Sphagnum Peat Moss

[green_man]

I was wondering if any of you use sphagnum as a substrate. I know alot of people use it for humid hides and such but i was wondering how it would work as a substrate. Also, when you buy it at a pet store has it been treated? Would if be ok to use sphagnum from a garden store, or do you think it would have parasites?
I know I can get a MUCH better price on it from a garden store.

[green_man]

looking around on the internet I have found quiet a few different mosses that would look very nice. Does anyone know what kinds of moss are safe for retiles and what kinds are not? Here are some I am looking at:

Sheet moss
Fresh Princess Pine moss
Lycopodium moss

Also, is dyed moss ok?

[Marla]

I use it for my cresties, and I bought it from the garden store and just baked it briefly to kill any bugs. I wouldn't use it solo for a snake substrate, though, because it's sooo light. I'd prefer something denser, like a mix with PLAIN potting soil or clean playsand.

[Tigergenesis]

Just the other day I was wondering about using sphaghum moss as a substrate. I was actually getting ready to post a question about it when I saw your post. :lol:

I too am wondering if anyone uses it as a stand alone substrate, how easy/difficult spot cleaning is and if it would be okay to feed on.

[Smulkin]

It works well for snakes from megahumid/swampy areas (like bloods) and like to burrow. A lot harder to spot clean and will certainly up your maintenance routine a couple notches. If you DO use it make SURE you have some sort of heat baffle at the bottom of your enclosure or your snake will burrow down below it and could easily get belly burned. Feeding is also tricky since the fibers are long and easily snagged onto the prey (claws etc) - I wouldn't feed on it. What kind of snake were you thinking of putting on this?

I got some awesome stuff at a great price here http://www.mosserlee.com/products/lfsm.html


It was the third or fourth source I had tried seeing as how buying it in pet store is astronomically overpriced. GREAT for high-humidity needin' snakes like bloods. A lot of other stuff I wound up with had way too many stems - I snagged the 2 cu ft bag for $17 ordering by phone. Nice as hell folks to boot.

[Tigergenesis]

I was thinking more for my kings. I'm still trying to decide what substrate to put them on once they get bigger. They like to burrow so I'm on that neverending quest to find a substrate that permits burrowing and you can feed on. They don't need high humidity so I wouldn't be misting or wetting it at all. Of course I was afraid it would be difficult to spot clean - especially since their 'present's are small right now.

[JLC]

Have you ever tried "eco-earth?" It's shredded coconut husks. It's a bit of a pain to set up, but once you do, it works beautifully for colubrids. When Caesar was little, he loved to burrow in it.

EDIT -- You can feed on it, too.

[Tigergenesis]

Wow - I'll have to check that out. Sounds good already since I can feed on it. Is it a pain to spot clean? Do you mix it with anything (water, soil, etc0 for colubrids?

thanks!

[sophie42204]

I got some awesome stuff at a great price here http://www.mosserlee.com/products/lfsm.html

I just checked out the website and noticed the Sheet Moss, how does that work out? Considering ordering some...

[JLC]

It comes in a brick that you have to soak and break apart. Then you have to squeeze out the excess water and let the stuff dry out. That's the "pain" part. But once you do, the rest is easy. One brick will last quite a while because it spot-cleans very easily. (I say one brick lasts awhile...but I only have one snake on the stuff....you might want to start out with a bigger or multiple bricks.)

You can get it at most pet stores or oder it from most online pet-suppliers.