Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i heard that u could use tup-o-ware with soil in it to help moisten thier skin. is spagmum pete humus ok too? please help me

i've heard reptile moss is ok too.... i checked it out at petco last night and it seems to have a lot of dirt in it. is it fine once you mist it to use? (not trying to hijack your question - i just figured mine was similar and answers could help us both! )

Spagmum is great. According to Reptile magazine it is the best choice. Don't use Green Tree moss or Vermiculite as it can harm your animals.

For my humid hides I use cheap dollar store tupperware and cut a hole in the lid of it so the gecko doesn't knock out too much substrate. I use the shredded coconut husk that is compressed and you soak to loosen it up. This stuff holds water pretty good to keep the humidity up. Be careful when buying moss, sphagnum is great, but a lot times green tree moss is sold and labelled as sphagnum. This happened to me at a major pet chain as it was sold as sphagnum and safe for reptiles and amphibians, but it was green tree moss actually that when wet can release dangerous chemicals into the humid hide and make your gecko sick. I never would have known except for reading Reptiles magazine and these forums. Hope this helps and good luck with your leos.

I just use moist paper towels and line the bottom of the hide with them, its really cheap and so far everyone has had great sheds and loves their humid hides

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0.1 Bearded dragon
0.1 mexican Black kingsnake
1.1.2 Leopard Gecko's (normal:normal:tang:baldy hypo tang)
0.0.1 Tokay Gecko
1.0 Blue Tongue Skink
0.0.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn
0.1 Anerythristic Corn
0.0.1 Red Tegu
0.1 Bullmastiff
4.1 Cats

in mine i use a combo of the moss(not green) and the shreeded cocoanut , works for me

Dude. Vermiculite is FINE. Unless your leos choose to eat it (no noted impactions from it, but generally not a great ides to have them munching on foreign objects) I use it as a base for all my humid hides. In fact, it retains moisture longer and keeps the moss/bed-a-beast damp longer. My leos love it.

This "Reptile Moss" being spoken of is the exact same thing as Sphagnum Moss sold at your local garden centre -- the one at the garden center is about a third or a fifth of the price of that crappy pet store marketing gimmick. Just make sure it is additive free/natural moss you're buying.
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Too many Leos
1.0 feline "Spot"
0.1 canine "Tika"

DUDE like, ok

I know its hard to discern emotional intent from emails and posts but that wasn't meant antagonistically or harshly. Sorry if it offended you...I think you're reading into my posts a bit much though.

I admit, I am a bit hyper so I will stay away from the caps key...lol
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Too many Leos
1.0 feline "Spot"
0.1 canine "Tika"

Just to let you know. I wasn't saying vermiculite doesn't work. Vermiculite is a known carcinagen. Every time you pour the vermiculite it makes a fine dust which doesn't settle for hours. Making it unsafe for both you and your animal.