Peat Moss

[Gene0514]

Hi everyone

I got a huge bag of peat moss today and was wondering if i can use it for my garter snakes. Its finely shredded like coco fiber, but lighter.
Anyone have any experience with peat?

[guidofatherof5]

Seems like we just had a discussion about this.
I'll try to find the thread and post a link.;)

Found it http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/enclosures/8375-pete-moss.html

[Didymus20X6]

I use peat moss. But I've heard that, in its natural state, it's a breeding ground for parasites and other harmful organisms. Good for plants, not so good for snakes.

But here's what I do: I bake it in the oven until it reaches a temperature of 200F. That pretty much kills just about anything, and even dries it out some to make it more suitable. But it does stink of the house real good, so you have been warned.

[Gene0514]

Ah ok
I won't use the peat then
Is aspen good for easterns?

[guidofatherof5]

As long as it's not ingested.
I don't use it but members have mentioned this in other posts.

[ConcinusMan]

I wouldn't use it. It's dusty, is a breeding ground for bacteria and mold, gets into their nostrils and irritates the respiratory tract.

[BLUESIRTALIS]

Aspen is the best substrate in my opinion as long as you feed your snakes in a seperate container. I have been using aspen for a long time and it is easy to spot clean and fluff up so it will last for a while. Peat moss is so fine and dry that it is dusty and easily inhaled which is bad for the snakes. Now i have used peat moss before back when i use to breed boas for some of my high humidity tree boas. As long as it is damp it is fine, but if you keep a garter snake damp he will get blisters and possibly respiratory infections. I would use either aspen or cypress mulch.

[ConcinusMan]

I use peat moss. But I've heard that, in its natural state, it's a breeding ground for parasites and other harmful organisms. Good for plants, not so good for snakes.

But here's what I do: I bake it in the oven until it reaches a temperature of 200F. That pretty much kills just about anything, and even dries it out some to make it more suitable. But it does stink of the house real good, so you have been warned.


You can buy peat moss that is already sterile which is essentially what baking does. It doesn't fix other problems that happen when using it.

[Gene0514]

Ah
alright thanks guys
I'll just stick to newspaper and paper towels for ease of cleaning