Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Does anyone disagree with the use of peet moss? I use cedar mulch as a substrate right now but I am looking to use only a patch of peet moss to keep it wet for humidity purposes only. MY humidity is at a constant 70% and I think adding just a patch o peet moss might bring it up to about 75% which is where I want.

potting soil works well...just nuke it in the microwave first. I'd toss the cedar stuff and just use dirt

I don't necessarily disagree with using peet moss, but if you are indeed using CEDAR mulch, and that was not a typo (did you mean cypress?), you need to ditch that stuff asap and clean your enclosure out good with soap and water. Cedar oils are toxic to reptiles and you will end up with dead tree boas if you continue to use it. Cypress mulch is safe, aspen is safe, newspaper or brown butcher paper is safe, but not cedar and even pine is suspect over the long term.

>>Does anyone disagree with the use of peet moss? I use cedar mulch as a substrate right now but I am looking to use only a patch of peet moss to keep it wet for humidity purposes only. MY humidity is at a constant 70% and I think adding just a patch o peet moss might bring it up to about 75% which is where I want.

Ooops my bad, it is Cypress bedding I am using. I got my ETB on Saturday and 3 days later she snatched a hopper from my hand like she hasn't eaten in a month. I don't think I'll be having any problems with this girl

>>Ooops my bad, it is Cypress bedding I am using. I got my ETB on Saturday and 3 days later she snatched a hopper from my hand like she hasn't eaten in a month. I don't think I'll be having any problems with this girl
>>

Actually, potting soild is one of the worse mediums you can use as well. Most potting soils have some sort of organic or even chemical fertilizers than can kill your snake. On top of that potting soil is constantly breaking down and does not allow for enough aeration through the soil, soon you will have bacterial problems.

As a whole, Corallus do best with a bedding that they can easily work out of their mouths as they are prone to strking and missing and coming up with a mouthfull of substrate. The safest and unfortunately least aesthetic medium for Corallus as a whole is good old paper towels. In a pinch you could use cypress but if your emerald comes up with some of it in its mouth it may not be able to work it out and you'll end up with a nasty case of stomatitis. With those big teeth and gums, emeralds have a very hard time working things out of their mouths because of the lack of articulation in their jaws due to the sheer size of their teeth. Be careful because I have seen many, many cases of emeralds developing mouthrot because of the substrate they are on. I would stay away from the peat too. If their food lays on top of it while swalling, the snake is sure to get a mouthful of peet which likes to expand in moist environment...Same goes for impactions if swallowed.

Most people with large collections keep their animals on paper towels or over water for a reason.

Good luck.
Danny Mendez

-----
Urban Jungles.com