Moss and Bugs

[casssch]

I've got a couple questions

Is there a way to help keep moss wet without constantly having to spray it? I need to rewet ours twice a day for it to stay wet. I have a feeling this is going to get worse in the summer as heat goes up.

Secondly, what bugs can be put in the crabitat? I know roly poly bugs can, but my daughter has asked what others can be put in there.

[Lburns]

What type of moss do you have? I use sphagnum moss. I soak it in fresh, declorinated water and squeeze it out before putting it in my pit. It stays moist for about 3 days. I mist it if the tank needs more humidity otherwise I soak it about once a week. Usually change it out completely after 3-4 weeks.

Don't know about bugs so can't help you there. Sorry.

There is this though:

viewtopic.php?f=26&t=92538

[wodesorel]

If you need the moss for humidity, then the only way to keep the entire tank humid would be a fogger or humidifier, or making sure there's not much air flow into the tank that is allowing the moisture to escape. The moss does not have to be moist for hermits crabs to use and enjoy it. I usually keep mine dry or almost dry since I have trouble with it molding. It's the relative humidity of your home and your climate that causes it to dry out, not the heat. I let my tanks go 'native' in the summer here and don't use any heating or humidity aides and so they regularly hit 90-95 degrees, but the humidity in the tank stays around 99% for months on end because the humidity here is regularly above 70% in the summers.

[casssch]

It's the sphagnum moss. I guess I'll have to try soaking it for a bit again and see how that helps. I'm in the Nebraska panhandle, and unless it's actively raining, our humidity is quite low.

[Rose_v73]

I recently discovered if you buy a small fish air blower and put the hose in a bowl of water (mine is set on a shelf in the tank) it helps keep the humidity up a lot. And I'm in Az where we have no humidity. It cost me only $10

[casssch]

I have the air pump for fish, from our previous journey with fish. I just need a new hose for it.

Also, continuing on my question with bugs, if you know the dirt roly poly bugs are in has been sprayed (I think insecticide and weed killer), but hasn't for at least a year, would you consider them safe, or contaminated?

[wodesorel]

Put the rolly pollies in their own container and let them breed out a generation or two, so there's no worries.

[casssch]

Sounds like a project for once I get a good iso up and running then.