Need help: Use of peat moss

[Malley]

I think ive learnt my lesson, to read things thoroughly before i use them. Im attempting to breed crickets, which i keep separate to my feeder crickets, i heard that they need a moist substrate to lay their eggs in and read that peat moss was suggested. I bought some peat moss and put it in a container with the crickets, today ive read in very small text on the back of the packet ( ) that the peat moss "contains microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi and protozoa. May also contain mineral and fertiliser additives." I also used peat moss to mix with fine sand and put it in a spare enclosure i have to use as the substrate for future geckoes.
My questions are:
1. Do i need to change the substrate in the breeding crickets container?
2. Is there a possibility that there are nasty microorganims that can parasitise the crickets and therefore my herps if they are fed on the crickets? (my feeding crickets are separate to the breeding ones, so i havent fed them crickets from the container with the peat moss)
3. Do i need to remove the substrate from the intended gecko enclosure, dissinfect it and start new?
I would appreciate any responses to this post.
Cheers, Steve
P.S the brand of peat moss used is Brunnings

[JasonL]

Why are you putting peat moss in your gecko substrate? It isn't needed. The biggest problem I have had with breeding crickets is fodder mite, these mite turn up from no where and in damp warm conditions will multiply into billions, they don't effect reptiles as such but arn't good for your health and nothing seems to kill them. Keeping bugs as dry as possible keeps there levels to a minimum. The mites do not effect the crickets though.

[Pyror]

The biggest problem I have had with breeding crickets is fodder mite,

Aren't they disgusting annoying critters!? The last time i had them in my rat blocks, i nailed a huge patch of them with surface spray, and they just laughed in my face! Even TOD didn't seem to deter them for long... The only way i have found to get rid of them is to pull everything apart and wash it down with bleach.

As Jas said above, i wouldn't bother with peat moss in your substrate. It's messy and looks ugly IMO. If you want your animals to burrow, just keep part of the sand (if that's what you're using) slightly moist.

[Malley]

I really appreciate your replies guys, not trying to be rude, but can ppl please address the questions i have asked?

[Pyror]

Malley, got a bit distracted there...

I have used the Brunnings brand of peat moss in the past for breeding crix and have not had any problems with either breeding them or feeding them off down the line. Although, if you're paranoid you could switch over to moist vermiculite, which also works extremely well - and is no where near as messy.

[Malley]

Cheers Pyror

[Glimmerman]

Do i need to change the substrate in the breeding crickets container?

I only have chinese containers with moist peat moss in it for the crickets to lay in. The rest of the substrate is DRY. I them replace the containers every week and place this in a hatchery tub.

Is there a possibility that there are nasty microorganims that can parasitise the crickets and therefore my herps if they are fed on the crickets? (my feeding crickets are separate to the breeding ones, so i havent fed them crickets from the container with the peat moss)

Never heard of this happening.

Do i need to remove the substrate from the intended gecko enclosure, dissinfect it and start new?

I don't know what you are using for substrate. If you are using sand, every month I take all the sand out of my enclosures and put them on a baking tray and place them in the over for 30 mins @ 120 degrees. I then wait for the sand to cool down and place back into the enclosure.
I replace the sand every 6 months. This will depend on size of enclosure and amount of reptiles kept on this sand and how oftern they apply their waste onto it.

but can ppl please address the questions i have asked?

I hope I have answered all criteria to your standards

[Possum]

I don't breed crickets but I do have Giant Burrowing Roaches and they love the Peat Moss, I also have it in my Gecko houses and they also like it, you do need to read the pkt though to make sure it is "bad stuff" free.

[Malley]

[quote="Glimmerman"]

I only have chinese containers with moist peat moss in it for the crickets to lay in. The rest of the substrate is DRY. I them replace the containers every week and place this in a hatchery tub.

Sorry glimmerman, i was a little brief about this bit, the technique you described is the one i use as well, i was just referring to needing to change the moist substrate, as the peat moss im using atm says it contains microorganims.

Do i need to remove the substrate from the intended gecko enclosure, dissinfect it and start new?

I don't know what you are using for substrate. If you are using sand, every month I take all the sand out of my enclosures and put them on a baking tray and place them in the over for 30 mins @ 120 degrees. I then wait for the sand to cool down and place back into the enclosure.
I replace the sand every 6 months. This will depend on size of enclosure and amount of reptiles kept on this sand and how oftern they apply their waste onto it.

Sorry, i meant the substrate i mixed, the fine sand and peat moss. Ive decided to just use sand, but due to the microorganisms, should i dissinfect the enclosure again?


I may just be paranoid as the microorganisms in the peat moss are probably very specific in only having benefits to plant growth and are not parasitic/harmful to herps or my breeding insects, but i figured its probably best to be overweary of something rather then just disregarding it, not putting thought into it.

[Glimmerman]

the fine sand and peat moss. Ive decided to just use sand, but due to the microorganisms, should i dissinfect the enclosure again?

You could disenfect it OR if concerned, REPLACE the substrate (sand) and heat it as stated above.

I am quite sure that these critters in the wild whould have to deal with nastier organisms than the one's found in Bunnings moss.

I would be more concerned with what chemicals they used during the packing process than the micro organisms or bacteria.

[Magpie]

Use coir, it's cheaper, clean and a renewable resource.
Leave the peat moss in the peat bogs.
Coir has nothing in it that will harm any of your animals, unless you get the one with fertilizer.

[Malley]

Thanks for the replies