Whats Vermaculite

[DerekB]

Pretty simple im a first timer and im trying to hatch some eggs and everything i read says to use vermaculite but i have no idea what it is..

Someone else said use sphagnum moss wich im not sure were i could get any of that.

What do You think Vermaculite vs Sphagnum Moss

 

[Blue Apple Herps]

I personally HATE sphagnum moss. I LOVE vermiculite. Vermiculite is a mineral that is mined and used primarily in plant use. But it works great for incubation medium. The only problem is that vermiculite is pretty hard to come by. I used to have to have Lowe's special order it for me, but they won't do that any more. I was able to get some from another member on here, and now I work in a lab that studies plants, so I can get it via that very easily.

I just think it's a breeze to use and have had great success with it. With moss I always ended up with flies and it just never seemed "right" for me. Can't explain it; just the way it is. I believe if you can't get sphagnum moss you can also use more expensive orchid moss (someone correct me if I"m wrong). But the sphangum moss should be easy to come by. The one year I used it I got it from Wal-Mart.

 

[kathylove]

Go to any garden and nursery store and ask for the coarse vermiculite. Not the fine! They may have it or they may have to special order it, but they will know what it is. That is what I use to hatch eggs. But I use sphagnum moss (not sphagnum PEAT moss!) for the females' nest boxes.

 

[reptile_jones]

You can also use pearl lite, which is also sold at garden stores. I like to use both vermiculite and moss.