substrate molding?

[Livingstone]

I have an indoor open pen that is a 50/50 mix of soil and coir, Is there a way to prevent mold on a substrate? Is it safe to mist the substrate with diluted hydrogen peroxide? Im starting to see the lil black flies that sometimes come from potted plants.

I could change the substrate but its less than a month old, and its a 4ft by 4ft pen, so it seems like a waste.

 

[tortoisenerd]

I have not known the coir to mold. Not sure about soil though. How moist is it? If you pick up a handful and squeeze it, does water come out? If so, it's too wet. Do you have mold already or are you asking as a preventative? Hydrogen peroxide would be bad! The tort breathes the air at the substrate level, sometimes ingests it, etc. Flies are separate from mold I'd think. I would take out the plants and look up some old threads on the forum on how to get rid of flies safely around torts. I think you need to re-think the substrate and setup (plants) if you are having both mold and flies. I have not known of the coir either alone or with play sand to ever mold when kept at a proper moistness.

If you have current mold, then yes you should dump the substrate, dry out the enclosure, make sure no mold remains, and put in new substrate. What type of enclosure? Do you have a plastic liner so you can make sure you wipe it out and it's clean? You can use cleaning products on the surfaces of the enclosure, but be sure to wash them away extra well so no residues remain when the tort is back in the enclosure (and do any substrate changes and cleaning away from the tort as their lungs as sensitive). I would use as green of a product as you can as well (least harsh for the job). Best wishes.

 

[Maggie Cummings]

It sounds to me like you are keeping the substrate too wet. It should just be moist. Let it dry out some, then when it's time to dampen it I pour some water over the soil then I stir it up. If you mix the soil up that stops mold from growing. Mold grows where the medium isn't moved. Every couple of days when I dampen the substrate I mix it all up. If your hot end is in the 90's you shouldn't have mold.
I don't mean to contradict Kate, but I wouldn't waste that substrate. If it is too wet, dump it out on something like a tarp and let it dry some. Then put it back in. If you do as I suggest and keep stirring it up when you moisten it, mold shouldn't be a problem. Don't use any kind of bleach around your animal.

 

[Livingstone]

It sounds to me like you are keeping the substrate too wet. It should just be moist. Let it dry out some, then when it's time to dampen it I pour some water over the soil then I stir it up. If you mix the soil up that stops mold from growing. Mold grows where the medium isn't moved. Every couple of days when I dampen the substrate I mix it all up. If your hot end is in the 90's you shouldn't have mold.
I don't mean to contradict Kate, but I wouldn't waste that substrate. If it is too wet, dump it out on something like a tarp and let it dry some. Then put it back in. If you do as I suggest and keep stirring it up when you moisten it, mold shouldn't be a problem. Don't use any kind of bleach around your animal.

I actually do mix the substrate around twice a week when I add water to it for humidity. The surface layer actually dries out within a day. I just mixed it around again as suggested, the reason I was asking is because Livingstone is kind of skeptical after I move everything around then put it back in. I dont like to interfere too much in his pen.

Heres a photo, you can see his burrow is an integral part of the landscape. So when I have to mix around the substrate I have to remove the rocks, waterdish, food plate, etc. I appreciate the answers, I guess theres really no easy way to do it.

 

[dannomite]

Hi Livingstone,

My suggestion would be if you get mold, next time you change the substrate ditch the soil and use more coir and some sand. Soil is more prone to molding then the sand/coir mix. Plus sand tends to be cleaner so you probably won't get the bugs either. The Coir/Sand might dry out a bit quicker but its very easy to keep moist.

What kind of soil is it? Just potting soil? Even "sterilized" soil molds quite easily when its kept damp. I used to work for a Topsoil supply company ("Dirt Farm") and i've seen lots of funky things grow out of some of the soil mixes.

 

[Livingstone]

Yes, Its organic top soil and it occured to me, that might be the reason beczuse the coir is somewhat acidic. I will try the playsand coir mix next time.

 

[Yvonne G]

I see no reason to disrupt Livingstone's life when you add water. You can leave the burrow and the "furniture" alone and just mix it up in the open spaces.

Yvonne

 

[Livingstone]

I see no reason to disrupt Livingstone's life when you add water. You can leave the burrow and the "furniture" alone and just mix it up in the open spaces.

Yvonne

I yah, I understand that. Really the only reason I do it the other way is because in the wild, the highest concentration of humidity would be in his burrow.

 

[Yvonne G]

I'm sure the capillary action will bring the moisture into the burrow. Plus you can pour a little water over the top of the burrow.

Yvonne

 

[Livingstone]

Yah I tried it today, we'll see how it goes. Thanks for the advice.

How often do you moisten your substrate?

 

[Yvonne G]

I only have two indoor habitats at this time...baby box turtles and a baby Manouria. I have them propped up on a slant and I keep water in the lower half. If I notice that the upper half seems to be drying out, then I'll add water to it. I go by feel, rather than by time.

Yvonne