Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have heard some of you talking about something called black mold of death. Could you guys tell me what it looks like, and what is the main problem with this stuff. Does it kill the culture or poison the ff and then your frogs or whats the danger? Sorry for being so ignorant, I just want to understand more specifically and since I've been on the forum starting in December of 2002, I haven't read enough to understand. I see some black dots in my cultures and I am a little scared now. Anything with the word Death in it, makes me a little anxious. Could you clarify for me?

it's this black mold that looks like a black fuzz in the cultchers it kills the cultures but does not poison the fly's. Its reason's like this that I preach keeping more ff then you need on hand. witch reminds me I need to make a mason jar run
-----
Brian Ferriera JR
Plympton, Ma

P. Terribilis (orange)
P.Bicolor (soon)
D. azureus
D. ventrimaculatus
E. hahneli
D. tinctorius (Oyapok )
D. Fantasticus
D. leucomelas
D. castaneoticus (soon)

if you're not already using this, then you might want to consider using vinegar in your cultures....50/50 white vinegar/water should do the job...this tends to keep most molds in check

rich

>>I have heard some of you talking about something called black mold of death. Could you guys tell me what it looks like, and what is the main problem with this stuff. Does it kill the culture or poison the ff and then your frogs or whats the danger? Sorry for being so ignorant, I just want to understand more specifically and since I've been on the forum starting in December of 2002, I haven't read enough to understand. I see some black dots in my cultures and I am a little scared now. Anything with the word Death in it, makes me a little anxious. Could you clarify for me?

I think Homer pointed out in a post some time back that the black mold we usually see in cultures is most likely an Aspergillus-- a common "household" mold that occurs in damp places. It can be pesty, but starting new cultures with the suggested vinegar and perhaps a little more yeast for competition should do the trick.

It can be an opportunisitic pathogen--i.e. it may cause infection (aspergillosis) in immunocompromised people such as those with HIV, on immunosupressive drugs, or who have been on prolonged antibiotic treatment. I looked through all of my mycology texts and couldn't find a reference to "Black Mold of Death."
-----
Patty
Lost River, Idaho

NEVER open up a culture with black mold in your house, as you will release spores everywhere. Also, do not make new cultures from flies living in a black mold infested culture, as they will carry the mold and spores with them on their feet. The black mold will often occur in clumps, and will quickly engulf a culture. If you come across the black mold, take the culture outside, put it in a bag, and wait for garbage day. I hope this is of some assistance.
Good luck
Double J