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hi i like to know if anyone of you are using moss for thier humid hide and do you sterilize this moss before using? hope you guys can give some advice. thanks

i gathered some of my own sphagnum moss from outside and i was wondering if i should sterilize and if so, how? thanks

-chip

I know there are other people on this forum who do use it.

I use paper towels, and thats the safest. For my breeding females I use peat moss. It looks like dirt, and you can find it in any garden store or at Walmart.

I have used sphagnum moss in the past and I never steralized it. The only thing I would do is let it soak in warm water, and then squeeze out some of the excess water and place it in the humid hide.

Shayna
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Shayna
www.LeoLoversLizardLounge.com

I haven't used it in a while, but probably will again in the future. Shayna brings up a good point that there is a difference between Sphagnum Moss and Sphagnum Peat Moss. The Sphagnum Peat Moss that she mentions that's like dirt works excellent in lay boxes/humid hides because of it's excellent moisture-retention properties. I never had a problem with it after using for 2-3 years. I've never used the Sphagnum Moss (looks like grasses) in my leo or fattail enclosures. It's got too many pieces that they can pick up and possibly impact themselves with. I don't know if its ever happened, but I'm not going to find out. Not only that, but it doesn't hold moisture as well as the other products.

Check out this really informative article I just found on the subject of health concerns with these products.

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Rob Jenkins
Have you seen the GeckoCam?
Charity Gecko
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I like spagnum moss over paper towels because it stays moist longer. I do replace it if it begins to grow mildew/mold (sometimes I keep it too moist I guess). The smell is sometimes noticeable before you can see it. Don't wait - toss it.

I buy it from the local home-supply place (Home Depot) where I can get a larger bag for less money than in the plant department of most places.

I haven't found sterilization necessary and was under the impression it was cleaned before I got it. If I were collecting it myself, or just wanted to be extra careful, I'd put it loosely in a paper bag in an oven preheated to 210f. Put a 13x9 pan on the shelf under the bag. Heat for 10 minutes and the contents of the bag will be sterilized. This is how my midwife had me steralize baby blankets before my son was born.

Good luck and keep asking questions!

>>hi i like to know if anyone of you are using moss for thier humid hide and do you sterilize this moss before using? hope you guys can give some advice. thanks
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Andrea A.

I used to use it, but I had one leo develop a taste for it (don't ask me why) so I was forced to discontinue use. If you buy it from a garden store I'd recommend sterilizing it by cooking it for 15 min in the oven at 250 becuase it can harbor molds that can produce illness in people (I'm not sure if they can make leos sick as well). Much of the moss packaged for reptiles has already been sterilized. I suspect that the problem I had with my leo eating it are just a result of that gecko's unique tastes, but keep an eye on the feces just in case.
-Alice