Mold???

MoribundMaverick · 08-13-2008, 10:54 AM

Okay, so I've known that I need to switch out the sand for almost a week now, but haven't been able to do it because two of my crabs are currently under. I don't think they are molting, but better safe than sorry, and I'd really rather not disturb them.
However, this morning when I went to change out their food/water, I noticed a... moldy smell. I didn't see any mold, and I looked all over for it, but I am pretty sure I smelled it! I want to hurry up and change out that sand, because it is drying up and causing the humidity to go down, and I am afraid that if it dries too much more teh crabs will be trapped under ground! And especially with this new moldy smell, I really really want to change the sand out!
Help!? What do I do????

HermitPaws · 08-13-2008, 11:24 AM

Be careful you might have a dead crab somewhere
and mold might be growing deep in the subtrate??
thats all i can think of sorry... good luck with you buried crabs

WizKidsMom · 08-13-2008, 11:48 AM

Substrate that dries may cause problems for those dug under. Don't let it dry out!

You could have some food buried somewhere which can cause mold as well.

MoribundMaverick · 08-14-2008, 12:22 AM

Yes so how do I keep my substrate wet???
Is it safe to change it out with the crabs burried???

HermitPaws · 08-14-2008, 11:32 AM

id would leave it in and just spray it with a sqirt bottle.

krackersmom2 · 08-14-2008, 08:03 PM

You need to mist your sand if it is drying out. You may be mistaking musty smell for a moldy smell. I would not be too concerned unless the smell is very strong or if you see evidence of white or gray furry stuff.

MoribundMaverick · 08-15-2008, 12:19 AM

Okay.... I have been misting it but I am worried that the mist isn't getting down deep enough.... like that below the surface the sand is still hard. Is it okay to lightly stir it??

Oh, why can't my hermies just come up!?

I need to change their sand out at LEAST before classes start back up!

WizKidsMom · 08-15-2008, 01:40 PM

Do you kind of know where they are? If so, then what you can do is stick you finger in the sand at the opposite end to test the dampness. If you feel it is dry, then pour some dechlorinated water in the hole you just made and allow it to seep in.

By the way, your hermies are on their own time schedule...

MoribundMaverick · 08-16-2008, 10:14 AM

Thank you for the information!!! I do know where they are about, and I will pour some water asap!!
Yes, I know they are on their own time schedule. It is just really stressing me out because I am having to have them babysat for about two weeks and they won't get their sand changed out then, and also I don't want to have to draw attention to the fact that I have hermit crabs in college when I'm not supposed to, so I really need to be able to change out the sand when I'm on break, which won't come until September....
If only they knew, I'm sure they'd come up.

krackersmom2 · 08-16-2008, 08:27 PM

Are you using calci sand or play sand? You mentioned that the "sand is still hard".....

08-13-2008, 10:54 AM	#1 (permalink)
MoribundMaverick (Micro Crab) Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Houston Posts: 117	Mold??? Okay, so I've known that I need to switch out the sand for almost a week now, but haven't been able to do it because two of my crabs are currently under. I don't think they are molting, but better safe than sorry, and I'd really rather not disturb them. However, this morning when I went to change out their food/water, I noticed a... moldy smell. I didn't see any mold, and I looked all over for it, but I am pretty sure I smelled it! I want to hurry up and change out that sand, because it is drying up and causing the humidity to go down, and I am afraid that if it dries too much more teh crabs will be trapped under ground! And especially with this new moldy smell, I really really want to change the sand out! Help!? What do I do???? __________________ Tiffany (rip) = my hero. And so does Speck. Yea. Jerzy, Pip, Padre, Lady, and Jack.-- My PP's.

