Sterile Sphagnum?

[CHRISANDBOIDS14]

Hello all,

Im just wondering: I got some sphagnum most a little while ago but have been too worried about using it with anything but my scorpions. I dont think its been cleaned or anything, just collected and chucked in a box and sent to the pet store. Its got lots of twigs, leaves, and stuff in it. Is there a good place to buy sterilized spahgnum or can i use the stuff i have? Thanks.

Chris

[killer Cichlidz]

I'm sure the petshop has it, but then again who knows what is sterilized.

Also if you are looking to buy alot you may try a home and garden center like Lowes or Home Depot. They will usually have larger bags at a cheap price.

I like to boil the moss I use for the hides. After that you can clean it with hot water. I think hot water would be just fine but I get freaked out when it comes to cleaniness and my pets.

Lu

[Invictus]

Sphagnum moss does not need to be sterilized as long as it is moist. Moist moss is very acidic and thus is extremely resistant to bacteria and mold. It's one of the cleanest substrates you can get right out of the bag. DO NOT buy the stuff from pet stores, or you will be SEVERELY ripped off on the price. Go to a gardening store - not even Lowe's or Home Depot, but a gardening centre where all they deal with is gardening. I buy my moss by the bale, which is about a 3' tall bag packed full, for $30. I use it on all of my P.curtus, my Macklotts, Rainbow boas, and will be using it for colubrid nest boxes when it's egg laying time. :)

[killer Cichlidz]

Acidic? Wow thats good to hear.....So I'm guessing I've been boiling moss...lol....for pretty much no reason?? lol.....

Do you guys use this as pure substrate? If you do about how many inches of it?

I have only been using it for my hides. I would like to use it for the entire bin. Would the addition of a few inches of moss eliminate the need for hides?

Lu

[Invictus]

Yes it would Lu. I don't have hides in any of my P.curtus enclosures, and even when they do have them, they just bury themselves in the moss anyway. :) Give them a few inches more than their body thickness, and they will be happy snakes. I have 3 borneos and 1 blood in my home, and they all do great on the moss without hides.

[Smulkin]

Invictus - what kind of volume you buy your moss in? Can you use the same sphagnum they use for orchids, or do you buy the stuff specific for herps? Also how often do you toss it and throw in fresh?

I've noticed the same with my red - she won't go near a hide without moss, and if there is moss just clumpin' around she prefers to just sidle in under it, and will even kind of caterpillar it to a different spot if she wants to move for temp change.

[axwielding1]

Just a note. I've just started using sphagnum moss for my blood and she LOVES it! She stopped using her hide so I thought it would be good for her to bury in.BTW she's in a glass breeder tank. When I first put the (boiled) moss in, I took out her felt reptile pad, that was a mistake. The undertank heat pad ended up giving her a belly burn. When I took her out the next day, and found the burn, I pulled the moss and laid the felt back down, and then put the moss back in. She loves the moss and the humidity is much easier to maintain now, but I thought I would share my crappy experience.
Anyone know of a topical cream for this? I've actually used a little "bag-balm" to disinfect and moisturize. Any thoughts?
ax.

[CHRISANDBOIDS14]

So i just have to make sure its moist all the time? And take out the crap or should i just use that for my scorp and buy some pure stuff at a gardening store? Also, should i have to worry about scale rot? Should i just provide a "dry hide" for her? Thanks.

Chris

[Invictus]

ax - Polysporin is both your best friend, and your snake's. :) It works quite well, especially for burns. Might want to give that a try.

Smulkin - I buy HUGE bags of moss from the gardening store... about a 3 foot tall, 1.5 foot wide bag, which costs $30. I assume it's the stuff for orchids, since it is from a gardening store. I completely change it out on an as-needed basis. When it stops smelling like moss, I change it out entirely. This usually end up being about every 3-4 weeks. The stuff "specifically for herps" is just pet stores milking you for every dollar.

Chris - A dry spot is absolutely unnecessary, and in fact detrimental to a blood's health. They don't need it, and like rainbow boas, they have evolved to live in obscene humidity, so they are naturally resistant to scale rot. I've found it to be the opposite of most snakes with bloods - if they are kept too *dry*, the scales start to flake and become very brittle.

[Smulkin]

Thankee sai - I was hoping so as I had just ordered a bag of this (http://www.naturehills.com/new/product/accessories_productpage.aspx?proid=385) to try out.

[Invictus]

WOW, that's cheap!!!! Good find. :)

[killer Cichlidz]

Well I got this nice sized bag of compressed moss......1cu ft...for 3 bucks and some change! 3 for ten bucks. I will be heading out to the garden center again to rack up on some more. I live in a country town so it shouldn't be too hard to find all year round.

Invictus, Thanks for the awsome Idea!

http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/507/379bloodymoss_002.jpg

Lu

[killer Cichlidz]

Haha, after I took the pic I noticed that moss was the wrong bag. Don't go trying to buy Peat Moss guys. I bought three bags including one bag of sphagnum for 10.00...Garden Centers have great deals!

[Invictus]

No problem Lu. :) Glad you found a nice sized bag for a good price!