Moss ID?

Toddrickfl1

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Any one know what kind of Moss this is? It's growing all over my yard and I thought it would look cool if I transplanted some in my torts enclosure but I want to make sure it's safe if my Tort tries to eat some? IMG_20190126_155412365.jpg IMG_20190126_155410470.jpg
 

Toddrickfl1

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One more pic close upIMG_20190127_165720841.jpg
 

xMario

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I learned in this forum that Moss can cause impaction I wouldn't risk it
 

Toddrickfl1

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I learned in this forum that Moss can cause impaction I wouldn't risk it
I think that's debatable. I already use Spahgnum Moss and never had an issue.
 

xMario

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I think that's debatable. I already use Spahgnum Moss and never had an issue.
Yes... but why risk it? I also had moss in my enclosure but after I heard it CAN cause impaction I removed it for the safety of my tort... same goes for small stones and sand i personally think that it is a unnecessary risk but everyone has his own opinion so use it if u want..
 

Toddrickfl1

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Yes... but why risk it? I also had moss in my enclosure but after I heard it CAN cause impaction I removed it for the safety of my tort... same goes for small stones and sand i personally think that it is a unnecessary risk but everyone has his own opinion so use it if u want..
The way I see it is something soft like Moss wouldn't be any more likely to cause impaction than something hard, like a carrot, or cuttlebone, which are both considered safe to feed. I could be wrong though.
 

Bambam1989

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Moss is definitely a debatable topic. I would actually recommend most people to just avoid it as a general guideline.
That said- my tort loves to eat moss. It's an unavoidable plant in my area, so if he is outside then he is going to be able to find some. It hasn't caused any issues so far. When he was smaller I wanted to know if it would be a possible issue so I put a huge 'mat' in his indoor enclosure so I could see what he would do with it and if he would have any issues if he ate some. The results, for me and the moss in my area, was that he would graze it while it was fresh. This was about a day or two of heavy munching, then he was no longer interested. I had to change it out after about 1week. I repeated this for quite a while, and he never had issues passing poop, nor did I see anything that looked undigested.
Your moss looks similar to what I have, if your determined to use it I would use my fingernails to "pinch" a piece and see if it easily comes apart. If it's tough and hard to pinch it may be a problem if ingested. It may not survive for long in an enclosure but should be easy to replace.
 

TechnoCheese

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Lucky! All of my moss is short and in tiny patches. Really want to find some nice moss for terrariums.
 

Toddrickfl1

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Moss is definitely a debatable topic. I would actually recommend most people to just avoid it as a general guideline.
That said- my tort loves to eat moss. It's an unavoidable plant in my area, so if he is outside then he is going to be able to find some. It hasn't caused any issues so far. When he was smaller I wanted to know if it would be a possible issue so I put a huge 'mat' in his indoor enclosure so I could see what he would do with it and if he would have any issues if he ate some. The results, for me and the moss in my area, was that he would graze it while it was fresh. This was about a day or two of heavy munching, then he was no longer interested. I had to change it out after about 1week. I repeated this for quite a while, and he never had issues passing poop, nor did I see anything that looked undigested.
Your moss looks similar to what I have, if your determined to use it I would use my fingernails to "pinch" a piece and see if it easily comes apart. If it's tough and hard to pinch it may be a problem if ingested. It may not survive for long in an enclosure but should be easy to replace.
It's very soft. I'm not really too determined, I just thought it would look really cool. I'm trying to make my new enclosure as natural looking as possible.
 

Maro2Bear

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It's very soft. I'm not really too determined, I just thought it would look really cool. I'm trying to make my new enclosure as natural looking as possible.

Yes, natural moss looks really nice. I think the problem, at least up here, is that it really thrives in moist, cool environments. Once you dig it up and transplant to your tort’s habitat, it pretty much declines.
 

Bambam1989

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It's very soft. I'm not really too determined, I just thought it would look really cool. I'm trying to make my new enclosure as natural looking as possible.
Pros- I thought it looked nice. Helpful isopods loved to hide in it and was a texture variation in the terrain(something different to walk on).
Cons- It needed to be changed out regularly. There is always the possibility of it causing an impaction/constipation. Despite rinsing it off I would sometimes have unwanted hitchhikers such as spiders or once a centipede (no problem for the tort but they were eating my isopods)
I no longer use moss by the way.
 

Toddrickfl1

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Yes, natural moss looks really nice. I think the problem, at least up here, is that it really thrives in moist, cool environments. Once you dig it up and transplant to your tort’s habitat, it pretty much declines.
That's probably why it's growing all over right now because it's winter. Thanks for all the advice everybody. I think it will probably die quick in my warm humid enclosure. I'm not going to use it. What about for a nice green look in the enclosure anybody ever try Chia seeds?
 

Maro2Bear

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That's probably why it's growing all over right now because it's winter. Thanks for all the advice everybody. I think it will probably die quick in my warm humid enclosure. I'm not going to use it. What about for a nice green look in the enclosure anybody ever try Chia seeds?

Yep....i did throw down and grew Chia seeds in our Sullys first enclosure. Try it...
 

Bambam1989

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I've got a planter box in mine. I tried planted it in clover, ajuga, cucumber and some bush beans
The clover didn't do well, the beans never sprouted(bad seeds I think) the ajuga is starting to look better. The cucumber seeds surprised me and are looking pretty good. They are going to spill out of the planter soon... And therefore be eaten. I'm going to try the beans again (new seeds) as well as some zucchini.
 

Toddrickfl1

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The only live plant I've got in the enclosure now is some Pothos but the leaves have been turning yellow for some reason. Yvonne said probably to much water?IMG_20190126_160158858.jpg
 

Toddrickfl1

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I've got a planter box in mine. I tried planted it in clover, ajuga, cucumber and some bush beans
The clover didn't do well, the beans never sprouted(bad seeds I think) the ajuga is starting to look better. The cucumber seeds surprised me and are looking pretty good. They are going to spill out of the planter soon... And therefore be eaten. I'm going to try the beans again (new seeds) as well as some zucchini.
How is clunker doing? It's been awhile since I've seen some pics.
 

Bambam1989

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How is clunker doing? It's been awhile since I've seen some pics.
He is great! Just got alot of stuff going on so he doesn't have to suffer my photo shoots as often... This one is from early December. Chowing on a MASSIVE catsear plant that I pulled up and tossed in his pen. The clump was bigger than my head! He ate it all in one sitting.IMG_20181211_083833298.jpeg
 

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