HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Found these growing in the eco earth. It is only in this section of the tank (or at least of the viewable portion of the tank). Initially I ignored it because I thought it was part of the plastic plant under eco earth. But I arrive home from vacation, and now they are bigger and deeper in the substrate.
https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/12eu ... sp=sharing

Sorry, I'm not sure what I'm looking at?

curlysister wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 15, 2023 10:55 pm

Sorry, I'm not sure what I'm looking at?

You are looking at the substrate at the edge of the tank, and the white “bulbs” throughout the substrate are what I am concerned about

https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/186I ... sp=sharing
Here is a better picture, with the growing plants circled. They grew significantly since last night, and they seem to look a lot like growing mushrooms.

Yeah, they're a little brown mushroom. I've had them many times, doesn't affect the crabs but man those set my allergies off something awful! I just pluck them out as I see them forming or popping above the substrate, before they have time to release spores. They are quick growing as you've seen. I never really have problems with having more than a few and they've never taken over, but I do have springtails who think they are candy!

Thanks! I plucked them out, apparently those on the window were the only ones present, at least of where I dug.

They have been spreading rapidly. It doesn’t seem like the crabs are willing to dig more than 2 inches deep in the substrate anymore either, and one has went 2 years without molting. Could they be avoiding digging due to the mushrooms?

Any ideas anyone?

If it's that bad then a full clean out is going to be the only way to get rid of it. I'd even go so far as to bleach the enclosure/decor to kill off any remaining spores before rinsing well and refilling. That, and using saltwater to mix the new substrate, will prevent it from returnjng as much as it's possible - but generally once it's in the environment it'll come back at some point.

wodesorel wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 12, 2023 8:33 pm

If it's that bad then a full clean out is going to be the only way to get rid of it. I'd even go so far as to bleach the enclosure/decor to kill off any remaining spores before rinsing well and refilling. That, and using saltwater to mix the new substrate, will prevent it from returnjng as much as it's possible - but generally once it's in the environment it'll come back at some point.

Do you think rubbing alcohol could also work?

Better question, how long do the spores take to die off in an empty tank? I can temporarily move my 2 crabs to a 10 gallon

Spores can last anywhere from a few months to a few years depending on the species. If you just wanted to wash the tank out well and refill with saltwater treated substrate it should be enough. I just tend to go nuclear if I have to clean rather than worry about having to do it again, but I hate cleaning in the first place.

Would rubbing alcohol kill them instantly?

Also, I meant removing everything in the tank and leaving it be, to let the spores die.

As Wodesorel said, fungi spores can live for a looooooong time, so waiting it out with the tank empty is not a great option if you want to get rid of them. I get mushrooms in a couple of my very high humidity enclosures (like my dart frog and mourning gecko enclosures), and I actually like them. I think they're pretty and they're not hurting anyone, so I just leave them be. But with mushrooms, the bulk of their body is underground mycelium. Whatever amount you see, there is much more underground.