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URGENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

badcompnay Jun 01, 2007 01:37 PM

So i decided to open up the hide box i made for my BRB and take a look and see how its holdin up.

I got some "jungle earth" from exo-terra on the bottom and a lot of beaked moss on top from zilla. i was lookin at the beaked moss and it looks to me like it has this weird lookin stuff that looks almost like spider webs on it, ive been lookin thru all of it but im starting to think more and more that its like alive? i dont kno if this is a spider that was in the bag of moss? or if its just growing to life with all the humidity and water i got in it.

someone please help..

reason i used the moss and the jungle earth was because the local herp shop here didnt have the sphagnum mix!!!!

can u guys tell me what use in ur hide boxes!!!!???

Replies (15)

strictly4fun Jun 01, 2007 01:49 PM

Dave will post his set-up but I think it is peat moss and then spaghnum moss but I use spaghnum moss for my hides and they seem to like it as tp too
Bob

badcompnay Jun 01, 2007 01:54 PM

i couldnt find the sphagnum moss at my local shop so i used Beaked Moss......but i think its getting moldy??? im not sure

coluberking25 Jun 01, 2007 01:55 PM

Sounds exactly like mold. Just scoop it out(with the substrate it's attached to) and you should be ok.
-----
Scott

Reptiles
--------
1 Colombian Rainbow Boa (Rocky)
1.0 Ball Python (Sultan)
0.1 California Kingsnake (Leota)
1.0 Eastern Painted Turtle (Yugi)
0.1 Red/Gold Bearded Dragon* (Irwin, R.I.P.)

Other
-----
1.0 Betta Fish (Tyrone)
1.0 Hooded Rat* (Clubber, R.I.P.)
0.1 Albino Rat (Isis)

FRoberts Jun 01, 2007 02:36 PM

it will continue to grow back, change to a medium that is less susceptible to moisture or lighten up on the moisture level. If not inhibited in one way or another, it will continue to re-appear.

This web-like substance is produced by many different molds and or fungi's. I am certain it is not a spider web. Also some mites ( spider mites / red in color ) can create similar visual conditions ( conditions = lack of a better word)

I would go with the paraphernalia Dave and or Jeff suggests, if you can't order in bulk, try places like.

Bean Farm

-----
Thanks,

Frank Roberts
Roberts' Realm Of Reptile Research

sean1976 Jun 01, 2007 02:03 PM

You've just come face to face with thehumidity balancing act we have to maintain(it does get easy though).

The spiderweb looking stuff is mold growing in the moss. Basically the moss conditions got wet, dark, and warm enough for the mold to flourish.

First thing to do is remove it, throw the moss away, and clean the area the moss was in to remove/kill spores.

Next there are multiple ways to prevent new mold from growing. What I generally use is just keeping the moss damp but not wet enough to start moss growing. The downside of this is that until yoou get a good idea of what level to keep the moisture at you will have to check it every day or so. Some people also sterilize(by baking or microwaving mostly I believe) the substrate before introducing it so there are fewer spores to start growing. You'll still want to keep the correct moisture with this method but you will have a larger safety range.

Either way resetup the hide with the new clean moist substrate and you'll be good for awhile. Just monitor how moist your keeping the moss and watch for growth so you can replace it immediately and get a better idea of the correct maintenance level.

As far as substrate what I use is sphagnum moss. If your herp store does not have it then you should be able to(for a much much cheeper price) get small bales of it from your local plant nursery. I get mine from a nursery, it's sold as green moss. The risk/drawback of this is the off chance of the moss having been treated or otherwise exposed to toxins. Because of this I would recommend ensuring it wasn't or smelling it to makse sure it smells natural.

Hope this rambling was helpful.

Sean.

medyssa Jun 01, 2007 02:07 PM

Green Moss works well for me, I get it at Orchard Supply and hardware or Michaels Craft store
-----
Jess
2.4 adult brazilian rainbows
1.1 baby BRBs born 6/18
1.0 normal corn
1.0 african brown house snake
0.1 hypo Boa constrictor
0.1 normal ball python
2.3.1 crested geckos
1.1 western hognoses
0.2 kitties Marina (aka Mayhem)and Chaos
1.0 boyfriend to keep me spoiled
1.1 paranoid parents "too many snakes!"

rainbowsrus Jun 01, 2007 02:13 PM

Too much water. It really is trial and error to find the right balance!!

Toss it, and start over.

This time use less water, should be damp, not soggy!

Again what I use is a layer (~1 inch) of peat moss. It's finely ground and is like dirt. Dampen that and add a second layer of green moss. Also dampen the green moss. Don't drench eoither layer.

