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Mosses... What is what?

mike0179

mike0179

self-proclaimed huguenot
peat moss
sphagnum moss
sphagnum peat moss

What is the difference? I've been reading "The Corn Snake Manual" by Bill and Kathy Love and they suggest using sphagnum moss or vermiculite as an incubation substrate. Nobody near me sells vermiculite but I can get sphagnum peat moss easily. Will this work? Thanks!
 
There's a large difference, actually. Sphagnum moss turns into 'peat moss' when it dies and begins decaying, which is a large component of peat bogs which in turn is used a fuel. It's also great at preserving things. You can look up bog bodies to see for yourself. Peat moss is also fairly acidic.
 
i incubated my eggs in moss, and i really liked it! the colors of the moss can stain the eggs lightly but it kept temps nicely, humidity awesome, as well as gave my babies a place to hide when they popped out. I prefer moss to the vermiculite much much more, just for the texture the antibacterial and anti fungal properties. I know people go back and forth on it though.

and yeah peat moss is decaying and breaking down, and causes things to be preserved, lol dont preserve your snakes! :p jk



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I use a combination. A bed of damp vermiculite to sit the eggs on, then a light covering of damp sphagnum moss over the top to maintain humidity.

I should think sphagnum moss will work fine as the substrate as well, and I'm sure plenty of people do it that way. I use vermiculite underneath as I feel that it probably holds its shape better where moss probably compacts a little through the incubation process. Doubt it makes much difference in reality.
 
Since I am pretty new at this I haven't had experience with different substrates for incubating. I have been using sphagnum moss. I am a person that if it is working I am not changing a thing. So even though it does stain your eggs a little I am going to stick with it just because it is working and it is what I know. :) I know it's bad I don't like change.
 
Vermiculite is available at nurseries, or sometimes 'feed stores', sometimes in very large bags.

Moss is available at nurseries, but seems VERY expensive.
 
What you really want is unmilled sphagnum moss. This is long strands of moss. I use it in snake egg-laying boxes. It's gotten a bit harder to find locally in the last few years, but it can be found and ordered online (just do a Google search).

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I have always used sphagnum moss for incubating my snake eggs. It has gotten slightly more difficult to find, but you really just need to know where to look. You want to look where the stores have the supplies for orchids as the moss is often labeled as "orchid moss". I have been getting mine at Walmart, Home Depot and Lowe's and it usually runs about $4.50 per package, which is enough for 2 - 3 shoebox size nest boxes/incubation containers. I don't fill the entire container as that really isn't necessary, 2/3 - 3/4 full is just fine.
 
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