08-13-2008, 11:24 AM	#2 (permalink)
HermitPaws "Third Molt, A Success" Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Centennial,colorado Posts: 976	Re: Mold??? Be careful you might have a dead crab somewhere and mold might be growing deep in the subtrate?? thats all i can think of sorry... good luck with you buried crabs __________________ RECIPES 4 CRABS= http://hermitpaws.webs.com/ NEW RECIPES ARE UP

08-13-2008, 11:48 AM	#3 (permalink)
WizKidsMom "Second Molt In Progress" Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 481	Re: Mold??? Substrate that dries may cause problems for those dug under. Don't let it dry out! You could have some food buried somewhere which can cause mold as well. __________________ WizKidsMom (Cheryl) WizKidsPics 10 PPs & 4 E's

08-14-2008, 12:22 AM	#4 (permalink)
MoribundMaverick (Micro Crab) Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Houston Posts: 117	Re: Mold??? Yes so how do I keep my substrate wet??? Is it safe to change it out with the crabs burried??? __________________ Tiffany (rip) = my hero. And so does Speck. Yea. Jerzy, Pip, Padre, Lady, and Jack.-- My PP's.

08-14-2008, 11:32 AM	#5 (permalink)
HermitPaws "Third Molt, A Success" Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Centennial,colorado Posts: 976	Re: Mold??? id would leave it in and just spray it with a sqirt bottle. __________________ RECIPES 4 CRABS= http://hermitpaws.webs.com/ NEW RECIPES ARE UP

08-14-2008, 08:03 PM	#6 (permalink)
krackersmom2 (Large Crab) Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: South TX (near the beach) Posts: 1,128	Re: Mold??? You need to mist your sand if it is drying out. You may be mistaking musty smell for a moldy smell. I would not be too concerned unless the smell is very strong or if you see evidence of white or gray furry stuff. __________________ 12 PP's: Spooky, Baby, Flash, Rocky, Herbie, Violet, Fester, Zeus, Neptune, Mars, Luna and Misterie R.I.P:Hercules and Apollo

08-15-2008, 12:19 AM	#7 (permalink)
MoribundMaverick (Micro Crab) Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Houston Posts: 117	Re: Mold??? Okay.... I have been misting it but I am worried that the mist isn't getting down deep enough.... like that below the surface the sand is still hard. Is it okay to lightly stir it?? Oh, why can't my hermies just come up!? I need to change their sand out at LEAST before classes start back up! __________________ Tiffany (rip) = my hero. And so does Speck. Yea. Jerzy, Pip, Padre, Lady, and Jack.-- My PP's.

08-15-2008, 01:40 PM	#8 (permalink)
WizKidsMom "Second Molt In Progress" Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 481	Re: Mold??? Do you kind of know where they are? If so, then what you can do is stick you finger in the sand at the opposite end to test the dampness. If you feel it is dry, then pour some dechlorinated water in the hole you just made and allow it to seep in. By the way, your hermies are on their own time schedule... __________________ WizKidsMom (Cheryl) WizKidsPics 10 PPs & 4 E's

08-16-2008, 10:14 AM	#9 (permalink)
MoribundMaverick (Micro Crab) Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Houston Posts: 117	Re: Mold??? Thank you for the information!!! I do know where they are about, and I will pour some water asap!! Yes, I know they are on their own time schedule. It is just really stressing me out because I am having to have them babysat for about two weeks and they won't get their sand changed out then, and also I don't want to have to draw attention to the fact that I have hermit crabs in college when I'm not supposed to, so I really need to be able to change out the sand when I'm on break, which won't come until September.... If only they knew, I'm sure they'd come up. __________________ Tiffany (rip) = my hero. And so does Speck. Yea. Jerzy, Pip, Padre, Lady, and Jack.-- My PP's.

08-16-2008, 08:27 PM	#10 (permalink)
krackersmom2 (Large Crab) Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: South TX (near the beach) Posts: 1,128	Re: Mold??? Are you using calci sand or play sand? You mentioned that the "sand is still hard"..... __________________ 12 PP's: Spooky, Baby, Flash, Rocky, Herbie, Violet, Fester, Zeus, Neptune, Mars, Luna and Misterie R.I.P:Hercules and Apollo

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode