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 #1197269


HermyL0ve
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 Substrate

A friend of mine has had hermits for years and she said she uses organic peat moss as substrate...is that dangerous?
03/05/07  01:29am

 #1197494


Froggz37
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   Message To: HermyL0ve   In reference to Message Id: 1197269


 Substrate

"Decayed, compacted Sphagnum moss has the name of peat moss."

Thats a direct quote from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peat_moss

Peat moss is supposed to be a soil ammendment, and since its decayed sphagnum I don’t think its a good substrate.

"Although a good conditioner when mixed with soil, peat moss should never be used as a mulch, because when it is dry, it forms a water-repellent crust that keeps rain or irrigation water from soaking into the soil."

That is from http://www.answers.com/topic/sphagnum


Overall it is a very poor choice of substrate. Peat is acidic and as earlier mentioned, decaying.

Organic simply means that there were no chemicals such as fertilizer, insecticide or herbicides sprayed on the plant. It does NOT mean that it was cleaned and sanitized. Lol Not to be crude, but if a bear or dog poohed on it it doesnt mean that they cleaned it. There is no reason for them to do so when its "organic" and to be used ONLY as a soil additive for plants.

Can you get a brand name of it from her?



03/05/07  09:19am

 #1198955


HermyL0ve
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   Message To: Froggz37   In reference to Message Id: 1197494


 Substrate

Shultz Canadian Sphagum Peat Moss 100% Organic
03/06/07  11:04am

 #1199083


Froggz37
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   Message To: HermyL0ve   In reference to Message Id: 1198955


 Substrate

Was it cost related why she chose the peat over sand or coconut coir? I’m not quite understanding why someone would choose peat, which is just decayed spahgnum moss from a peat bog, or swamp.

How long has she been using it? And she says she’s had no ill effects?
03/06/07  01:03pm

 #1199187


HermyL0ve
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   Message To: Froggz37   In reference to Message Id: 1199083


 Substrate

2 years, she still has all 3 of her crabs she has had for 2 years, none have died. She pays 10 dollars for 34 cu. ft. compressed.
03/06/07  02:39pm

 #1199204


Froggz37
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   Message To: HermyL0ve   In reference to Message Id: 1199187


 Substrate

How often does she change the substrate out? I still think it would be too acidic for good crab health. What species of crab does she have?
03/06/07  03:06pm

 #1200457


ShellBabe
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   Message To: Froggz37   In reference to Message Id: 1197494


 Substrate

DO NOT GET YOUR INFO ONLY FROM WIKIPEDIA!
anybody can go on and change what it says... infact all of you people who know alot about crabs should go and insert stuff, true stuff, about how to correctly handle and care for a hermie!
03/07/07  01:13pm

 #1200971


Froggz37
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   Message To: ShellBabe   In reference to Message Id: 1200457


 Substrate

I know what peat is, I was posting what I knew to be correct for her to see.
03/07/07  07:23pm

 #1201013


HermyL0ve
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   Message To: Froggz37   In reference to Message Id: 1200971


 Substrate

she has one PP and 2 E’s. She changes the substrate once a month.
03/07/07  07:50pm


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