Unusual growth in FBT tank.

[Jace]

Hey everyone! Along with the very neat mushrooms growing in my Fire-Belly Toad setup, I have also noticed some other weird things growing. Some of the soil was not packed down and in the small air pockets, another time of fungus looks to be growing. It is yellow and looks like little lint balls. The tank is set up by a window and does get early morning sun, which is helping these new life forms to grow. Just wondering if I should be concerned. This growth is no where near the surface or the toads, but that doesn't mean it's not causing issues in my little ecosystem. Thanks in advance for any advice.

[Ebony]

Hi Jace, My tanks get partial sun too and you do tend to get weired and wonderful things growing. If I were you I would take it out. It could be something that was unnoticed in the soil and has moulded. I know some fungus's are fine for frogs but with out knowing for sure its probably best to just remove it.

[Jace]

Okay, thanks Ebony. I included a picture, but it does look to be some kind of mould or fungus. It's down quite deep in the dirt, but just to be safe, I shall try and remove as much of it as I can.

[Jace]

Okay, thanks Ebony. I included a picture, but it does look to be some kind of mould or fungus. It's down quite deep in the dirt, but just to be safe, I shall try and remove as much of it as I can.

I keep forgetting the flippin' pictures!!

[Tropicok]

Fungi can be any color of the rainbow and more. They also take on weird shapes.

[Jace]

Fungi can be any color of the rainbow and more. They also take on weird shapes.

Lol-yes, I am beginning to notice that! I'm curious as to just how they start, though, especially the mushrooms. I buy the compacted brick dirt that is supposed to be completely free of anything but dirt, and same with my moss. Yet a whole ecosystem is sprouting in there. Not that I mind-as long as my toads are healthy and happy-but it's a bit of mini-experiment!

[tyjare]

i Have herd that the spores for mold and mushrooms are in the air and as tank vents the spores just make their homes in the soil

[Jace]

That makes sense, actually. I guess where there is a will there is a way. That is a very beautiful frog as your avatar photo, Tyjare. What kind of frog is it and is it yours?

[Paul Rust]

The only time I have had mushrooms growing in my vivs is when I use the coco fibre brick. It never hurts anything and sometimes they look pretty cool.

[tyjare]

Thank you. It is a north american bullfrog. Just a random pic. i had a tad but i had to realese it when it turned into a froglet. Dont no what i would do with the 4 pound eating machine they become

[Jace]

I thought it was a Bullfrog! I am currently raising an American Bullfrog tadpole myself. Poe recently sprouted back legs and is an eating machine. I have no plans on lettting it go (being in Canada, I am not allowed to anyway) and I plan on building an outdoor natural enclosure for it. I already own three African Giant Bullfrogs, so what is one more?? Hopefully Poe doesn't try and go after one of my cats....

[tyjare]

I have read that it can take months from when the back legs were fully developed to when the front ones come in but in the case of mine it was barely weeks. i noticed dark spots then came home from work and there they were. just goes to show that these frogs have a mind of their own. Would have loved to keep it.

[Jace]

I am hoping he-or she-will turn into a frog. Poe is eating like crazy, but there is a weird swelling just behind his right back leg. Doesn't affect swimming ability or anything, but it looks a bit odd. And I've just noticed this his tail where it connects to the body is no longer straight; it's like his spine is kinked or something. Sigh, I hope he'll be okay.

[Ebony]

Jace, I have experience a kinked tail twice in a tadpole that Ive raised and they seem to do just fine. I sort of thought they must have put their tail out sort of like how we would put our back out Lol. But it did not effect the morph at all. They tail stayed kinked through the whole process though. Once the tail was gone then there was no difference to the other frogs.The swelling that your tadpole has is not something that Ive seen though sorry. Its good that he is still lively and eating. I hope he will be OK.

[Jace]

Thank you, Ebony. The weird thing is, he is acting normal in every aspect: eating, pooping, resting in his rock cave, going nuts and swimming like crazy after a good feeding. He's grown, as well, and his back legs are longer and darker after just a week. I am hoping that all of this is a good sign, despite the oddities.

[Ebony]

Yes, That's a great sign. Apart from the kink he looks good. Hows the swelling looking?

[Jace]

I thought it had gone down, but the pics I posted in my other thread are from tonight and the swelling looks the same. I guess it was just wishful thinking on my part. I did a water change on Sunday...I'm thinking about doing another one tomorrow, but I don't know if I should. I don't want to stress him out by doing too many. Arrrghhhh! lol.

[Ebony]

Yea. I understand. You just want to do all you can..and you are Jace, you are doing a wonderful job. Just do what you normally do. If the water is dirty then change it though. Just make sure the knew water is the same temp as his current water. Then there wont be any stress. Im feeling quite attached to this little guy myself.

[Iratus ranunculus]

I keep forgetting the flippin' pictures!!

As a general rule, you should avoid non-mushroom fungi in your tanks. Fungi can often be pathogenic or toxic and prohibiting their growth is a good idea.

[Jace]

As a general rule, you should avoid non-mushroom fungi in your tanks. Fungi can often be pathogenic or toxic and prohibiting their growth is a good idea.

I didn't pack down the soil and I am thinking I should go back and do that, as this particular fungi is growing in the air pockets in the soil. I am planning on redoing the tank very soon and taking out a lot of the soil. Is there anything that I can add to the soil (a natural product of course) that would help prevent or break down fungi?