HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I recently got pieces of sandblasted grape vine wood for my hermit crabs. I baked all the pieces before placing them in the tank, the wood has many branches for my hermit crabs to climb on, but the section of wood that’s touching the substrate started growing mold. I have a piece of cholla wood that touches the substrate and it’s never grown mold.

How can I stop the mold from growing on the grape vine wood?

*as soon as I noticed the mold on the wood I took all the grape wood pieces out of the tank*

Don't panic, the mold won't have harmed your crabs at all.
To help prevent mold, you can soak or boil the wood in heavily salted water to help prevent mold.

curlysister wrote:Don't panic, the mold won't have harmed your crabs at all.
To help prevent mold, you can soak or boil the wood in heavily salted water to help prevent mold.

I boiled the wood in salted water! What do I do if the mold comes back?

I have epic mold issues with my enclosures. I use springtails with my other animals - which eat actual mold and mold spores, and I salt boil items for the crabs. When I boil, I'll use a good pound or two of plain cooking salt for a stock pot of water. If things get moldy usually I just haven't used enough salt

wodesorel wrote:I have epic mold issues with my enclosures. I use springtails with my other animals - which eat actual mold and mold spores, and I salt boil items for the crabs. When I boil, I'll use a good pound or two of plain cooking salt for a stock pot of water. If things get moldy usually I just haven't used enough salt

Thank you!

Hahaha I was hoping Wode 'mold queen' Sorel would jump in here! Thanks!

I usually turn a blind eye to the mold. I don't do anything to prevent or remove it. I find that after a bit, the mold will die off.