Mushrooms in enclosures

[arachnid.abdomen]

I've occasionally noticed some small mushrooms in a few tarantula enclosures, always the same white thin ones (i have no pictures which is obviously useless) but i was wondering if anyone else finds anything similar and if they're best to leave in or it doesn't make a difference? I usually take them out as soon as i notice them because i've never really been sure.

 

[Trenor]

You mean like this?

I've gotten a few. More since I started using more topsoil in my substrate mix. I use the tongs to pull them out after a snap a photo or two.

 

[Rittdk01]

I saw someone that had mushrooms in their T stirmi enclosure. They left them in and the tarantula was fine. There was no other mold or anything in that enclosure though. I hope this is a humidity lover you have in this tank, since it's moist enough to grow mushrooms.

 

[arachnid.abdomen]

You mean like this?

I've gotten a few. Since I started using more topsoil in my substrate mix. I use the tongs to pull them out after a snap a photo or two.

yeah probably the same, or at least they look it. I always use coco fibre and i seem to get a few..grow surprisingly fast. i do the same and just pull them out and a bit of surrounding substrate, just wanting to know if anyone leaves them in and if theres any issues with it really

 

[arachnid.abdomen]

I saw someone that had mushrooms in their T stirmi enclosure. They left them in and the tarantula was fine. There was no other mold or anything in that enclosure though. I hope this is a humidity lover you have in this tank, since it's moist enough to grow mushrooms.

yeah, always around the damper areas / near the water dishes. i might allow some to grow but just wasnt sure, adds a more natural effect to it for me

 

[Trenor]

I saw someone that had mushrooms in their T stirmi enclosure. They left them in and the tarantula was fine. There was no other mold or anything in that enclosure though. I hope this is a humidity lover you have in this tank, since it's moist enough to grow mushrooms.

Most of the time they pop up right at the water dish were it gets turned over and the substrate stays a bit more moist even for drier species. That's why having a lot of ventilation is important for some species.

 

[TRection]

Guys i really don't think giving your Ts mushrooms is a good idea....But maybe that's why so many of them have such pretty colors

 

[Trenor]

Guys i really don't think giving your Ts mushrooms is a good idea....But maybe that's why so many of them have such pretty colors

You taking all the mushrooms for yourself is likely why you think they have all the pretty colors.

 

[WeightedAbyss75]

A week ago, I found a small bunch of this really tall red mushrooms in my B. albo enclosure. If seems the area underneath the dish was too moist and they grew. A few hours after I saw the cage was fine this huge shroom had come out in the darkness! I took mine out right away, but I'm pretty sure a T wouldn't care so long as they weren't out of control. I would just remove them though, and either dispose of them or put them elsewhere. Not much point in having them there, where they have their own sets of problems

 

[14pokies]

These sprouted up in my P.ornatas enclosure a few days ago.. I don't make a point of removing them untill they droop and get mushy.

 

[efmp1987]

Just add tunnels and a flag so the T's can go Mario mode.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

Remove those otherwise they will grow up and try to kill you with their 'mushroom parent punch'

 

[spotropaicsav]

@schmiggle

 

[Ungoliant]

I've occasionally noticed some small mushrooms in a few tarantula enclosures

 

[MGery92]

If these mushrooms are still small, try to use springtails. They will clean up every "garbage" in the enclosure (mold, boli, fungus).

 

[schmiggle]

Mushrooms are complicated, because there are a lot of kinds, but any you find in the enclosure are breaking down the substrate. Not necessarily a problem, but possibly an indication that you should change it out soon. Having said that, I had a colony of some kind of fungus or maybe slime mold for a year and a half on one log with no ill effects (it would sprout new fruiting bodies on occasion).
ID'ing mushrooms is highly labor intensive, with a bit of specialized equipment, particularly with common white ones. Most likely all of the species mentioned in this thread are different and equally harmless (though there's really only one way to find out )

 

[kevinlowl]

I think most shrooms would be fine except maybe inky caps as they might get that disgusting liquid on a tarantula and gross it out. Maybe you could try introducing some edible shroom spores in your enclosure, who knows if spoder poop and feeder boluses would make a good substrate for growing shrooms.

 

[8by8]

I have bioactive vivariums and have done hundreds in the past. I always leave the mushrooms alone as its a sign of a healthy environment. Now not saying its ok for slings but adult tarantulas don't seem to mind. I had one species that started to make a mushroom in the morning and EXPLODE spores at night. Cool thing was you could actually watch it grow over 10 minutes intervals.