Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I went to Wal-mart today to pic up some moss and vermiculite. They didn't have any so I picked up some perlite. Is perlite still ok to incubate in? Also, all they had moss wise was peat moss. I don't like it at all but for $2 it was ok. Should be ok to lay on shouldn't it? I may as well have just got dirt from the back yard
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.1 Snow Corn "Hope"
1. Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Chunk" (Goonies)
.1 Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Peaches"
.1 MO Locale Black Ratsnake "Molly" (Flogging Molly)

"Have you ever tried simply turning off the T.V., sitting down with your kids... and hitting them?"

Perlite is fine - moss isn't necessary.

I went to home depot to try perlite this year - they had a run on it, all they had was huge but cheap bags of vermiculite. I hope that stuff doesn't expire ... I've probably got enough for a decade
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3.6 L. getula californiae
1.1 L. getula nigrita
1.0 Pantherophis guttatus guttatus
1.0 Thamnophis sirtalis fitchi
1.0 Boa constrictor constrictor (suriname, fostering/rescue)
3.3 Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata

I use the huge bags of vermiculite from Home Depot. There isn't an expiration date.

Kervby...
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Lonesome Valley Reptiles
www.lonesomevalleyreptiles.com
Specializing In California Kingsnakes

Where do you find them in Home Depot? I looked a couple of days ago and couldn't find anything. Are they inside or out?

Out in the gardening section at my home depot.

I think $26 for a 3.5 CU FT bag.
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3.6 L. getula californiae
1.1 L. getula nigrita
1.0 Pantherophis guttatus guttatus
1.0 Thamnophis sirtalis fitchi
1.0 Boa constrictor constrictor (suriname, fostering/rescue)
3.3 Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata

In the Garden section. Also called thermo-rock, 3.5 cubic feet, coarse ground, which is a large bag. Here in Arizona (where this bag is made) is around $11-13 a bag.

Kerby...
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Lonesome Valley Reptiles
www.lonesomevalleyreptiles.com
Specializing In California Kingsnakes

Thanks for the info. I'll ask them for Thermo rock, then. Somebody has to know. By the way, I miss Arizona so much!!

I used vermiculaite for 20 years. About 9 years ago i started using perlite. I have had a much better hatch rate since then. I think it is superior to vermiculite. Its also more idiot proof as it is harder to screw up the proper water ratio as perlite allows more air to the eggs where vermiculate (if to wet) stays in contact with the eggs.

Also if you live in the humid south vermiculite will tend to mold, whereas I have never had mold with perlite.

this year I will try this new stuff. Will let you know what I think about it later:

Ghost x T negative brooks breeding:

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I don't need no spell chack.

i haven't used perlite but it is OK. Peat moss is OK too.
From what I understand, Perlite practice is to add water and set the eggs on top of the substrate. with the moss you soak it , wring it out and then pack the eggs in the moss like you would with vermiculite.
It is probably just as well to try something other than vericulite, it gets messy, and I have heard but have no proof that asbestos has been found in vermiculite.
daveb

At least that's what it says on my huge bag of vermiculite.

Kerby...
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Lonesome Valley Reptiles
www.lonesomevalleyreptiles.com
Specializing In California Kingsnakes

>>At least that's what it says on my huge bag of vermiculite.
>>
ah, good. it must have been a vicious rumor designed to cripple the vermiculite industry. back to the way things were, then i guess.
daveb

Vermiculite I believe at one time did.
Brands that say they don't have it though don't. Well, they could be lying, but that would be a pretty big lawsuit waiting to happen.
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3.6 L. getula californiae
1.1 L. getula nigrita
1.0 Pantherophis guttatus guttatus
1.0 Thamnophis sirtalis fitchi
1.0 Boa constrictor constrictor (suriname, fostering/rescue)
3.3 Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata

I used both perlite and peat moss as the substrate for my lay box, and since she figured that was good enough to lay them in, I kept the eggs in there for incubation. Biggest problem was when she was digging around in it prelay and getting it all over her enclosure. It DOES make a BIG mess. Otherwise, I think it worked pretty good. The 9 good eggs I had all hatched out anyway.

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Ace

Hope I am not too late with my input... We use Perlite with our python and used it in her box... DO NOT use it in the box. She got it stuck under her lips and we had to clean it out with qtips. She also got very dry...I think the perlite sucked the moisture right out of her. Not sure if it would do the same to any other snakes, but we are not chancing it. It is great for incubating though. Just not in snake egg-laying boxes.
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~Laura

Rejoice, the age of the fall has begun
We'll dance as the palaces burn.
--Lamb of God, As the Palaces Burn