Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Did some early shopping today for perlite and vermiculite and went to Lowes and Home Depot. Both places only had the perlite and vermiculite with the dredded Miricle grow plant food additive. Now they used to carry a brand w/o the food plant additive. But not no more.

Is there anyone else stocking up on egg laying substrate yet and if so, where do you find yours without the Miracle Grow plant food additive?
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Check a hydroponic grow store. If they don't stock it they can probably order it. Make sure they know you want fine perlite, not the larger coarse grade.

I haven't bought any this year yet but found the same problem where I live last year with pearlite. I ended up finding some without pland food at K Mart. I've been told by a couple people that they found some at plant nurserys also.
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Randy Whittington

Okay K-Mart is it then since I don't know what a hydroponic grow store even is.
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I went out this morning to restock all my laying and incubating supplies for the year and K mart no longer carries it. I found a large indoor and outdoor plant nursery near me that was able to order some pearlite without fertilizer added. They had vermiculite without fertilizer and HUGE bags of super clean spagnum moss.
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Randy Whittington

I' actually using unshredded sphagnum moss mixed with coconut husk this year....I like the way it holds moisture. We'll see how it does.

Although I'm hip to vermiculite because it's fairly sterile, it makes a mess.

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Chris Jones
King of Kings Reptiles

http://www.kingofkingsreptiles.com/

"All the fancy names in the world will be of no help if you do not know the difference between chocolate pudding and pig poop." -Frank Retes

Been using the same for years with good results
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“Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind.” Emmerson

I have used everything there is to incubate on in the past and my favorite is spagnum. Its a little easy to make it too wet but otherwise great stuff.

Spagnum moss is good stuff but for me I find it dries out too quick for incubating eggs compared to vermiculite or pearlite. You have to keep a closer eye on it and have to add water more often.

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Randy Whittington

Try a hydroponics store. I pick all of my stuff up from a local store and I have known the people there for about 12 years. They now have reptiles, isn't it funny how that works?
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Remember, you truly only say goodbye in death!

I buy big bags of vermiculite (coarse grade) and sphagnum moss at a local greenhouse/mulch/landscape company..
The bags of vermiculite are like 30-50 lb and sell for about $12. Sometimes a few year's worth depending on how many eggs I hatch..
You can get the smaller bags of perlite w/out the added extras at the home center stores and Wal mart but you have to read the bags well.
I bought all Lowe's had once when they discontinued a certain brand..less than .50 ea.
Watch for that in the "off" season.
:Mark
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Surrender Dorothy!

crimsonking.piczo.com/