Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I recently got an albino pacman frog. At the pet store they told me to put this substrate all over the bottom of the cage. I don't remember the name, but it expands in water and is like mud. Anyways, it has begun to mold. He really likes to burry himself in it, but is it nessesary to cover the enclosure with it. It cost $15, which to me seems insane if it needs to be replaced every week. Any help would be appreciated.

Hey,
The mud you spoke of is called Bed-A-Beast and there are other similar brands like Eco-Earth. If it molds, it might be from the frog's crap that has been lying around. Remember to remove any dead prey in your tank and be sure to have a cover for your tank. Also, I don't replace all the substrate in my tank once a week. I spot-clean for crap and usually just replace it with a bit of new stuff. I completely change my substrate once a month. Hope it helps.
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::hsuANsTerZ::

I saw once that the calcium the I dusted with fell off and the started to mold. Maybe that's what it is?
Anyway I change my cage every other week, but I use unfertilized soil that comes in big bags so it's not very expensive.
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CokeOfMan

I use bed-a-beast as well, but I don't remember it costing fifteen bucks. Perhaps it was a bigger brick of the stuff? As for the mold, maybe a dead bug or feces is the cause of it. It helps to watch the frog eat. That way you can see if any food gets left uneaten and buried in the substrate. Just spot clean.

>>I saw once that the calcium the I dusted with fell off and the started to mold. Maybe that's what it is?
>>Anyway I change my cage every other week, but I use unfertilized soil that comes in big bags so it's not very expensive.
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>> CokeOfMan

it was a big block of it and $15 canadian, sorry. It could be the calsium though, thanks for your replies

he only craps in his water dish. I did just go out and get a large deep water holder that I am going to fill with the bed a beast. I'm thinking it will be a lot easyer to clean that way. Thanks for your reply,

Your calcium supplement shouldn't cause mold.
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Patty
Pahsimeroi, Idaho

4 D. auratus blue
3 D. galactonotus pumpkin orange splash back
5 D. imitator
4 D. leukomelas
4 D. pumilio Bastimentos
4 D. fantasticus pending

I would keep your substrate less wet. If you let it dry out for awhile, it should not mold. Also, I churn it up from time to time to keep it fresh and less packed into the tank. If you let it dry, but still provide your frog with an easily-accessible water bowl, your mold should disappear.
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"One man's pet is another man's feeder."

I just recently got the same problem in my vivarium with my mantellas. I use coconut fibre substrate which i was told is mold resistant. so much for that! i couldn't get any help so i tried something that popped into my imagination. when i first started with tropical fish, i was instructed to only use diluted white vinegar for cleaning the glass. so if vinegar doesn't hurt my fish, and it keeps pickles from going bad after a year in my fridge, it should kill mold without hurting my frogs! i decided to try spraying it on the mold in my vivarium and so far so good! my little guys are healthy and anywhere that i spray the mold, it disappears. i'm also careful not to get it on the frogs while spraying as well. it IS an acid after all. but once it gets on the soil, it seems to do the job!

Dan