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Sphagnum peat moss as egg substrate

thedotgirl

thedotgirl

Dotgirl
This is my first clutch and I had purchased normal moss, sphagnum peat moss, and perlite also. The mom did not like the moss as the nesting material, but enjoyed the dirt like peat moss. I used this also with my eggs in the incubator and I was wondering if that will work out alright. I am using a store bought incubator, a plastic closed container and the sphagnum peat moss. The temp in the incubator is around 85F but the inside of the container still is a bit lower. Any recommendations are welcome. There seems to be a huge varience in what people use and the precautions. After reading another post, I'm concerned that I used tap water. Thank you for your time :)
 
Sorry this is second-hand info, but I remember someone posting their experiences with s. p. m. last year and they lost everything. The sphagnum peat moss appears to maintain humidity appropriately, but doesn't.
IMO, you'd be better off with one of the top 3: Sphagnum Moss, Vermiculite, or, my favorite, Perlite.
Hope this helps!
 
Def. agree here...stick with good ol' sphagnum moss or perlite/vermec. This is my 1st year breeding corns and going on 13 days in with my first clutch of 20 eggs on sphagnum moss. I do chek them a couple times of day still so I've had to dampen the moss a few times but the eggs are doing awesome. My temps stay between 81 and 86.6 in the room where they are at depending on what time of day it is. A little temp change is good I think, they would get it out in the wild.
Heather
 
I use Sphagnum Peat Moss for my laying containers. My first year breeding I did that, with no ill effects, the second year (last year) I used vermiculite for my laying containers, and two of my females got very sick (vermiculite in their mouths) .... one of those two didn't live through the ordeal, dying quietly on the day her eggs hatched. So this year, I was in a conundrum. Every bit of sphagnum moss I've bought has turned moldy within 48 hours of being moistened, vermiculite "kills", so what do I use? I went back to the sphagnum peat, and the snakes seem to really like it. It leaves the eggs quite dirty looking, but I don't much care.

I do have to note, however, that I do not incubate in the peat moss. I feel comfortable knowing it's in there with the girls for their nests, because the eggs will be fine for several days in case I miss that they were laid, but once I discover them they go on vermiculite.

So far this year my eggs look good (fingers crossed)
 
moss and perilite?

I use 1/2 " of perilite on the bottom of my egg containers and spaghnam moss on top. I mist every 3-4 days as I also use a small fan blowing across the top. I don't incubate, I use a 55 gallon aquarium, stack the eggs containers with approximate 50 1/8" holes in each one. On the other side, I use a waterfall, with an undertank heater under the water fall. I lose very few eggs. also, I reuse the moss every year, BUT I microwave it all for 30 seconds. I heard that kills any bacteria. it all works for me
 
I have coco fibre in the lay boxes as it facilitates the burrowing needs the females have when they're looking for a safe place to lay their eggs and I incubate on vermiculite. This is my first year breeding but I have to say I'm 100% happy with the results so far.
 
Thank you

Thank you for the info. The thread was very helpful. I'll switch around my substrate. I only have six eggs, but they are all precious. Thanks again
 
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