and urates can smell that way. It may be musk that was released at the same time? I'm not sure. Either way, if you don't find any other wet spots or urates to clean; you can assume that Flynn messed in the moss. Thus remove the moss and replace with fresh moss.

In my experience Alebrije's urine smells exactly like horrible fish. I was confused the first time I opened the tank and the smell wafted out, because I think it had dried and it was super strong. I changed the substrate and it was all better. It might also have to do with having higher humidity as my snake is kept usually near the top of the humidity range, so the moss might contribute extra to it?

You know, I think he might have just urinated or possibly musked me when I picked him up. I doubt it's the moss after smelling it. I use coconut mulch for substrate. Should I switch that to reduce smell?

I always hated using moss. To me it has a funky smell when you get it damp. I've used ReptiChips and now Eco Earth again and both don't smell like fish. They have a dirt/earthy scent to them. You shouldn't be smelling the urate as the coco husk should have broke down the smell. How old is the stuff? Maybe it's soaked up it can to break down. And I've never heard of a BP musking. I keep all my cages around 80-85% humidity. Now when I used paper towels for Caesar my retic, you could really smell his piss as paper towels don't do anything for the smell lol but it didn't smell fishy, just kind of a bitter 'snake piss' smell haha. I've kept snakes for a long time so to me, the smell is just 'snake piss' smell to me.

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Originally Posted by Sauzo

I always hated using moss. To me it has a funky smell when you get it damp. I've used ReptiChips and now Eco Earth again and both don't smell like fish. They have a dirt/earthy scent to them. You shouldn't be smelling the urate as the coco husk should have broke down the smell. How old is the stuff? Maybe it's soaked up it can to break down. And I've never heard of a BP musking. I keep all my cages around 80-85% humidity. Now when I used paper towels for Caesar my retic, you could really smell his piss as paper towels don't do anything for the smell lol but it didn't smell fishy, just kind of a bitter 'snake piss' smell haha. I've kept snakes for a long time so to me, the smell is just 'snake piss' smell to me.

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Thank you! I sniffed the enclosure, lol, and it seems like only Flynn smells because I was handling him so the scent was very strong. The rest of the vivarium smells normal, and the moss has a nice "mossy" smell.

Liquid piss smells like fish. I hate it and all mine do it about every 2 weeks without Urates or Crap. Tonight I had sophie out and I seen her tail go up so i ran over with the Tub and put her over it... She went about 1/4 cup liquid... Couldnt of played out better. Thats why when I hear newbies talking about wood ViV's i tell them its just now possible unles they PVC the inside and silicone all seams.. Put 90 degrees to a Fishy Smelling wood and see how fast you clear out your house hahahahahah

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Originally Posted by Mr Sully

Liquid piss smells like fish. I hate it and all mine do it about every 2 weeks without Urates or Crap. Tonight I had sophie out and I seen her tail go up so i ran over with the Tub and put her over it... She went about 1/4 cup liquid... Couldnt of played out better. Thats why when I hear newbies talking about wood ViV's i tell them its just now possible unles they PVC the inside and silicone all seams.. Put 90 degrees to a Fishy Smelling wood and see how fast you clear out your house hahahahahah

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Ugh, I know, and I am so sensitive to that "seafood" smell that I can't even eat fish anymore. So now my BP stinks, lucky me.

I soak moss in a bowl and lightly squeeze out the water. It's still fairly wet when I put it and it also mist....I never smell fish.