How to "clean" mold from substrate?

[Cinus]

It's been a while since I changed the substrate of my arachnids (a little more than 6 months) and the fact that some of the enclosures have small ammounts of mold proves it.

I am stocked on cocoa fiber but since I didn't have the best way to store it I put it inside a trash bag and the inevitable happened: it grew mold! It's a lot of dirt and it'd just be awful to throw it away so I was here to ask if putting in the oven and baking it for a while would solve the problem or if there are any type of recomendations to this situation in order to make the substrate "usable" again?

Thank you in advance!

(picture of the actual dirt with some mold patches on it)

 

[Ellenantula]

Just let the substrate dry out. Mould is everywhere just waiting for moist conditions to thrive in.
I never change out substrate -- my Ts are all on the same substrate they started with.

If I had an extremely mouldy area bothering me, I might spoon out just the worst section. Or I might ignore it and just let the enclosure dry out a bit.

 

[FrDoc]

No need to regularly change the substrate in an enclosure unless there is some very significant issue, e,g, critter infestation (depending on the critter), or mold (not just its presence). Mold cam generally be avoided/controlled by adjusting moisture levels. If there are some particularly troublesome spot locations within the container just spoon it out. However, it’s not going to harm your T in the amount pictured.

 

[Cinus]

Just let the substrate dry out. Mould is everywhere just waiting for moist conditions to thrive in.
I never change out substrate -- my Ts are all on the same substrate they started with.

If I had an extremely mouldy area bothering me, I might spoon out just the worst section. Or I might ignore it and just let the enclosure dry out a bit.

Yeah I've spooned quite a bit of dirt already since everytime I did it new mold would appear, probably from remaining spores or even in the air, which made the "dirt level" decrease a little bit and I have some species that like to burrow and that was why I was also planing on changing the substrate instead of just adding more on top of the (ex?)moldy one. Thanks for the reply!

No need to regularly change the substrate in an enclosure unless there is some very significant issue, e,g, critter infestation (depending on the critter), or mold (not just its presence). Mold cam generally be avoided/controlled by adjusting moisture levels. If there are some particularly troublesome spot locations within the container just spoon it out. However, it’s not going to harm your T in the amount pictured.

Yeah I've spooned the top layers already some time ago because new mold kept appearing (probably from remaining spores) and the thing that makes me want to kind of change the substrate is because I have some burrowing species that had previous burrows but since I had to remove the top layers eventually got the burrows exposed leaving not as much substrate in the enclosure to make HUGE burrows so instead of just adding it on top of moldy or exmoldy substrates I guess I should just change it all? Thanks for the reply!

 

[Ellenantula]

I mostly recall mould bothering me more in small sling containers -- mould would just look like it was taking over more in a small container (and I wanted to keep sling containers damper).
I cannot recall the last time I spooned out mould (mine are all grown now in their adult permanent enclosures) and can tolerate a quick 'dry out' for mould control.

Excellent ventilation will go a long way in decreasing mould. But I don't consider mould dangerous -- unless every single surface looks covered in cotton wool. lol

Yeah I've spooned the top layers already some time ago because new mold kept appearing (probably from remaining spores) and the thing that makes me want to kind of change the substrate is because I have some burrowing species that had previous burrows but since I had to remove the top layers eventually got the burrows exposed leaving not as much substrate in the enclosure to make HUGE burrows so instead of just adding it on top of moldy or exmoldy substrates I guess I should just change it all? Thanks for the reply!

Even if you started with completely new dry substrate -- if the conditions are right -- more mould will grow anyway. Ventilate well and just accept mould spores are everywhere!!!

 

[Flashback]

Just let the substrate dry out. Mould is everywhere just waiting for moist conditions to thrive in.
I never change out substrate -- my Ts are all on the same substrate they started with.

If I had an extremely mouldy area bothering me, I might spoon out just the worst section. Or I might ignore it and just let the enclosure dry out a bit.

Was curious about this as well. I've read / heard that the terrariums should be totally cleaned at least once a year.

I got my T the first part of November, so everything is the same since then. I clean the glass parts whoever there is something there, but other than that it would be fine to keep the same substrate in there for the live of the T? (Barring any spot cleaning, etc.)

 

[The Grym Reaper]

I've read / heard that the terrariums should be totally cleaned at least once a year.

Na, that's care-sheet bollocks, just pick out boluses, change the water as needed (when they dump leftovers/crap/substrate in it), and wipe any crap off the sides if it bothers you.

There are people on here who've had Ts on the same substrate for over a decade without issue IIRC.

 

[Flashback]

Na, that's care-sheet bollocks, just pick out boluses, change the water as needed (when they dump leftovers/crap/substrate in it), and wipe any crap off the sides if it bothers you.

There are people on here who've had Ts on the same substrate for over a decade without issue IIRC.

Thanks!!!

 

[Zvyezda]

Hello!

One thing I have been doing is building semi-vivarium(like) enclosures.
I have been adding a more earthy substrate (soil, sand, coco fiber, small bits of mulch...etc.) adding some leaf litter, putting in microfauna (springtails and isopods) and planting live moss in the corners.

It isn’t a TON of stuff, but I have had great success with mold-free enclosures since adding some living organisms. I also have not had to clean up as much and just need to maintain small patches of moisture to the mossy parts.

