DeadlyGecko101
Arachnopeon
- Joined
- Jul 9, 2010
- Messages
- 17
Just found mold developing in two of my enclosures. What I found interesting is the contrast in mold between them.
1. Ephebopus murinus - This is a species I keep moist for many days at a time. She gets her water once a week (I dig holes on opposite ends of the terrarium with the blunt end of a paintbrush/tongs, where I then pour water directly into the sub... this is to make sure I'm producing the property humidity levels that the spider can seek out by entering its burrow; water dish is ALWAYS FULL) Despite the conditions she's been kept, mold had never been an issue until two days ago. There was some mold around her water dish. Nothing too crazy, I could've spot cleaned it but I decided to do a complete rehouse and add more ventilation.
2. Aphonopelma seemanni - here's where the big difference comes in. I give my A. seemanni some additional moisture apart from her water dish (always kept full). She seemed to appreciate it and I never saw mold developing until now. What's shocking is the sheer volume of mold in her substrate which I probably only moisten once in a two-week period (compared to my E. murinus where I make it rain at least once a week). She has about 3 inches of coco-fiber and the top layer has 1/2" to almost a full inch of mold! How did this happen?
What's staggering me is how much mold developed in my A. seemanni's tank, almost over night. I will be sure to rehouse her, just as I have done for my E. murinus and add more ventilation.
Another, far more troubling infestation has also found its way into my T's enclosures. I've noticed it in about four cages, which is half of my collection. I want to stop it before it spreads to all of them (this is of particular concern since the other four are slings and they are far too fragile to begin with). Dang scuttle flies. It's to my understanding that they come around when food is not removed from a tarantula's enclosure. I've heard the best thing to do in this scenario is clean out every enclosure with dish soap/vinegar/tap water solution. I'm gonna scour the forums for any information that can help me with these two issues. Any help from you guys is also appreciated.
For now I'll rehouse my A. seemanni and keep a closer eye on all my cages. Spot cleaning for mold and uneaten food/parts.
1. Ephebopus murinus - This is a species I keep moist for many days at a time. She gets her water once a week (I dig holes on opposite ends of the terrarium with the blunt end of a paintbrush/tongs, where I then pour water directly into the sub... this is to make sure I'm producing the property humidity levels that the spider can seek out by entering its burrow; water dish is ALWAYS FULL) Despite the conditions she's been kept, mold had never been an issue until two days ago. There was some mold around her water dish. Nothing too crazy, I could've spot cleaned it but I decided to do a complete rehouse and add more ventilation.
2. Aphonopelma seemanni - here's where the big difference comes in. I give my A. seemanni some additional moisture apart from her water dish (always kept full). She seemed to appreciate it and I never saw mold developing until now. What's shocking is the sheer volume of mold in her substrate which I probably only moisten once in a two-week period (compared to my E. murinus where I make it rain at least once a week). She has about 3 inches of coco-fiber and the top layer has 1/2" to almost a full inch of mold! How did this happen?
What's staggering me is how much mold developed in my A. seemanni's tank, almost over night. I will be sure to rehouse her, just as I have done for my E. murinus and add more ventilation.
Another, far more troubling infestation has also found its way into my T's enclosures. I've noticed it in about four cages, which is half of my collection. I want to stop it before it spreads to all of them (this is of particular concern since the other four are slings and they are far too fragile to begin with). Dang scuttle flies. It's to my understanding that they come around when food is not removed from a tarantula's enclosure. I've heard the best thing to do in this scenario is clean out every enclosure with dish soap/vinegar/tap water solution. I'm gonna scour the forums for any information that can help me with these two issues. Any help from you guys is also appreciated.
For now I'll rehouse my A. seemanni and keep a closer eye on all my cages. Spot cleaning for mold and uneaten food/parts.