Mold

[Bonnie loves Clyde]

Well I have two awesome trees frogs, Bonnie and clyde, and recently read that they're humidity should be between 50 and 70% but t these levels mild keeps growin on their driftwood branch thing. I took it out and scrubbed it and rises with with extremely hot water but it keeps coming back. Is it safe for them to be in there with it?? And if not how do I stop this from happening??

[anderson405]

I have some branches I sanded down and used from outside.. I didnt really do much to them other then sand them nice and smooth. I have read that you can put them in the oven for 30mins on like 300d maybe even 250 depending on the size of the branches. I think the issue your having is that the piece has mold in bedded inside the wood or piece you have. My frogs are amazing when something like this happens they will stay away from that piece in the tank so I know to go in and check it out. I have had some issues with mold so I know how you feel. If I think of anything else I will get back to you on it.

[anderson405]

Oh ya you can also use bleach is you dilute it but I would stay way from this since its always risky to use chemicals. I also think vinegar is safe to use to clean things that go in your tank.. but please look into it more.

[flybyferns]

Well I have two awesome trees frogs, Bonnie and clyde, and recently read that they're humidity should be between 50 and 70% but t these levels mild keeps growin on their driftwood branch thing. I took it out and scrubbed it and rises with with extremely hot water but it keeps coming back. Is it safe for them to be in there with it?? And if not how do I stop this from happening??

You might consider removing it and simply purchasing an artificial replacement?

[Bonnie loves Clyde]

Well I just bought it from the pet store and it said it was heat treated already

[GrifTheGreat]

Well I just bought it from the pet store and it said it was heat treated already

Heat treating only kills the mold that is already present. If new spires come in contact with the wood more will grow. If its white mold then it is very common on driftwood and usually doesn't spread too much, but can grow in an hour or two. You may want to remove the wood place it in some boiling water then soak it in de-chlorinated water before replacing it in the enclosure. I've never treated any of my driftwood with bleach. I just scauld mine.

[Pezsas]

I have had a few mold reach my pieces of wood. I heat treat everything i can, if you put it in the oven for a while and then keep it in a sterile or at least an area with out mold it should cure the problem. If you keep getting the mold it may be coming from somewhere else that you have not treated.

[Bonnie loves Clyde]

Could it be possible that it's coming from my German ivy plant?

[Bonnie loves Clyde]

Ok thanks, and what are springtails, and where do you get them?

[GrifTheGreat]

Ok thanks, and what are springtails, and where do you get them?

Springtails are an Isopod like Saulbugs(Wood Louse, Rolly Polly). They eat fungi, mold, mildew, and decaying plant matter as well as your frogs waste. Usually not enough of the frog's waste will be eaten for it not to attract bacterial growth though. They will live in the substrate where it remains 100% humidity and venture out to feed. They may venture far up to eat the mold, but I'm not sure.

Edit; You can buy a Springtail Culture from JoshsFrogs.com

[ndame88]

Edit; You can buy a Springtail Culture from JoshsFrogs.com

JoshsFrogs was the first link I was going to send, but they are out right now.

[ndame88]

AZDR.com - Arizona Dendrobate Ranch - Quality Dart Frog Breeders & Terrarium Supplies

New England Herpetoculture - Live Insects

Feeder Insects - Products

Above a just a couple of places that sell them, there are many others. Springtails (Collembola sp.) are soft-bodied insects that live in the soil and leaf litter of terrariums. They assist in completing the eco-system of your tank by aiding in the decomposition of the leaf litter, animal feces, and dead plant material. They also provide smaller frogs like PDFs with an additional food source.

[Heatheranne]

Springtails and wood lice help a bunch. I started seeing white mold spores on the glass down under the edge of the substrate around the 9th month. I changed the substrate and got springtails. That was about 3 months ago. The mold is gone and I've not yet seen more. They live down in the damp substrate. If you turn the substrate you'll see them, otherwise you'll barely even know they are there.