Comparing Peat Moss to Vermaculite

[becca81]

I usually use a mixture of peat moss and vermaculite on my Ts, but when I set up my 3 P. murinus enclosures, I was curious as to how they would act on different substrates.

I put one on 50/50 vermaculite / peat.

I put one on 100% peat moss.

I put one on 100% vermaculite.

So far (after over a month), the two with peat moss in their enclosures have proved to be prolific webbers and have webbed up much of the enclosure. The one with vermaculite has webbed up some, but about half as much as the other two.

I've has two cases of mold, one in the 50/50 peat moss/vermaculite enclosure, and the other in the 100% vermaculite enclosure. I thought this was very unusual, as I believed that I would have less problems with mold in enclosures with just vermaculite. The only enclosure I have experienced no mold in is the enclosure with 100% peat moss.

All 3 have made burrows underneath their hides and use them.

I'm not really sure what this tells me about the use of vermaculite compared to peat, but the mold issue did surprise me. Has anyone else has this problem with mold and vermaculite?

 

[brachymad]

I have used vermiculite for a lot of enclosures in the past and do not have problems with mould . I have mixed it with coir and potting soil in different ammounts in attemps to get a good mix . Is it possible that the mould problems you have seen has more to do with its moisture retention as it will not dry out as quickly as the Peat moss on its own.

 

[Greg Wolfe]

Peat Moss...

I have been using "Bed-a-beast" peat moss for all of my enclosures for several years now and they love it! 100% straight peat has proven itself for me and will hesitate employing anything else.