Check this mold out

[spodermin]

Gnarly mold explosion that has spread to a couple of my smaller humid enclosures. Anybody know anything about this mold or have a good procedure for cleaning the spores from the decorations in the enclosure? Id preferably like to use the same ones

 

[Enn49]

That's not mould, it's mites. Don't panic though they won't harm your T and will die off if you let the substrate dry out.

 

[spodermin]

That's not mould, it's mites. Don't panic though they won't harm your T and will die off if you let the substrate dry out.

I can see how the picture might make you think that but I'm almost certain this is some kind of mold mate. They're all the same size, perfectly spherical, non moving, and have a mildew like fuzz surrounding them. I'm examining them under the microscope as we speak to try to confirm one way or the other...

 

[spodermin]

Also the substrate is established bio, completely crawling with isos and springtails. Hard to think of mites being able to compete here, I figure its a type of mold that doesnt taste good to them... Idk though, very odd either way

 

[spodermin]

Here is a picture of the surface, you can better see what I mean...

 

[Jess S]

Check out this link as it very much looks like what you're dealing with.

Some notes on mold

Since the topic has come up a few times recently I thought I'd make a post about some basic facts about mold, specifically slime molds. Slime molds aren't really molds at all, despite the name. They belong to their own taxon Mycetozoa and besides that the systematics of these strange things is...

arachnoboards.com

Read post no 15 though first

 

[Arachnoclown]

They are mushroom spores... @sdsnybny knows the scientific name. I forgot it.
Anyways throw some springtails in there and they will eat them. They're harmless.

 

[Jess S]

He says he's already got loads of springtails and isopods in there already.

I dunno, maybe you'll have to dump it, clean the enclosure with dish soap and rinsed well with as hot water as possible, then redo, with more ventilation and less water when keeping the substrate moist. I guess you already have that in mind. They all say it probably won't harm the tarantula but I wouldn't want to keep one in that. It's just too much to scoop out. Its annoying how the spores spread though. I'd be really pissed so I can imagine how you feel and can only sympathise with you.

 

[spodermin]

Thanks everyone for taking the time to read and respond. That which you linked @Jess S is definitely it