Wild Moss safe?

[Paul Rust]

If you do use wild moss,like I do, be prepared to get a nice springtail culture in your enclosure! Also do not be surprised if you get a few other riders, like wood lice, slugs, and per haps other bugs. Examine your moss closely for millipedes and centipedes as they can be a real pain, and, in some instances, harmful to your pets.

Thank you Johnny, I was little quick on that one. I usually shake my new moss on a grate to get all the little nasties out of it. I do enjoy watching the crazy plants grow that sprout under the warm lighted conditions. Oh and I try to get whatever the moss is growing on with it, tree bark, rock, whatever it is attached to.

[Tropicok]

I have a rock with moss and lichen growing on it I picked up on a herp field trip. It's in with my D. auratus and he loves sitting on it looking for crickets. The rock seems to thrive on the misting and the light. Another piece of ???? moss had several other little plants that sprouted from it so it was a nice surprise for me.

[Deku]

Thank you Johnny, I was little quick on that one. I usually shake my new moss on a grate to get all the little nasties out of it. I do enjoy watching the crazy plants grow that sprout under the warm lighted conditions. Oh and I try to get whatever the moss is growing on with it, tree bark, rock, whatever it is attached to.

That thing happened to mine too. But my moss died cause I over watered it. x___x so I gave up trying to find moss. But anywho, what are those little sprouts that come out of the moss? Do they get bigger? Sprout flowers? Ived been dying to know for years. But I keep forgetting to ask. XD

[Paul Rust]

I was talking about ferns, clovers, etc. I think what you are referring to are the small sprouts that pop up when you first water the moss in the vivarium. These are sporophytes. These are the structures that contain the capsules where spores are produced. The moss is reproducing.

[Jace]

If I was, say, to go to a nursery to buy moss, what would be the best to get started with my frogs and toads? I come across Irish moss all the time, but I have, at best, a muddy green thumb....

[Paul Rust]

Moss is very difficult to identify in the wild. I just know where the kinds I have had success with grow. With your muddy thumb lol, try some sphagnum moss from the pet store. It sometimes starts to grow but seems to last really well.

[Jace]

Okay....what about trying to grow grass (sans fertilizer mixed in)? I am trying for the most natural set up possible....and I have a great pair of scissors to help me "mow"...

[Paul Rust]

You are funny Jo-Anna, I thought about doing the same thing lol. I was thinking a short variety that was hearty for most of the floor and a few places like in the back corners of a tall variety and then landscape around that.