I usually part bury mine so my only problems are them being dug up or filled with substrate.
IMO, it should always have a water dish.
I wouldn't use cotton balls - they probably get the job done but I'd imagine are along the same lines as sponges in terms of mold growth and being good breeding grounds for bacteria/little critters/whatever else
That's true, forgot to point that out. However I changed mine about every 2 weeks before I noticed mold growth.
Which means you have mold on the balls before you actually change it. It's like getting sick with a cold virus. by the time you have symptoms, you've been infected long before you had symptoms.
Build this or something like it, solved all my issues.
You could do just that. It needs a water dish, but it can go a few days without one, its not going to hurt anything and its not a terrible idea as you want the sub to remain dry.
Incorrect! Mold growth had not started within the 2 weeks. That's why I took it out when I did. In order for it to mold it has to be introduced to something else, aside from the cotton such as perhaps some loose substrate. Done it for many years, with all sorts of my critters. Never had issues!
Mold is already present on a surface before a person notices it. Fungal spores are everywhere, like in the air hah. Or can you see those too?
:wideyed:
That's a neat idea. I'll have to try it out with some of my smaller enclosures. I think this was the most helpful post so far.
Well sir, it appears you have tried to make this post more humorful rather than a fact based reply. So I conclude your probably just immature, and only wish to have fun, rather than a mature dispute over this topic. I may be wrong, so forgive me if I am. Although Imay be wasting my time, I will try to further explain this to you. First, I respect your opinion although you have provided little to no information to the topic. I can as well understand people disagreeing with my post as we are only human and everyone has their own opinion.Mold is already present on a surface before a person notices it. Fungal spores are everywhere, like in the air hah. Or can you see those too?
You have a good day!
I'm going to explain a few things to help you better understand, as well as address our mold.Well sir, it appears you have tried to make this post more humorful rather than a fact based reply. So I conclude your probably just immature, and only wish to have fun, rather than a mature dispute over this topic. Although I am more than likely, wasting my time, I will try to further explain this to you. First, I respect your opinion although you have provided little to no information to the topic. I can as well understand people disagreeing with my post as we are only human and everyone has their own opinion.
Like you said, Mold spores are everywhere, including in what you call, "the air." ( which is why I agreed with your post) In fact mold can grow as quick as 24 hours. However, what keeps everything from molding? Well,it would be several contributing factors, such as, temperature, humidity, and other contaminants. This specific object we are speaking of, a dish, or container with water filled cotton would be all that is present. Well, in order for mold to grow, it needs moisture, which it has! However it also needs nutrients, and cellulose as well to grow. The cotton does not provide either! So, unless if something else is added to the mix, such as perhaps some kicked up substrate, (which is more than possible) or some other item that would provide the key ingredients for mold to grow, it would not occur.
Like I said, it would more than likely, eventually grow mold, due to the fact, whatever arachnid you may have in there will either end up kicking substrate in it, or loose something off of itself while drinking. However, Mold can't just "grow" in a water and cotton filled dish. Not looking to cause issues between us.
Sources: Studied Biology
I'm glad you found some useful info in the links I provided you, nice to see someone who actually reads the info I provide, let alone citing it later.