Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm still trying to get Yoshi, my donated Central American Banded more comfortable. He seems to be doing well, but he's digging down to the glass under his hides to make a little "nest". However, he's on a thin-ish amount of Sand & Sphagnum Moss (the clumpy stuff) as substrate and this is not enough for the little guy.

I have vermiculite and sphagnum moss around for my Leopard Geckos so tonight I'm putting Repti-carpet over the glass and layering it with some moist vermiculite in places so he can dig and feel more at home.

I have a bag of sphagnum peat moss lying around -- its basically like they ground up the sphagnum moss to make a soil-type peat. I'm worried that if I add this to his habitat, it will be too dusty and may hurt his eyes or worse, cause respiratory problems if I am not careful.

Has anyone had experience with this? I'm basically wondering if I can mix it with the other substrates and keep it moist enough where I put it so it won't be an issue.

What do you guys think/what are opinions on using this as a component in my substrate mixes?
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Too many Leos
1.0 feline "Spot"
0.1 canine "Tika"

i would very highly suggest getting rid of the vermiculite. it absorbs moisture like a sponge which may adversely affect your gecko if swallowed. i've had a female crested gecko become impacted from swallowing vermiculite while laying. i would NOT suggest putting it in an enclosure.
sphagnum should be okay, i would mix it with sand until it's the texture you think is right. i've never kept this type of gecko, but have kept my tegu and frilled dragon with sphagnum before with no problems. just make sure to let the dust settle before placing your gecko in the enclosure.

And be sure to spray it down too!

Thanks for the help, much appreciated!

I found this great article on "Maintenance and Breeding of the Central American Banded Gecko (Coleonyx Mitratus)" by Tim Tytle and Paul Stephens. It was published in The Vivarium: American Federation of Herptoculturists.

They recommend a 70% Peat Moss, 30% sand by volume to a depth of 1 Inch. I think I'll try this-- not sure about the Repticarpet now, as the under tank heater would be suppressed.

Would a vermiculite base under this, kept damp but not to the point of moisture causing respiratory problems, pose an equal threat? I know Bandeds aren't as retarded as my Leopard Geckos when it comes to ingesting substrates but I don't want to risk anything...

I'm sorry to hear about your loss due to vermiculite -- never had issues using this for Leopard laying but now I'm wondering what's best.
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Too many Leos
1.0 feline "Spot"
0.1 canine "Tika"

i have a layer of vermiculite and soil in two of my enlosures, however i have a fiberglass screen laying on top of it so the geckos can't get to it.

Thank you guys!! Great photo -- that's a great idea too.

I used a sand and peat moss combo and really sprayed it down and patted it lightly to compress it a tad. I put more sand on the right 3rd of the tank, over the UTH, so its dryer & he can go there too. I left his fake tree trunk and driftwood in there so he can burrow under it. Just gotta keep an eye on the moisture levels.

And I revamped his moist hide so its a little disposable tupperware w/a top lid for easy access. I've melted the edges with a lighter once I cut a door in it like I do w/my leopard gecko's margarine tubs. Its got a vermiculite base but its covered by sphagnum moss.

He headed straight for the hide and is sitting sleeping with his little head hanging out the door!

THANKS FOR THE HELP TO ALL!!
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Too many Leos
1.0 feline "Spot"
0.1 canine "Tika"