I also have kind of terraced the substrate so it has a bit of drainage and doesn’t get swampy. My Ts have thrived in this new style of set up and I have not seen any stress poses or anything for about 6 months. They eat well, they molt well and they aren’t skittish. I think it also is nice to have separate zones of moisture (just from my observations).

Just some food for thought

 

[boina]

View attachment 298873 View attachment 298874 View attachment 298875 Hello!

One thing I have been doing is building semi-vivarium(like) enclosures.
I have been adding a more earthy substrate (soil, sand, coco fiber, small bits of mulch...etc.) adding some leaf litter, putting in microfauna (springtails and isopods) and planting live moss in the corners.

It isn’t a TON of stuff, but I have had great success with mold-free enclosures since adding some living organisms. I also have not had to clean up as much and just need to maintain small patches of moisture to the mossy parts.

I also have kind of terraced the substrate so it has a bit of drainage and doesn’t get swampy. My Ts have thrived in this new style of set up and I have not seen any stress poses or anything for about 6 months. They eat well, they molt well and they aren’t skittish. I think it also is nice to have separate zones of moisture (just from my observations).

Just some food for thought

That GBB in that enclosure will be dead very soon. This is a species that absolutely needs a dry enclosure. They way you keep it is an 100% death sentence. It cannot survive in there.

What's in your other, much too moist enclosures?

I do agree, though, that some microfauna is a good idea in moist enclosures - but definitely not with a GBB. If it survived in there for 6 months already you are incredibly lucky.

Yeah I've spooned the top layers already some time ago because new mold kept appearing (probably from remaining spores) and the thing that makes me want to kind of change the substrate is because I have some burrowing species that had previous burrows but since I had to remove the top layers eventually got the burrows exposed leaving not as much substrate in the enclosure to make HUGE burrows so instead of just adding it on top of moldy or exmoldy substrates I guess I should just change it all? Thanks for the reply!

Burrowing species should be rehoused as little as possible. They get very stressed out when you remove them from their burrows (or their burrows from them by scooping too much substrate out) and may need an eternity to settle into a new enclosure.

If you have mold:

- keep your enclosure somewhat drier
- more ventilation!!
- get springtails
- ignore it.

 

[Teal]

What is it with people freaking out about mold?!

It is fine. Use the substrate. Increase your ventilation. Problem solved.

 

[Zvyezda]

That GBB in that enclosure will be dead very soon. This is a species that absolutely needs a dry enclosure. They way you keep it is an 100% death sentence. It cannot survive in there.

What's in your other, much too moist enclosures?

Thank you for your concern. I do know about the dry requirements of my GBB. These enclosures are super dry - except for a light misting to the mossy parts every 10 days or so. I let the entire enclosure dry out completely between each misting... notice that the GBB has the smallest amount of moss at the bottom of the slope in the image.

The isopods and springtails I choose to use are suited for dry desert-like enclosures.

I also have a lot of cross ventilation - any water droplets from misting dries out within an hour.

But, I have had great success with adding a moss and microfauna (regarding the lack of mold).

These images were taken right after misting.

Lastly, I have been doing this for a while and my Ts have been responding well. The GBB is very active and eats heartily.

 

[boina]

Thank you for your concern. I do know about the dry requirements of my GBB. These enclosures are super dry - except for a light misting to the mossy parts every 10 days or so. I let the entire enclosure dry out completely between each misting... notice that the GBB has the smallest amount of moss at the bottom of the slope in the image.

Good. That still leaves the question: why do it at all? If you keep GBBs dry (and this one could do with a larger enclosure anyway), then there won't be mold.

Yes, I already said I agree. All my moister enclosures have springtails and other microfauna in there. I don't see the sense in putting it in dry enclosures, though.

 

[Venom1080]

Mold isn't really a big deal. At all. I have mold in many of my enclosures. Spiders thrive regardless.

Unless every surface is coated in the stuff, it's not a concern. People have a phobia of mold in the hobby for some reason.


@boina didn't you make a thread about the mold coco fiber commonly gets? How it's not actually a mold and not something that can be solved with vent or drying?

 

[Zvyezda]

Even though I keep the substrate on the dry side, I use the microfauna so I don’t have to tear webbing apart trying to get out the remains of moldy food left underneath on the substrate... I can let the isopods and springtails take care of every bolus on the floor and I don’t have to harass my T to clean out the enclosure.

 

[Ungoliant]

Even though I keep the substrate on the dry side, I use the microfauna so I don’t have to tear webbing apart trying to get out the remains of moldy food left underneath on the substrate... I can let the isopods and springtails take care of every bolus on the floor and I don’t have to harass my T to clean out the enclosure.

If you keep it dry (no misting), you may kill off some of the microfauna, but you'll also have fewer issues with moldy boluses.

I never had issues with mold, mites, etc., in my GBB's enclosure. I just picked out whatever ones I could reach without doing much damage and kept the water dish full.

 

[The Grym Reaper]

That GBB in that enclosure will be dead very soon. This is a species that absolutely needs a dry enclosure.

Once they pass 2" they should be kept dry, under that they need to be kept slightly moist like any other NW terrestrial sling.

Pretty sure we've had at least one person on here fairly recently with a "Help! My GBB sling is dying" thread because the information has somehow changed from "keep slightly moist as slings and then bone dry with a water dish once they hit juvie size" to "they absolutely have to be kept bone dry, even as slings" like some internet game of Chinese whispers.