RE: Peat

["Brian R. Watters" <bwatters at sk_sympatico.ca>]

Erik Pfingstner wrote:

>
> what kind of soil are most nothos having in nature?
>

Fine, soft muds with a low organic content.

>
> what kind of soil are most SAAs having in nature?
>

I would assume much the same as for Notho habitats but I have no personal
experience with SAA habitats in the field so I really cannot say.


RJ wrote:

>
> I maintain that its popularity is fading with its usefulness. The primary
> reasons are:
>
> .............
> 14) Many people have used peat for years and will never ever change
> regardless if there is a better method. To those stubborn diehards.....
>

These so-called "die-hards" stick with peat for the obvious reason - it
works, and it does so better than any other medium. In saying that there are
better materials/methods you are perhaps assuming that these "die-hards"
have not also experimented with those "modern", better, media. I can assure
you that at least one of those "die-hards" has done so and rejected them as
being inferior to peat.

What are these "modern" methods to which you refer ?

Green sand ? This has been around for ages and hardly qualifies as a new
method. The fact that it has been known for so long and has never really
caught on should tell you something. And, as I mentioned before, once you
recover the eggs from the sand what do you then store them in for incubation
? Peat ?

Silica sand ? This has also been known for ages and has never become as
popular as peat.

Coconut "peat" ? Yes, this is a relatively new medium but it really does not
differ very much from peat moss in many of its properties but, as I
mentioned in my previous message, I feel it is inferior to peat in many
respects. At least that has been my experience. It actually will discolor
water as badly or worse than will normal peat. It can get contaminated with
uneaten food in the same way that peat can. Admittedly, it does not clog up
filters to the same extent. As I also mentioned in my previous message, I
think it is too coarse and granular and I definitely get a lower egg yield
with it compared to finer peat. I also feel that it does not provide the
best environment for incubation of the eggs. I have not checked the effect
of coconut "peat" on pH but it is organic so I suspect it would also tend to
lower the pH if the water was soft.

Many people refer to this material as "Coir" or "Coconut fiber". I don't
think these terms accurately describe this material. The term "coir"
strictly refers only to coconut fiber component and, while this material
does have a significant fiber content, the majority of it comprises the
granular material that, with the fibers, makes up the internal part of the
coconut husk. I have examined coconut husks on numerous occasions in East
Africa in order to determine exactly what this material is. It is not, for
example, a dominantly fibrous material as is the peat fiber that comes from
Europe.

I would suggest that the majority of Notho breeders, throughout the world,
who have consistently had success with a wide range of Nothos over a long
period of time are those who use peat in one form or another (I know many of
them personally, so I am familiar with their methods).

Yes, there are some successful breeders who use other media, but they are in
the minority. The bottom line is that hobbyists should use whatever method
works best for them.
___________________________________________
Brian R. Watters
University of Regina
Regina, Sask. S4S 0A2, Canada
Ph: (306) 584-9161 (home); (306) 585-4663 (work)
Fax: (306) 585-5433
E-mail: bwatters at sk_sympatico.ca


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