forrest moss

[Vilt]

hi ! I collected some forrest moss, washed it with boiling water and cleaned it closely cutting of the ends. I' d like to use it in the wood bridge hide, but I wanted to know if other moss can be used instead of sphagnum moss..
thanks

 

[Yvonne G]

I don't know the answer to that, but personally, I would be hesitant to add anything from nature to my enclosures if I wasn't 100% sure if it's toxic or not.

 

[Tom]

I agree with Yvonne. Even if not toxic, tortoises tend to eat that stuff and it can cause an impaction. I don't use moss of any kind in my enclosures.

 

[Maro2Bear]

The forest moss gathered there looks pretty much what I used to gather & place in my box turtle enclosure here in Maryland. Never ever saw my box turtles attempt to eat it, and i surely doubt it’s toxic. I never trimmed or boiled it either, seems like a lot of work / effort really. Initially it all looked nice in the enclosure, but it all eventually dried up & died since it’s too warm in a torts enclosure.

So, looks nice, but probably not worth the effort. Easier to go with “approved” tried and true substrates.

What kind of tortoise do you have?

 

[Vilt]

thanks for replies ! I have a Hermann hatchling I'm trying to create a humid hide, because even with a closed lid, the night heat lamp dries the enclosure very fast...

 

[ZEROPILOT]

I just tossed out moss that was in my Chameleons enclosures.
Ants had set up headquarters in it.
The only time I used it previously was for baby Redfoot. And they did try eating it.
Two for two for me.
I'm not a fan.

 

[Tom]

thanks for replies ! I have a Hermann hatchling I'm trying to create a humid hide, because even with a closed lid, the night heat lamp dries the enclosure very fast...

To create a humid hide, use a dark colored plastic tub of some sort, flip it up side down, cut out a small door hole, and wet the substrate under it. You don't need moss, and you want succeed using an open ended log hide.