I like the two layer method as my BRB's will often burrow under the green moss and hang out between the two layers and the peat moss acts like a biomass to absorb and neutralize urine. They will go in the tub.
-----
Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
21.29 BRB
19.19 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

badcompnay Jun 01, 2007 02:31 PM

well the problem here seems to be is that i cant get peat moss at my local herp store they dont even have it. and as for sphagnum moss they dont carry it either.

i guess i can go to HD or Lowes or something but my main concern is parasites, toxins and stuff like that....

rainbowsrus Jun 01, 2007 04:41 PM

I get my peat moss at orchard supply hardware and order the moss online. Of course I get it by the 25lb bale have more than a few hides to maintain
-----
Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
21.29 BRB
19.19 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

FRoberts Jun 01, 2007 02:45 PM

These mold's / fungi's are directly associated with the plant matters decomposition and humidity combined, creating the perfect micro-environment for them to flourish.

Just in case you wanted to know more about the "what" you are removing, this may help you stop it's re occurrence, it definitely is directly related to the "humid" environment and most likely the plants decomposition. ( the mold / fungi is feeding off the plant matter's decomposition
-----
Thanks,

Frank Roberts
Roberts' Realm Of Reptile Research

Derek54 Jun 01, 2007 03:07 PM

"These mold's / fungi's are directly associated with the plant matters decomposition and humidity combined, creating the perfect micro-environment for them to flourish."

that makes sense. I just moved my BRB into a new 50 gallon enclosure, and i decided to put some branches i found in my backyard. into the tank. I soaked them with bleach, cause they were to big to fit in the oven. and about 3 days after putting these branches in, i noticed a web like material all over the tank. and it scared the hell out of me.
but after looking at the tank, i noticed it was only on the open ends of the branches(where the branches were cut). So as you said, it was probably "plant matters decomposition and humidity combined"
...I would hate to lose a $250 snake just from one spider.

Jeff Clark Jun 01, 2007 02:49 PM

>>You've just come face to face with thehumidity balancing act we have to maintain(it does get easy though).
>>
>>The spiderweb looking stuff is mold growing in the moss. Basically the moss conditions got wet, dark, and warm enough for the mold to flourish.
>>
>>First thing to do is remove it, throw the moss away, and clean the area the moss was in to remove/kill spores.
>>
>>Next there are multiple ways to prevent new mold from growing. What I generally use is just keeping the moss damp but not wet enough to start moss growing. The downside of this is that until yoou get a good idea of what level to keep the moisture at you will have to check it every day or so. Some people also sterilize(by baking or microwaving mostly I believe) the substrate before introducing it so there are fewer spores to start growing. You'll still want to keep the correct moisture with this method but you will have a larger safety range.
>>
>>Either way resetup the hide with the new clean moist substrate and you'll be good for awhile. Just monitor how moist your keeping the moss and watch for growth so you can replace it immediately and get a better idea of the correct maintenance level.
>>
>>As far as substrate what I use is sphagnum moss. If your herp store does not have it then you should be able to(for a much much cheeper price) get small bales of it from your local plant nursery. I get mine from a nursery, it's sold as green moss. The risk/drawback of this is the off chance of the moss having been treated or otherwise exposed to toxins. Because of this I would recommend ensuring it wasn't or smelling it to makse sure it smells natural.
>>
>>Hope this rambling was helpful.
>>
>>Sean.

Jeff Clark Jun 01, 2007 02:50 PM

>>>>You've just come face to face with thehumidity balancing act we have to maintain(it does get easy though).
>>>>
>>>>The spiderweb looking stuff is mold growing in the moss. Basically the moss conditions got wet, dark, and warm enough for the mold to flourish.
>>>>
>>>>First thing to do is remove it, throw the moss away, and clean the area the moss was in to remove/kill spores.
>>>>
>>>>Next there are multiple ways to prevent new mold from growing. What I generally use is just keeping the moss damp but not wet enough to start moss growing. The downside of this is that until yoou get a good idea of what level to keep the moisture at you will have to check it every day or so. Some people also sterilize(by baking or microwaving mostly I believe) the substrate before introducing it so there are fewer spores to start growing. You'll still want to keep the correct moisture with this method but you will have a larger safety range.
>>>>
>>>>Either way resetup the hide with the new clean moist substrate and you'll be good for awhile. Just monitor how moist your keeping the moss and watch for growth so you can replace it immediately and get a better idea of the correct maintenance level.
>>>>
>>>>As far as substrate what I use is sphagnum moss. If your herp store does not have it then you should be able to(for a much much cheeper price) get small bales of it from your local plant nursery. I get mine from a nursery, it's sold as green moss. The risk/drawback of this is the off chance of the moss having been treated or otherwise exposed to toxins. Because of this I would recommend ensuring it wasn't or smelling it to makse sure it smells natural.
>>>>
>>>>Hope this rambling was helpful.
>>>>
>>>>Sean.

FRoberts Jun 01, 2007 03:38 PM

or just giving us some hits, lol

I was looking for a possible "genera" or "common name" for common molds/fungi that "occur / infect" the hideboxes micro-environment when the humidity rises to certain levels
-----
Thanks,

Frank Roberts
Roberts' Realm Of Reptile Research

sean1976 Jun 01, 2007 08:39 PM

Was hoping I was clear enough. I do tend to ramble when talking about my own past experiences, sometimes to the point of incomprehensibility lol.

Glad it met aproval.

Sean.

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