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Just Curious............

RedQuake Sep 29, 2003 10:14 AM

Has anyone ever had mold grow in their humid hides using moss or other substrate other than paper towels?

I'm thinking of switching to another substrate in the humid hide for Nala. She's shedding again but like before she's not getting all of it off nor is she really working at it. She won't go into her humid hide at all and isn't eating her shed skin, theres large pieces in her tank. She did have skin hanging off her tail when i got up and its off now so she's worked at it a bit, but nothing compared to Dot, whose shedding right now as well. I could hear Dot when i got up, rubbing her head on her cave and when all but a small bit on her was left, she went into her humid hide and stuck that part of her head on the paper towels.......it was sooooooooo cute LOL. Nala on the other hand, is just hiding and doesn't seem to be worried about getting all of the skin off.

Other than that all are doing well. Even Bronx is eating mealworms now, i'm sooooooooo happy

Oh by the way, for those who remember me saying before that i was sick with a head cold........i now have pneumonia.
Lots of bed time for me hehehe
Red
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Crested Gecko Zeek:1.0
LEOS: Boo: 1.0 normal , Bronx & Nala: 1.1 blizzard,
Lily: 0.1 patternless, Abby: 0.1 albino, Zoe: 0.1 reduced pattern, Dot: 0.1 hypo
Chip: 1.0 papillion (small dog)
2.0 bettas

Replies (8)

fruitionx Sep 29, 2003 11:04 AM

yes i have had mold grow in my humid hides with moss. I just change the moss about ever 2-3 weeks and it works out well. Think it depends on the water and how much you put in though too. I like the moss however, it really keeps humidity up and looks better than just paper towels i think.
Feel better!
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Lauren
Leos and Uros

RedQuake Sep 30, 2003 09:30 AM

Thankyou very much I needed to find something that worked better than paper towels for Nala.

I'm on *horse pills* hehehe so i should start feeling better soon. Plus i have an inhailer to help me breathe

Red
-----
Crested Gecko Zeek:1.0
LEOS: Boo: 1.0 normal , Bronx & Nala: 1.1 blizzard,
Lily: 0.1 patternless, Abby: 0.1 albino, Zoe: 0.1 reduced pattern, Dot: 0.1 hypo
Chip: 1.0 papillion (small dog)
2.0 bettas

ecb Sep 29, 2003 12:06 PM

on another Messege board (Ball Pythons) someone said that when they get new moss they have to soak and squeeze out their Moss every couple of days (5 or 6, or as soon as you see any mold), kinda like hand washing your delecates, for about 3 or 4 times, then after that the sugars are gone from the Moss, so it does not grow any more
I repeat, this is not MY experience, but the reasoning is sound, (S-moss is high in sugar)
hope this helps
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Elizabeth (ecb)

Make this world a better and more beautiful place that You have been in it
*Edward W Bok*

RedQuake Sep 30, 2003 09:34 AM

Thankyou, yes that helps alot. Having just one gecko was wonderful, but now that i have 7 i am being kept on my toes for sure. They all seem to want to shed at the same time, with two always having troubles. A substrate that holds more moisture for longer periods of time is what these two really need

Thanks again
Red
-----
Crested Gecko Zeek:1.0
LEOS: Boo: 1.0 normal , Bronx & Nala: 1.1 blizzard,
Lily: 0.1 patternless, Abby: 0.1 albino, Zoe: 0.1 reduced pattern, Dot: 0.1 hypo
Chip: 1.0 papillion (small dog)
2.0 bettas

xelda Sep 29, 2003 12:46 PM

I think peat moss is better, because it stays warmer than paper towels. My leos will track it out of the hide, and one of them even kicks it out, but if that's what makes them happy, I can deal with it. I used to keep two humid hides in my original tank, one with paper towels and the other with moss. They used both, but the moss hide got used a lot more.
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chickabowwow

Dakman Sep 29, 2003 02:24 PM

I have personally have always used vermiculite and have had very good results with it. It holds moisture alot better than paper towels and warms up nicely. Ive never had a mold problem either. They like it better then when I tried peat which seemed to dry out faster. Most people use it for their lay boxes but I use it all the time.
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My posts and replies are my experiences only
1.2.10 Tokays
1.4.8 Leos(11 albino)
0.2.0 AFT's
0.2.0 Stenodactylus Petrii(Dune Geckos)

RedQuake Sep 30, 2003 09:47 AM

Thats a great idea Then the humid hide acts as a lay box when the time comes hehehe.

Red
-----
Crested Gecko Zeek:1.0
LEOS: Boo: 1.0 normal , Bronx & Nala: 1.1 blizzard,
Lily: 0.1 patternless, Abby: 0.1 albino, Zoe: 0.1 reduced pattern, Dot: 0.1 hypo
Chip: 1.0 papillion (small dog)
2.0 bettas

RedQuake Sep 30, 2003 09:40 AM

Thankyou

I'll offer these two geckos both kinds of hides and see what happens. Dot just started to use her humid hide, and well Nala is driving me batty cause she won't go anywhere near it, yet takes forever to shed. And when i try to help her she bites and screams.
Hopefully a different substrate will help her out

Thanks again
Red
-----
Crested Gecko Zeek:1.0
LEOS: Boo: 1.0 normal , Bronx & Nala: 1.1 blizzard,
Lily: 0.1 patternless, Abby: 0.1 albino, Zoe: 0.1 reduced pattern, Dot: 0.1 hypo
Chip: 1.0 papillion (small dog)
2.0 bettas

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