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Moppet
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
3315 Posts |
 Posted - 03/05/2013 : 07:15:00
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I have the opportunity to collect sphagnum moss from my parents garden but I am concerned about treating it so that it is safe for my snakes.
How do you think is the best way to do this? How is the moss treated when you buy it for reptiles? Is it possible to treat it the same was as logs?I would be worried about putting it in the oven as a fire risk... |
2.4.0 Corn snakes
1.0.0 horse
0.1.0 Golden retriever
1.4.0 Guinea pigs |
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Razee
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
2525 Posts |
Posted - 03/05/2013 : 08:01:53
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You could always put it in the freezer for some time, and then, when you pull it out, put it in a baking tray, and pour some boiling water over it. Let it cool down, rinse, squeeze the water out - ready to use.
I used to buy a bag from a garden centre, and stored my moss like that, divided into individual freezer bags , according to how much I was using in one moist hide. Now I'm a bit lazy, so I just keep the bag in the conservatory, and pull out some moss whenever I need it, just giving it a rinse. :-) |
0.1.0 late CB10 Carolina corn snake - Bazilishka
1.0.0 CB11 Abbots Okeetee- Little Twiddler
1.0.0 CB11 Hypo corn- Sebastianek
1.0.0. CB14 Butter Motley - Squidwood
0.0.2 CB18 normal/ Okeetee yearlings Bunny and Lalalishka
0.0.1 hognose
0.1.0 stable cat
0.1.0 house cat |
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Auld Baldy
Ikea's Pimp
United Kingdom
1619 Posts |
Posted - 03/05/2013 : 08:17:18
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| I wouldn't use it from the garden. You never know what pesticides, fertilizer or other chemicals it might contain. It isn't worth the risk considering the price of pet supplier prices. |
1.0.0: Miami Normal: Taggart
0.0.1: Carolina Normal: Wee Woody
0.0.1: Grey Rat Snake: Mirkey
0.0.1: Amel Corn: Blaze
1.0.0: Carpet Python: Vambo
0.0.1: MBK: Fester
0.0.1: Florida King Snake : Rattler (Rattle & Hum)
0.0.1. California King Snake: El Diablo Diego
0.2.0 Tarantulas : Ermintrude & Euphemia. |
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Razee
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
2525 Posts |
Posted - 03/05/2013 : 08:50:32
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| AB - good point with pesticides... I forgot about those. |
0.1.0 late CB10 Carolina corn snake - Bazilishka
1.0.0 CB11 Abbots Okeetee- Little Twiddler
1.0.0 CB11 Hypo corn- Sebastianek
1.0.0. CB14 Butter Motley - Squidwood
0.0.2 CB18 normal/ Okeetee yearlings Bunny and Lalalishka
0.0.1 hognose
0.1.0 stable cat
0.1.0 house cat |
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Blackcat
Sub Adult
United Kingdom
1235 Posts |
Posted - 03/05/2013 : 10:04:25
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I use moss from my parents garden, I know that no pesticides, fertilizer etc have been used.
All I do before use is to wash it really well with copious amounts of water several times, I then put the wet moss in a glass dish and microwave to kill any bugs, have had no issues  |
0.0.2 Corn snakes - Morse & Zeus
1.1.0 Brazillian Rainbow Boa's - Indigo & Ruby
0.0.2 Columbian Rainbow Boa's - Orinoco & Tobago
1.0.0 House snake - Hoggle
0.1.0 Crested Gecko - Ludo
2.0.0 cats (RIP Zebee), 0.1.0 Dog, 2.0.0 Horses |
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Moppet
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
3315 Posts |
Posted - 03/05/2013 : 12:45:41
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I know that no fertilisers, pesticides etc are used. My parents do not use any of them in their garden (and have not ever used them) so it is safe from that point of view.
I shall try the microwave idea, thanks blackcat.
I don't like the quality of the moss I got specifically for reptiles, it was full of larch needles and other *****ly things (EDIT: over zealous filter issues... 'spikey') and it seems silly to buy it when I can collect it for free. |
2.4.0 Corn snakes
1.0.0 horse
0.1.0 Golden retriever
1.4.0 Guinea pigs |
Edited by - Moppet on 03/05/2013 12:47:22 |
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collected sphagnum moss
