Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I think my BRB's lil wheeze went away, I pulled her out and she didnt seem to wheeze at all!!!!

On the down side im battling the dreaded case of mold in the box again. Not as severe as last time, not even close, but still a few hints of "webs" here and there, gonna do it all again!

GREAT!!!!!!! WOOHOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

And even less water this time
-----
Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
21.29 BRB
19.19 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

I get mold sometimes also, not often at all but then again, I do 36 moss boxes at a time!!
-----
Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
21.29 BRB
19.19 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

For sure you have to get a little mold sometimes!!!

Im worried that if use even less water there wont be any water at all!!! I used very little water on the green moss but I make sure the peat moss is nice and damp. I woder if the peat moss might be helping the green moss mold up?????

Like I said, Im using very little water when it comes to the green moss just enough to get like, little water droplets on it, not to make it damp or soak it or have it soggy, its still fluffy and light, you can just feel the droplets of water on them. Best way to describe would have to be it looks like dew on blades of grass in the morning.

Hmmmmm, I use a lot more than that...

I take the peat moss, usually fully dry unless a new bag. and spray it down. Then swirl tub to mix water and peat moss. Keep adding water and swirling until no dry peat moss surfaces. Usually three waterings for me. Then add green moss and give it a few passes with hose set on full spray. Moss is wet on top and dry on bottom. For me that seems to be the right amount of water. The moss will soak up and even expand over the next hour or two.
-----
Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
21.29 BRB
19.19 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Hhhhhmmmm.....

Well I'll give that a go when I go to change it all out again, which will probably be very soon

yeah be very careful of dampness of the peat. I'm sure it contributed to the mold. In my experience to wet peat molds ten times faster or more then to wet green moss.

Also keep in mind that peat is even more of a sponge then green moss. I tried it as a substrate once ages ago and it took weeks to dry out but had mold within the first week.

I only left it because the enclosure I had it in was not in use yet. I was experimenting with different substrates before I put them into circulation.

Sean

The mold thing is kinda trial and error. It takes a lot of fine tuning to get it right. I felt I was ok with my moss pits in glass tanks, but they were way too moist when I moved them into snake cages. Thus, I am still fine tuning after a month in the cages. The cages hold humidity so much better the moss pits do not seem to dry at all.
-----
Mike

2.4 BRB
1.2 Spotted Python
1.0 Cal. King

It seems like you are doing things right but still getting more than expected growth of mold. My guess is that the moss you have has more than a typical level of moss spores (is that the right term for mold?). I would nuke the moss in the microwave before wetting it.
Jeff

>>I think my BRB's lil wheeze went away, I pulled her out and she didnt seem to wheeze at all!!!!
>>
>>On the down side im battling the dreaded case of mold in the box again. Not as severe as last time, not even close, but still a few hints of "webs" here and there, gonna do it all again!

Just guessing here but I think "mold spores" would more likely be the correct term.

>>It seems like you are doing things right but still getting more than expected growth of mold. My guess is that the moss you have has more than a typical level of moss spores (is that the right term for mold?). I would nuke the moss in the microwave before wetting it.
>>Jeff
>>
-----
Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
21.29 BRB
19.19 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

>>Just guessing here but I think "mold spores" would more likely be the correct term.
>>
>>>>It seems like you are doing things right but still getting more than expected growth of mold. My guess is that the moss you have has more than a typical level of moss spores (is that the right term for mold?). I would nuke the moss in the microwave before wetting it.
>>>>Jeff
>>>>
>>-----
>>Thanks,
>>
>>
>>Dave Colling
>>
>>www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com
>>
>>
>>
>>0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
>>0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)
>>
>>LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
>>21.29 BRB
>>19.19 BCI
>>And those are only the breeders
>>
>>lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

I do not use moss boxes. I use inverted clay flowerpots in my larger cages. The small drain hole in the bottom of the flowerpot is enlarged using a small hammer to tap it out to the desired size and then the rough edges are smoothed using a large half round bastard file. When I clean cages the flower pots are placed in a bath tub of water to soak and get cleaned up. While soaking they absorb at least 8 ounces of water. When they are put back in the cages they provide a dark secure hiding place with extremely high humidity for several days. After 3 to 5 days in the cages they have dried and the cage humidity rises for a couple days. This way the snakes have extremely high humidity for several days and then a day or so of lower humidity. This system works very well to keep the Rainbow Boas skin looking nice and glossy and for me is much easier than using a moss hide box or spraying or misting the cage. I have been using these clay flowerpots for humid hides for about 20 years and I like them because they are easy and they work.