Mold versus rehousing

[WolfieKate]

Gahh… I can not keep on top of my A Genic. Iris. I think she shoots poop in and all over her bark substrate tunnel and the inside rots, I did a torch examination again and it was as green and grotty as fairyland. So she has new bark again which initially she was quite annoyed about but is now burrowing under it. She doesn't have a designated poop place so grot builds up everywhere.

I don’t want to keep rehousing her so what do you think is reasonable in terms of a clean up schedule. Change bark every 3-4 months. Full change every 6-12 months. None of my other spiders seem to create so much mould! She’s a stinker. I dried out one end and got rid of the dirt flies but as soon as water hits anything the mold blooms.

 

[AndrewClayton]

Gahh… I can not keep on top of my A Genic. Iris. I think she shoots poop in and all over her bark substrate tunnel and the inside rots, I did a torch examination again and it was as green and grotty as fairyland. So she has new bark again which initially she was quite annoyed about but is now burrowing under it. She doesn't have a designated poop place so grot builds up everywhere.

I don’t want to keep rehousing her so what do you think is reasonable in terms of a clean up schedule. Change bark every 3-4 months. Full change every 6-12 months. None of my other spiders seem to create so much mould! She’s a stinker. I dried out one end and got rid of the dirt flies but as soon as water hits anything the mold blooms.

Sorry when you say bark are you meaning cork bark or just plain bark? I've never had mould grow directly on cork bark.

 

[WolfieKate]

Sorry when you say bark are you meaning cork bark or just plain bark? I've never had mould grow directly on cork bark.

Cork bark. Just your usual slightly curved section of a large tube. It gets covered in green mould. Ive given her a new piece and she’s enthusiastically burrowing under it now.

 

[AndrewClayton]

Cork bark. Just your usual slightly curved section of a large tube. It gets covered in green mould. Ive given her a new piece and she’s enthusiastically burrowing under it now.

That is strange I always recommended cork bark for the reason how resistant to mould it is. Do you have any photos of it? Could it just be some harmless fungi?

 

[WolfieKate]

Oh you’re from Arachnoboards. I know what mould is. Thanks.

 

[AndrewClayton]

Oh you’re from Arachnoboards. I know what mould is. Thanks.

I'm on there too, yes. I'm asking if you're sure it's mould as green mould can be harmful to humans, I'm highly allergic to penicillin and that's from a green mould.

 

[Tarantula Trooper]

Gahh… I can not keep on top of my A Genic. Iris. I think she shoots poop in and all over her bark substrate tunnel and the inside rots, I did a torch examination again and it was as green and grotty as fairyland. So she has new bark again which initially she was quite annoyed about but is now burrowing under it. She doesn't have a designated poop place so grot builds up everywhere.

I don’t want to keep rehousing her so what do you think is reasonable in terms of a clean up schedule. Change bark every 3-4 months. Full change every 6-12 months. None of my other spiders seem to create so much mould! She’s a stinker. I dried out one end and got rid of the dirt flies but as soon as water hits anything the mold blooms.

I have never had green mold but some yellow and the white drives me insane. And this green mold moved from one enclosure to the next? I have springtails in but they get completely overwhelmed and will springtails eat the green goo or do they just get beat down too? Been trying to narrow down the culprit in mine because to many just made up enclosures immediately start to mold! Next couple enclosures I'm going to use completely different substrates, decor, etc,etc to try to narrow down a culprit. Might be worth a shot for you as well. Good luck with your Genic

 

[Casey K.]

You know, cork bark can be expensive when purchasing over time. To save a little money you can always wash it with warm soapy water and then dry it out in the oven. Also, the heat from the oven kills any germs or bacteria that might be on your cork bark. Just a thought. I can understand how frustrating it would be to continuously have to change the bark.