mold in viv

[Neill]

Having some mold build up in my cage. Is there a trick to not have in build up. Its a natural setup plants, dirt and every thing else. Would love to know best plan of action so my cresteds don't fall ill.

 

[Valley Reptiles]

What kind of cage? Plastic or glass? If plastic you can drill a bunch of holes. If it's glass then you would have to mist less.
It should dry out during the day & moist at night and that would keep the mold from growing.

 

[Nubster]

How old is the viv? Mold and fungus is often just part of the growing process and it will usually go away after a short time, or atleast reduce. Have you seeded your tank with any other beneficial critters like wood lice or pods? If not, might not be a bad idea as they act like natural janitors and will eat stuff like that as well as decomposing matter like dead leaves. But like Eric stated, reducing the humidity or the time the tank is super humid will also help.

 

[Sunrise Reptile]

Mold and Mildew in a viv is usually caused by lack of air flow. So that's what you have to change. Increase the air flow and you won't have this problem.

If you leave it this way, it has the potential to make your crested very sick! :main_yes:

 

[MARQUIS]

I personally I have 3 viv with the zoo med substrate and like once a week I open the doors and let them air out. I also limited misting to at night only allowing the viv's to air out during the day and my mold problem stopped completly. Just food for thought. Good Luck.

 

[dunderpate]

Im having issues with one Viv, my adult Crestie Lewis, but for the youngin, Lilly, her tank is mold free. I dont think theyre called Wood Lice, but some kind of insects have been in the Viv since day one, i assume there is no mold because of them. I live in a dry climate, one mist a day, and heavy at that sometimes isnt enough. Any other ways to get rid of mold? I suppose i can transplant the insects from one Viv to the other insect free tank? I dunno.

 

[jblayza]

Tricky thing about cresties is they require high humidity, but they need proper ventilation. You should allow the enclosure to dry out between misting. I usually do a light misting in the morning and a good misting at night when they are most active. Humidity does not have to stay so high all the time, it can drop between misting and your cresties will do fine.
Hope that helps.

 

[dunderpate]

Thanks Jblayza!, yesterday i went to the local pet store and bought those Clay hydro balls, and some non-toxic mesh. I have Friday off so im doing an extreme makeover on my two cresties Viv's. I ll post photos when it's complete. Time to get rid of the mold once and for all!

 

[jblayza]

No problem, glad I could be of some help!:main_thumbsup:
P.S. I love the dalmatian in your avatar!!

Thanks Jblayza!, yesterday i went to the local pet store and bought those Clay hydro balls, and some non-toxic mesh. I have Friday off so im doing an extreme makeover on my two cresties Viv's. I ll post photos when it's complete. Time to get rid of the mold once and for all!

 

[dunderpate]

Vivarium Update

My avatar is Lewis, my oldest one. Tonight I did the extreme makeover edition on Lilly's viv. Her tank never had mold. Tomorrow I will makeover Lewis's tank, his does.

hydroballs, fancy name for gravel, non toxic mesh, potting soil, jungle bark and beaked moss.

forget the name of the tropical plant, safe for crested.

approx 2 inches of gravel.

add the vine, dishes, all is well.

add the gecko, home sweet home.

like riding a bike.

 

[jblayza]

Good job! Home Sweet Home!!

 

[dunderpate]

Thanks jblayza. Below are just a few from Lewis's extreme Viv make over. I never had a problem with mold on top or below the soil before only within the last month and usually I would remove it as I saw it. Finally had enough this week and feared for his health. Cleaned to the point of being brand new including the accessories in the tank. All is well now. Hopefully if there are any others out there with a similar problem they can now find a solution as I did through this thread. Thanks.

I never let the mold get this bad, it takes no time at all to grow i removed it shortly after. Scary.

fancy gravel again.

highwire act.

bubble boy.

The St. Lewis Hotel.

back to business.

 

[hutena]

Hello,
I had that problem so I went out and bought a green reptile turf. They seem to like it and as they are young and loooove crickets(but are sloppy eaters they don't ingest tons of substrate. I don't mist during the day anymore either. The problem I have is that I have a glass terrarium and it is usually about 78 degrees in there so I use red christmas lights at night but no light during the day so the temperature doesn't go up. My guys also dislike the Repashy food and would rather starve to death than eat it on their own volition. I hand feed them a little every other day, but since I have been feeding them crickets they only really want crickets. I am dusting the crickets and they are gut loaded but w/ no light and no repashy eating can they still be healthy? Oh by the way I like the terrarium setup.

 

[dunderpate]

I had that problem so I went out and bought a green reptile turf

I like the natural look myself.

I agree, good to have a clean non-injestible environment when you feed your cresteds, but not as a fulltime substrate. I feed mine crickets too but I take them out of their Viv and put them in a clean plastic container and drop crickets in, nothing but plastic and cricket.

I use red christmas lights at night

why? Room temp is fine. From what I've read in here, there is no need for a heat lamp, espcially xmas lights.

My guys also dislike the Repashy food and would rather starve to death than eat it on their own volition.

I would give it more time. They wont starve to death , eventually theyre going to eat, still can supplement with crickets, they love the chase. Cool to watch them hunt.