Mold happens when there is not enough air circulation in the tank.

Mold spores are everywhere, and there are literally millions of spores in any and every given cubic meter of air. Like all other flora, it competes for resources and food. Provide it with the right environment, and it will grow.

The dyed moss from Fluker's is, I am sorry to say, just dead crap. As it decomposes, it will provide a wet environment for the mold to grow.

Your screen name gives me the impression you are in Oregon. Why don't you just go out and get some nice deerfern moss locally? It grows naturally throughout the northwest. Deerfern under a T8 bulb (go for the whitest light you can get) will grow and out-compete mold easily, and can handle the wet environment pretty well. (though contrary to popular belief, wet environments are not usually a good thing for tree frogs - more red eyes and the like are wasted each year with too much wet and not enough air circulation...)

Also, get rid of the gravel drainage. Instead, go with a false bottom setup, that will allow the water to drain straight through, and allow you to siphon off the water when it starts to get deep.

Good luck. Jack up the air circulation, and the tree frogs can live in there full time!
-----
John Gibeau
US Army (Retired)
Queen Creek, AZ

4.1 Whippets

1.3 Leopard Geckos
0.0.1 Desert Banded Gecko
0.0.5 Desert Hairy Scorpion

1.1 Python regius "Firefly"
0.8 Python regius het for pied
1.0 Python regius piebald
0.2 Python regius Mojave
1.0 Python regius Lesser
1.0 Python regius Black Pastel
1.1 Python regius albino genetic banded
1.2 Python regius double het pied albino
1.0 Python regius "spider"

more mice, rats, and African Soft Furred Rats than I can count!

[ Reply To This Message ] [ Subscribe to this Thread ] [ Show Entire Thread ]