terrarium help

[meghanashley]

I have and some shrooms pop up in my terriarium, also a fluffy white cotton like matter. I removed the log that had the fuffy white cotton like matter, does anyone know what this is? Is it dangerous for frogs? I did not remove the mushrooms as I didn't think they were an issue.

 

[davo]

Probably need better ventilation and air circulation in the enclosure.
Also if it is a new vivarium, this is a common occurance and it will normally disappear when the micro-fauna/flora establish over the course of the first few weeks.
It could be a white mould or simply the early stages of mushroom growth. Add some stuff like springtails as this will help keep it all in check. If it becomes completely dominant, then I'd replace the substrate it's growing on, but if not let the micro-fauna flourish and let it "cycle" as it were.

 

[tapdis123]

if you leave food in the tank for a long time it will start to grow bacteria or fungus or whatever and look like a white cotton ball.

 

[meghanashley]

I used potting soil that has been in my house for over a year. I took out a bunch a soil that needed to be replaced from my plants and used it in the tank. The log, which I removed because it had the cotton like substance all over it has been in my home for maybe three years I used it as a large perch in my bird's cage. Would there still be this cycling process with plants and soil that I have had for so long? I have a bunch of earthworms in my tree's pot I was thinking about putting in, but I was afraid it would be too moist for them, maybe they would help.

The tank it currently completely sealed because I have very small froglets that I am feeding fruit flies to, and I do not want the fruit flies to get out, I have plants in there for oxygen, and there is a pond with running filtered water which causes alot of humidity/ condensation, but is the fact that I do not have ventilation a problem?

I'm not very knowledgable with horticulture, I'm an annoying noob on a plant furum I belong to, but I wasn't sure they could help me with this. I obviously do not want anything growing in there that could cause health problems for the frogs. ie fungus that zombifies their brains and such

pics of the enclosure





I reading up on microfauna, thanks, and am trying to find a good article on cycling a terrarium, but so far the best website to come up is a forum for (bi)cycling singles

 

[meghanashley]

if you leave food in the tank for a long time it will start to grow bacteria or fungus or whatever and look like a white cotton ball.

the cotton stuff was on a tree branch, I'm assuming with the humidity in there its causing it to decompose rapidly. In the pond area I put n zuchinni for the tadpoles, but the only other "food" I've put in are fruit flies in their larve and adult form.

I bought those flightless fruit flies (which is crap they grow wings and do eventually fly) at Petco and when they develop to adults they have these red spots on the them, looks like their eyes, not anything like the fruit flires I ever seen.

 

[kearth]

the cotton stuff was on a tree branch, I'm assuming with the humidity in there its causing it to decompose rapidly. In the pond area I put n zuchinni for the tadpoles, but the only other "food" I've put in are fruit flies in their larve and adult form.

I bought those flightless fruit flies (which is crap they grow wings and do eventually fly) at Petco and when they develop to adults they have these red spots on the them, looks like their eyes, not anything like the fruit flires I ever seen.

If you are keeping your fruit flies to warm they can morph into fliers. Or if your run of the mill house fruit fly gets into their culture you can also get fliers.

Or it might be fungsu gnats that you are seeing.

Add a springtail culture to the tank that will help with the mold issue. Springtails eat mold.

What kind of potting soil was it that you use?

 

[Louie]

"The tank it currently completely sealed "


I think that is your problem as the plants,soil,etc can't breath.

It will become stagnant and moldy . Your better off with a mesh screen top . Your plants will thank you for it and the tank won't have a stagnant odor which you might now notice when you take the top off.
Keep in mind plants need fresh oxygen than at night they give off carbon dioxide .

Tree frogs esp type you have do not need so much humidity and the soil will become fungus . Even letting the soil dry a bit between waterings/mistings will be better for your plants. Infact a good misting or 2 a day might be all they ever need,

Misting the tree frogs couple times a day will suffice .

Now how you keep the fruit flies in I don't know but maybe you could switch to pin head crickets?

Once the tree frogs are bigger than with small crickets its not an issue.

 

[meghanashley]

I'll have to take a picture of the "flightless fruit flies" or whatever they are. freaky looking.

I can't wait to get them on crickets, they are so tiny is the problem, they seem to love the fruit flies/ gnats whatever the freaky red eyed things are. I tried to pick up pin head crickets but they were too large, maybe I'll try cutting them up and see if they"ll accept them. Worst comes to worse my fish will eat them. I'll switch half the top to mesh, or something simular, and get some spiring tails (not sure where you get those).

Anyone have ideas to get rid of the fruit flies/ gnats, if I can get them to accept other food. I'm pondering a breathable top which will still confine the flies till they are eaten, hmmmmmmm

Thanks everyone.