I have a female emperor who gave birth about a week and a half ago and when I looked in her tank today I saw that there was a fine layer of fuzzy mold on about half the substrate in her enclosure and in part of her burrow. The scorplings seem to have recently molted to 2i but I haven’t seen any leave her back yet. What should I do?
Mold in my emp’s enclosure HELP!
- Thread starter scorpguy
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scorpionmom
Arachnobaron
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- Dec 5, 2010
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Carefully move her out and completely clean the tank. Make sure there is good ventilation.
shes really defensive Im worried that if i try to move her out she will try to eat her young. will the mold hurt them? Is it worth chancing her eating her young and cleaning it right now vs waiting a few days till they leave her back and them moving them out?
also, I was somewhat restricting ventalation to keep the humidity up to help the scorplings with the molt. whats more important, good ventilation or higher humidity?
also, I was somewhat restricting ventalation to keep the humidity up to help the scorplings with the molt. whats more important, good ventilation or higher humidity?
scorpionmom
Arachnobaron
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2010
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- 349
Good question. I can't believe I forgot that moving her would be stressful. If you are careful, however, you should be able to coax her into another container without causing too much harm. Even though mold is sometimes just unsightly, it could be harmful and get "stuck" to the exoskeleton, possibly causing molting and other such problems. I would say it is not worth leaving them in. If you are really worried, you could just scrape out the moldy part(s) and do what you suggested, wait until the babies molt and disperse, and then clean the cage after you house them all individually.
I would say good ventilation is more important. While it you are correct that high humidity is essential for these kinds of species, ventilation with deter problems such as the one you are dealing with now. My best advice is, just be careful and good luck!
Edit: Also remember that it is extremely important that you leave the babies on the mother's back until they are absolutely ready to leave, as they get their moisture from her and will dessicate if they are removed. They should be ready to leave her back soon, if they have molted into 2nd instar (and they should have by now).