Can I use this as substrate?

[ejh805]

Saw this today at a home improvement store. 100% organic, no additives, ground up like soil.
Could I use this as a substrate with my frogs? The only places around here that sell coco bricks are very overpriced and my only other option is ordering online, which can be expensive with the added shipping cost because of the weight.

Thanks
Emily

[Pluke]

Ehhh, I dunno it's hard to tell since there is no picture. If it's anything like normal sphagnum moss I'd advise against it. I bought a baby frog that died a couple days later because it ingested sphagnum moss that it was kept on.. I wouldn't even risk it with something like a pyxie/pacman frog who has a chance of ingesting it accidentally.

[ejh805]

Yeah, my pixie eats his/her substrate all the time :/

It looks like this-

[Pluke]

Eating a little bit of coco fiber hasn't hurt my frogs, Sphagnum moss is a different story. I'd just bite the bullet and order some brick eco earth. 3 pack. It's really the best option IMO.

[ejh805]

It isn't regular sphagnum moss. It isn't in strands. It's ground up and looks/feels like the coco stuff.

[Pluke]

Up to you I guess, I didn't see that picture before. It doesn't look that bad, you're right it does look a lot like Coco Fiber. I'd say trust your gut and if you think it's good, try it. If you have any doubts, then don't.

[Hoppity100]

Just curious,...is there a label that tells exactly what its made of? I use eco earth fiber substrate, not husk kind. Mine are fine with it. I am still looking for live moss but want to find out which kinds are safe. I do see your point about price. My eco bricks came 2 to a package for $7. I think they sell it in a large bag but it might be the type that is way too chunky and hard for frogs feet. But, I'd check the label on what you found. I wonder if Lowe's sells anything similar to what you bought?

[ejh805]

Hoppity, this was actually at Lowes.
And it takes 3 bricks of coco fiber to fill my pixie tank, so it's not cheap. Which is why I want to try to possibly use this peat moss.
Yeah, the label and the specifications online state it's just sphagnum peat moss.
Sphagnum moss is in strands, while sphagnum peat is the more decomposed dirt-looking result you see here.

[Hoppity100]

Oh, I did not see you got this at Lowe's. I thought someone warned against using sphagnum moss?

[Hoppity100]

Thought you said it was sphagnum moss...?

[Hoppity100]

Yeah, I knew that, but sphagnum anything is not good.

[Hoppity100]

Just a reminder: any peat moss should be a warning especially if it is meant to use in floral decorations, it may have dye in it that is not good for any pets. Heck, it may even have more chemicals in it besides dye!

[Hoppity100]

Emily, you did say home improvement store but since I don't know your location, I had no way of knowing which store. I'd re-think this stuff, check label first. If you must buy it, please check for dye by soaking it in hot water first. You can let it dry by air or in microwave. I put mine in damp, it dries eventually, and my frogs like part of their land to be dry.

[GrifTheGreat]

I never trust anything that is processed where other gardening and potting soils that contain chemical fertilizers are made. Guaranteed that is made in the Sam place on the same machinery. Cross contamination is a possibility.

Also just because it looks similar doesn't make them the same.

If it were me I wouldn't use it.

[ejh805]

Oh, I did not see you got this at Lowe's. I thought someone warned against using sphagnum moss?

Yes. Pluke warned against sphagnum moss because whole sphagnum can cause serious impaction.
Please elaborate on why sphagnum anything is not good. What do you base this on?

This is not meant for floral decoration. It is meant for soil amendment. But I will double check for dyes.

[Hoppity100]

I base this on questions to you first: were you going to use it as your only substrate or on top? What else is in your tank as land? If using other substrate, do you use gravel, pebbles, top soil (I hope not), sand, or just water, or something else? Others mentioned they would not use sphagnum, and there is controversy about it either way. When you open the bag check for odor, like manure or strong chemical smell. Do a dye test, and its good if it is ground up and not strands or chunks. Texture is important and, hope you don't keep your frogs in gravel, its way too risky. I'd also consider fertilizer, additives, dyes, perfumes, anything you can look up on internet. Now if you really want to check it, eat some. Not your frogs, you. Taste it then spit it out. Yep, there you go. If you buy some, can you write back and say what ingredients are? I'm even curious. If its safe, I might buy some. Since you mentioned price and you need large quantities, you must have alot of it in your tank? Do you have part water or all water? Live plants? Just curious. I'm going to bed, long day, will check later and see if you have any more questions. Hope this helped.

[ejh805]

I base this on questions to you first: were you going to use it as your only substrate or on top? What else is in your tank as land? If using other substrate, do you use gravel, pebbles, top soil (I hope not), sand, or just water, or something else? Others mentioned they would not use sphagnum, and there is controversy about it either way. When you open the bag check for odor, like manure or strong chemical smell. Do a dye test, and its good if it is ground up and not strands or chunks. Texture is important and, hope you don't keep your frogs in gravel, its way too risky. I'd also consider fertilizer, additives, dyes, perfumes, anything you can look up on internet. Now if you really want to check it, eat some. Not your frogs, you. Taste it then spit it out. Yep, there you go. If you buy some, can you write back and say what ingredients are? I'm even curious. If its safe, I might buy some. Since you mentioned price and you need large quantities, you must have alot of it in your tank? Do you have part water or all water? Live plants? Just curious. I'm going to bed, long day, will check later and see if you have any more questions. Hope this helped.

1) I was going to use it as a main substrate.
2)I have 1/3rd water and 2/3rds land for my pixie, the land portion being exoterras plantation soil on top of hydroton balls and mesh screen.

I used to eat plenty of dirt when I was a kid, so this in perspective would probably be safer for me to "eat". What should it taste like though? Just earthy? And I'll read the label and ingredients intensively before buying IF I buy it.
IF I do buy it, I'll list the ingredients in this thread.

I do have a lot in my tank. The substrate is around 5 inches deep. No live plants, only fakes. Although I've been contemplating adding some. I already have a few growing in the water 1/3rd.

[badkelpie]

It's organic peat moss. There isn't going to be any dyes or additives or anything. It doesn't have long strands (which is the reason sphagnum moss is advised against). I'd use it. In fact, I DO use it, in my leopard geckos' moist hides.

[UncleChester]

I don't know about using straight peat moss for a substrate, the stuff is on the acidic side. I do use it in a mix with my treefrogs though. I use a mixture of peat, sand for drainage, and leaf litter/hummous from the forest. Peat is in the recipes for the Atlanta Botanical Garden substrate mix, which is a pretty widely used vivarium substrate.

[deranged chipmunk]

I use the stuff in all my viv, in my terrariums and a couple of my fish tanks. (Softens the water nicely for certain shrimps). Although i only have tree frogs and it is mixed in a layer of substrate under a layer of coco fiber. I assume you are in a small town where there is no chain pet stores? I know petsmart sells 3 packs of coco blocks for less than $10. Another option is a hydroponics store. I get coco blocks for $2/ per block from the hydro store.