Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was browsing a garden store lately and was wondering if anyone had tried using spagnum moss as a laying box substrate. The coco fiber and peat moss seem to be the norm but it would seem like spagnum moss would help retain a lot of moisture without having the eggs get too soggy if overlooked for a day or two.
Just wondering,
Jason

Hi Jason,
I use sphagnum moss in my nest boxes and I'm pretty happy with it. It does NOT however hold moisture very well, although if you made it really sodden it might. I use it (in addition to its capacity as nests) to release moisture into the enclosure environment so I spray the nests down well in the morning when I check for eggs, and again in the evening when I get home from work and the geckos start waking up. Since it does dry out during the day, I figure it helps the humidity in their cages. Hope that helps.
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Terri
4:8:5 crested geckos: Popcorn, Goldfish, Harley, Bear, Big Red, Olive, Smudge, Blackie, Belle, Brilliant, Tina, Brick, Avis & Subtle, Toni(y), Kermit & Zipper

I put a chunk on top of a container of moist coco fiber. Not for its moisture holding ability but more for a security blanket/ hide. They enjoy laying in the coco fiber under the moss.

Do you have any trouble with the coco fiber getting moldy? I imagine that holds moisture better than just the sphagnum like I've been using.
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Terri
4:8:5 crested geckos: Popcorn, Goldfish, Harley, Bear, Big Red, Olive, Smudge, Blackie, Belle, Brilliant, Tina, Brick, Avis & Subtle, Toni(y), Kermit & Zipper

I have never experinced molding. I use "bed a beast" that comes in a brick. I use for the substrate in my plnted tank, nest boxes and incubate all of my eggs in the stuff. Excellent hatch rates. Works for me

I have been using the Bed-a-beast (from bricks) for substrate, and in fact, I have had to lay it much less thickly than I used to BECAUSE they would lay their eggs in it, and I didn't find the eggs until they were pretty well dried out. I spray them down morning and evening, but I never sprayed the substrate well enough to keep eggs hydrated. I'll try your method; it sounds better than mine. Thanks!
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Terri
4:8:5 crested geckos: Popcorn, Goldfish, Harley, Bear, Big Red, Olive, Smudge, Blackie, Belle, Brilliant, Tina, Brick, Avis & Subtle, Toni(y), Kermit & Zipper