Mold issue

[Redsycthe]

Hi guys and gals,

I was doing my normal maintenance a couple days ago, I ended up having to completely redo the substrate in two of my slings containers due to mold. I dont believe I'm over dampening the substrate or moss. Should maybe just spray the sides instead of the moss. I have them all on straight coco fiber (Eco Earth). Temps have been in the high 90s here, so I'm misting every 2 days. It was in my G. Pulchripes and T. Albo containers. Both have caps for water in thier containers. Everyone other one seemed fine. Should I get some vermiculite maybe, I understand it inhibits mold?

 

[ilovebrachys]

It's quite common to find mould in the substrate - sometimes it's just a bad batch we've found it's happened more with coco fibre of late it's something that seems to happen now and then.. Its not always to do with over dampened sub either as some of the worse cases I've seen have been in bone dry sub..
You can add some vermiculite to your sub ( I've always added a little of the fine grade stuff) we don't use moss in the little slings but do give them a tiny water dish in the form of a pill blister that's been well washed out or a tiny tattoo ink pot - nothing wrong with using moss as everyone has there own methods... You done the right thing changing the sub out for those slings

 

[ilovebrachys]

Do you dry out your sub before use?

 

[Redsycthe]

Do you dry out your sub before use?

Yes, its bone dry I dampen it with a spray bottle I also use a caps for the water dishes. I haven't seen it in any other containers. My G.Pulchipes was the worst.

 

[ilovebrachys]

Yes, its bone dry I dampen it with a spray bottle I also use a caps for the water dishes. I haven't seen it in any other containers. My G.Pulchipes was the worst.

I can't understand it either to be honest as I'm sure you also have plenty of ventilation holes in your enclosures? Like I say the worst I've seen has been in bone dry sub just large blooms of mould... I'm sorry I can't be of more help... What colour is the mould out of interest?

 

[Redsycthe]

I can't understand it either to be honest as I'm sure you also have plenty of ventilation holes in your enclosures? Like I say the worst I've seen has been in bone dry sub just large blooms of mould... I'm sorry I can't be of more help... What colour is the mould out of interest?

White/Gray Fuzzy

 

[ilovebrachys]

White/Gray Fuzzy

The reason I ask is because you can get yellow mould in the coco fiber... I put it down to having a bad batch of sub... No chance of left over feeders/bolus going bad in there either?

 

[Redsycthe]

You are probably right on the money with left over bolus. Both Ts. tend to eat in there burrows. I may not have seen the bolus under the substrate because dead mealworms turn that deep brown they get camouflaged with the coco fiber. Going forward will be more diligent in searching for any buried left overs