Moss collection

[Snowberry]

After reading that these guys need a moist place to hide, I was wondering if it is wise to collect sphagnum moss from the forest? We live on the side of a mountain, so I have access to quite a bit of this type of moss. Would the moss need to be sterilized or anything before using?

 

[ReptileMan27]

I personally wouldnt reccomend using anything from outside. For your humid hide, just use paper towels, easier and safe .

 

[Grinning Geckos]

You can use the sphagnum from outside, but you'll need to do a very good job of sterilizing it. It can carry all sorts of bugs, bacteria, and maybe even chemicals on it. It's safer to go with packaged organic moss that orchid growers use.

 

[GeckoMandi]

I would just go to your local garden store, lowes, home depot maybe even wal-mart and get long oraganic sphagnum moss, big bags are like $3 or $4 bucks.

 

[HepCatMoe]

i find its more fun and more rewarding to use things you find yourself!!

but you do always need to sterilize anything you find that you put in with your herps.

usually to sterilize something you find from outside you can cook it in the oven. i dont know if that would work with moss though... as long as you had it in a fire proof container and kept a close eye on it though... heh... DANGER!!

 

[[Username]]

You could put it in a jar and put that in a pressure cooker with an inch or two of water and cook for 1 hour it will definatly be sterilized.