How do I avoid mold in substrate?

JDeRosa

Arachnobaron
Old Timer
Joined
May 7, 2008
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501
I know I can ventilate well and add isopods...but will isopods annoy small pedelings?

Also...what kind of substrate is best to avoid mold?
 

JDeRosa

Arachnobaron
Old Timer
Joined
May 7, 2008
Messages
501
btw I only ask since my old Cherry Red died after I repeatedly found mold in her enclosure. Pedes really are dirty eaters.
 

T_DORKUS

Arachnobaron
Old Timer
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Mar 19, 2004
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510
I've used garden soil, peat moss, coco peat etc for my T enclosures. The only ones that never had any mold were the ones with just garden soil.
 

cacoseraph

ArachnoGod
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Jan 5, 2005
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8,325
i found that when i stopped over feeding and stopped keeping the sub so moist i had less mold

when the pedes don't have such a surfeit of food items they really work at stripped all the nutrients and guts from the food items they do have



of course, if you use highly vented cages i wouldn't advise keeping the sub as relatively unmoist as i do... even with a water dish.
 

zonbonzovi

Creeping beneath you
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Oct 20, 2008
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3,346
Hey JDR- I keep a cherry red in swamp-like conditions w/ isopods- no issues, no mites. Caco's right- you may want to cut back on feeding. Regarding small 'pedes- no problems w/ isopods, although if you suspect a molt you may want to monitor as isopods will collect around the shed molt, lookin' for a handout. Normally though, the freshly molted 'pede will devour the shed before the isopods can even eat a fraction of it.
 
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