I'm not sure of the name but it is a relatively new product which comes pressed in small bricks [don't carry one through the airport in your carry on lugage!]. When water is added it expands several times and creates a material which is very like the broken down woody material of a forest floor. It reminds me of the consistency of seasoned saw dust piles I've found wild snake nests in. It seems to hold water better than sphagnum and I think it's cheaper. I've ended up making a "humidity chamber" which is essentially the same set up as your nest box but I give it to all my snakes. Some, like eastern chain kings stay in there all the time. I think it's the closest material I've seen to what the snakes use in nature.



PS Terry, did you get up to visit Brad this season? Joel and I drove through the area last week in torrential downpores and didn't even stop. We did do drive-bys on some of the spots we visited last year and found two of the best to be gone! Bummer! Oh well, we did well on corns further south and even managed to rescue a nice female chain king from certain death as she attempted to cross a busy two lane highway at lunch time.

[ Show Entire Thread ]