Mold..

[bluebman52]

I've noticed a little bit of white stuff forming along the bottom of my enclosure. I'm using the coconut husk stuff for bottom substrate. Does anyone know how I can get rid of it? I'd rather not have to fish out all of my L1 nymphs and change the substrate..

 

[Phantom]

Better air movement and some live Long Fiber Sphagnum Moss (LFS) as a substrate will help prevent mold. I am not sure of a safe way (for mantids) to treat the mold without removing it.

 

[paulk]

Trying digging it out with a tea-spoon. this normally works, just try not to let it spread!

 

[Way.Of.The.Mantis]

Surely you can use that normally blue colour disinfectant spray like you get for small mammals, its non-toxic, cheap and dries real quick.

 

[paulk]

that depends on wether you want to empty the entire tank and then clean it!

 

[Rick]

I only get molds in the substrate when it's too moist. Let it dry out some. It won't hurt the mantids to have mold in there.

 

[patrickn]

is it possible to add a small fan to improve the air movement? it works in the vivarium.

In addition, Is it possible to add a cup of Springails culture into the enclose? they can control molds and also is commonly used in vivarium.

I am green in mantid keeping, therefore, please tell if i am wrong.

 

[Rick]

is it possible to add a small fan to improve the air movement? it works in the vivarium. In addition, Is it possible to add a cup of Springails culture into the enclose? they can control molds and also is commonly used in vivarium.

I am green in mantid keeping, therefore, please tell if i am wrong.

Sure, if you want to. All of that is not needed and is a waste of time IMO.

 

[bluebman52]

Wow. Wonderful responses, thank you all.

I'm gonna try letting it dry out and see if that works. The problem with digging it out is that once I open the lid the nymphs are going to try to run out which can lead to problems, obviously lol.

 

[Way.Of.The.Mantis]

Fridge em for two minutes, they wont run so fast then.. :wink:

 

[bluebman52]

sure i'll put a 40 gallon tank in the fridge

 

[Way.Of.The.Mantis]

Wow thats the size of my aquarium, how many nymphs do you have?

 

[bluebman52]

two ooths worth, about 150 or so.

 

[Way.Of.The.Mantis]

How many are you planning to keep?

 

[bluebman52]

3 or 4.

 

[Way.Of.The.Mantis]

What!!? Send em to me!!!

 

[patrickn]

Hay, you only want to keep 3 to 4 mantids. So, some escape is allowed. :lol:

 

[hibiscusmile]

what kind are they?