Moss seems to be growing mold - ?

[NYCspiderGuy]

I recently put together several tanks for some Avic versicolors and one of them seems to be growing a white (cotton candy looking) mold... in just two days.
It was the one which had a bunch of frog-moss mixed into dirt... and because of a spill while transfering, was wetter than the others at first. Never had that from moss before.

I figured the moss would help keep humidity, and there is not THAT much...

I will be changing/cleaning the tank right now (since I just noticed it) but would appreciate any ideas about this moss or other good ways to keep humidity for Avics. without growing moldy gardens as well.

Just substrate tonight. No moss until I hear from you guys.
thanks

 

[BlkCat]

when ever i see mold on my peat moss, i just pick it and the immediate substrate around it, out and throw it away. i get mold only around my water dish when it over flows.
Just put a deep water dish in with ur avics and keep it full. that will keep the humidity up.

 

[NYCspiderGuy]

Okay...
cleaned tank... (it was too small to remove only part of dirt... it is tall/round
and if I am going to disturb enough to get to the bottom, I might as well remove spider and clean all, replace wood.)
Very sweet spider anyway... biggest difficulty is that it did not want to go back in! Very social. Rather sit on my hand... each time I turn hand towards tank it turns to other side - ever try to put a cat into travel box?
Not quite the Battle of Wills, but that's the idea...

I think the spill was what did it... very large bowl for tank-size (meant to provide extra ambient moisture) and it has been warm and moist since.

Tank is squeaky-clean and versi never dropped cricket which I failed to notice in clutches! Guess it figured, " well, if I am moving out I am taking a packed lunch - just in case" Never trust your human too much...

Will the moss get moldy if it is kept in a SEPARATE bowl with water... like in ponds? Not meant for drinking (always a full bowl there as well for that)... just looking for an evaporation vehicle.
I can mist each day, but they hate it when they get misted by accident.
Ideas?

 

[BlkCat]

If u have a full water bowl in there, u have no real need to mist.

 

[Rob1985]

If u have a full water bowl in there, u have no real need to mist.

Agreed. should only need a water bowl for humidity. Mine likes is dry and warm. So I make out real well.

 

[Apocalypstick]

If you put the moss in it's own water bowl, it will not be like a pond because ponds have thier own ecosystem and the small bowl cannot do this... you'd be asking for more problems.

 

[Wikkids_Wench]

If you're using strands of 'bagged' moss, try sterilising the moss before putting it in the tank. 'Nuked' moss will still hold moisture when you spray it or dampen the peat around it, but the process will help to kill off the mould spores. My partner does this with the moss and peat for his emperor scorpion tank and although that is kept at high humidity it has never gone mouldy.

Put some of the moss in a plastic or pyrex bowl and zap it for about 2 or 3 minutes. Should help

 

[NYCspiderGuy]

If you're using strands of 'bagged' moss, try sterilising the moss before putting it in the tank. 'Nuked' moss will still hold moisture when you spray it or dampen the peat around it, but the process will help to kill off the mould spores. My partner does this with the moss and peat for his emperor scorpion tank and although that is kept at high humidity it has never gone mouldy.

Put some of the moss in a plastic or pyrex bowl and zap it for about 2 or 3 minutes. Should help

Good idea - cheers for that.

I left some in a separate bowl to see what would happen (NOT in a spider tank), and it did get moldy on top, where water met air.
I will Nuke and re-do experiment.
Funny thing is, that I got a tank from a closing petstore with a Gekko egg attatched (deal was take the tank if you will hatch/raise the gekko) and it has lots of the same moss and is constantly being misted/Very humid but no mold there. (?)
Just when I think I understand things, someone lifts the ban
on Assault Weapons and my moss gets moldy.
Of course the Petco employees tried to sell me a $50 mister/humidifier... instead of my water bowl system.
In the New America, even Evaporation is not Free.

 

[Apocalypstick]

In the New America, even Evaporation is not Free.

LOL, water, trees, grass and the air we breath isn't even free at this point!
America the great

 

[critterz]

Thanks for running this experiment for us. Saves us from learning the hard way.