Uncontrollable mold

[Larissa]

Since you've come to the emergency forum, we know you want a fast answer to your question. In order for us to figure out the problem as quickly as possible, we ask that you answer the following questions as best you can. Some of them may seem odd, but they're all designed to give us the information we need to give you a good solution for your problem. The things in the [ brackets ] are there to make this post easier to read once submitted. Thanks!


1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
12 inches of substrate, sandcastle consistency, 5parts sand and one part eco earth

2. Do you have gauges in the tank to measure temperature and humidity? If so, where are they located and what temperature and humidity do they usually read?

I have two one in the based tank and one in the topper. They read between 75-85. Temp has stayed around 79-81. My humidity however can jump to 88% and stays there.


3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
Yes, under the tank heater on back wall with gauge attached to control the heat.

4. What types of water are available (fresh or salt) and how is the water treated (what brands of dechlorinator or salt mix and what ratio is used to mix it)?

Both fresh and salt water pools each one holds about a cup of water. Salt is from instant ocean.

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
Dried organic foods. Replaced every 48 hours. Some fresh foods as well.

Leaf litter foraging mix, combine with some flower foraging mixes.


6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
About a month. 6 purple pitchers

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?

One to two crabs possibly molting right now.

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?

55 gallon tank with 20 L gallon custom topper. Acrylic lids on top of open section of 55 gallon tank and open top of the 20 gallon.

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
3 medium crabs and 3 small crabs


10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?

At least 30 ( 5 per crab )


11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?

No


12. How often do you clean the tank and how?

Checked daily since I have been having a huge mold problem which I can not figure out how to fix. I pick up the leaf litter if it looks really worn. Make sure there are very few pieces of food outside of the food dish. Boil removable wood pieces in salt water if found to have mold growing. Just got some springtails cause on the Josh’s frog website they are said to eat mold. Wipe down the tank as well to prevent condensation as much as possible.


13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?

No


14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?

The whole set up is new about two weeks. Originally it was a ten gallon and upgraded to the 55 gallon. Everything was sanitized before placement in the tank and nothing from the old tank cause of mold.


15. Is there any other information you would like to share that might be helpful (anything that is regularly part of your crab care, playtime, bathing, etc.)?

N/A

16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.

Little white puffs of mold have been showing up on my wood pieces, the substrate, and leaf litter. Sometimes the food if I can’t find a small piece. I clean the tank and look for mold growing and immediately remove what I am able to. I just bought spring tails and added to the tank today in hopes they will eat the mold. I’m getting worried I might have to take down the tank and start all over again because the mold keeps growing. How to I get rid of the spores without harming my crabs and the ones that are molting? Is springtails the best option or should I add isospods as well?

Part of the reason is I can not seem to get my humidity under control it is always right at the 88% mark ( I lowered the temp of the heat Mat to 79 and that seems to have brought down the humidity below the 85% mark) and it being summer does not help because the acs add humidity to the apartment to begin with.

[Altaccforhermitsssss]

A little bit of mold is normal, and fine for your hermit crabs, and it sounds like you are doing everything correctly. I have isopods in my tank, but springtails help get rid of mold pretty well and some of the leftover food before it can get to the final stage and spread its spores. Isopods do too, But they normally just eat the mold. So i would get isopods, but it is up to you because they both keep your mold in check. I just grab some from under rocks in my yard( you can do this too as long as your yard does not have any chemicals in it) and grab some isopods to feed to my hermies and clean the tank (hermit crabs will eat the isopods so they wont take over the tank, and i dont usually see them but they definitely help)

[JoeHermits]

How much of your organic material is treated with saltwater? You mentioned you did boil your wood in saltwater, and you can do that with anything else that’s safe to heat up. I would definitely increase the strength of your salt

If it’s safe to do so you can also remove your substrate and mix it with saltwater

Otherwise you can spray saltwater on everything, just don’t keep doing that since you’ll get buildup on everything


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