What is better to use in lay box?

I'm putting together a few more lay boxes today with 2 of my gravid females refusing feed and another one totally restless. My question is what have previous breeders had more success using in the lay box? I have sphagnum moss in Ebony's lay box but she is borrows under the sphagnum so shes just on plastic(and I put it in like an inch deep), should I put the superhatch in the rest of my lay boxes then the moss or leave it how I have it? Or does someone have any other suggestions. Thanks for all comments and suggestions.

Deeper moss? Three inches deep? That's what she's supposed to do is burrow. Not like I know anything, but when my sluglayer needed a box last year I used one of those big round clear "giant deli cups" and filled it completely to the top with moss.

Nanci said:

Deeper moss? Three inches deep? That's what she's supposed to do is burrow. Not like I know anything, but when my sluglayer needed a box last year I used one of those big round clear "giant deli cups" and filled it completely to the top with moss.

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I can try adding more, I have a shoebox container that is 2/3 the way full and she burrows down till she is at the bottom. She refused food 3 days ago and when I checked her today she was in blue.
It figures I got knee surgery yesterday and according to my research she can lay anywhere between now and 14 days from now and I'm not suppose to be on my feet till the stitches are removed Mon. or Tues.. My husband will feed the snakes but he won't touch them especially if they lay(afraid of being bit). It is unlikely though as she's not humungous so she'll probably hold them in at least a week after shedding its just the chance of her laying that worries me that I'll miss my first snake lay. The anticipation grows.:bomb:

Well, he could always carry her, in her box, in to where you are for egg removal!

Nanci said:

Well, he could always carry her, in her box, in to where you are for egg removal!

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Lol that would be exactly what he would do if it came down to it.

Stay with the moss, and don't over load the bow with it. Corns will push all the moss to one side about a day before they lay,..as they like to lay their eggs in a clean spot.

Whatever I use (moss or vermuculite), my Corns generally shove it about and lay underneath it. As long as it's damp and the humidity in the lay box is good, then that's pretty much what I hope for. It the atmosphere is dry then eggs stick to the floor of the box, but with a damp substrate keeping humidity up, that doesn't happen.

bitsy said:

Whatever I use (moss or vermuculite), my Corns generally shove it about and lay underneath it. As long as it's damp and the humidity in the lay box is good, then that's pretty much what I hope for. It the atmosphere is dry then eggs stick to the floor of the box, but with a damp substrate keeping humidity up, that doesn't happen.

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Its been humid in the box, I have her in the rack with thermostat at 85 and the box is in back near heat panel. She spent 3 days in it now she is back out and laying on top. I think she wants to stay near it but maybe she gets a little warm I was thinking of lowering thermostat to 82 does that sound good? What is a comfortable level for egg laying?

I usually put the lay boxes in the zone between warm and cool. They're usually about 80 degrees, but it isn't an exact thing.

I've used only sphagnum moss from the beginning. I pack the lay boxes (Rubbermaid Takealongs) solid with it. It's not squished packed tight, but it's full to the top.

I soak the moss in water for a few hours. Squeeze out as much water as possible with my hands and then fluff it up light and airy. The box is packed top to bottom. The times that I have only filled the box half full the females have been restless and wandering in their cage right up to lay day. I even had one female lay outside that particular box. When it's packed "tight" they make their burrow and stay nice and secure. When lay day approaches, they start to "circle up" and burrow out a hole in the moss. Most of the times right down to the plastic. No worries.

I've also ready somewhere that Rich Z. packed his lay boxes tight with peat moss. The snakes preferred it that way.

D80

I pack the nesting box pretty full of sphagnum as well, just like Brent descibed. The female will clear her little spot when she's ready to lay.

I havent tried any other mediums, but moss worked well this year & I did the same as the rest, although I used a shoebox.

Only thing I'd do differently next year is use a smaller container



by the time she layed my moss got a little dry... she didnt seem to mind it seems.

Thanks everyone I was curious because I wasn't sure if it would be safe her laying on plain plastic but I guess that as long as the moss is there to give the snake something to burrow in it is fine. One female shed last night and the other 2 days ago so I'm keeping my eyes open in the moss, these next 2 weeks are going to drag on.