I think there's a problem.

[Markie]

Soo, I went in my room and saw Kat running over the food dish and starting to flip it over (it is plastic) so i picked her up to discover a hideous mould (i think) growing under it.

This computer doesn't want to open my camera, so I'll describe it. It's grayish-white, and, nastily, it looks a lot like rat hair. >_>;

Does anyone know what this is or what to do about it? I'm kind of scared to touch it but my boyfriend won't be here for hours.

I feed them HBH hermit crab variety bites and Tetrafauna Hermit Crab Cakes. No fresh foods yet (I'm getting some for my birthday, tomorrow, so don't be too concerned for their diet :P).

The substrate on top is about an inch or two of coconut husk soil and below it is play sand, if that helps.

[WizKidsMom]

Mold is usually found when your humidity is too high. And your substrate maybe too wet.

Take out the fiber that has the mold and check your hygrometer for your humidity level.

[Donna M]

I was having that problem too, (under the food dish), and I believe it was because the sand was too wet. I mixed in some mulch-type bedding with the sand (they sell it in Petco for hermit crabs) because it seems to hold moisture so well without any mold problems. And I don't drench the sand anymore. I keep it moist, of course, just not as much. And I mist the tank twice a day.

Good luck,
Donna M.

[WizKidsMom]

mulch-type bedding? You better check what kind of mulch it is. Most mulch is wood from pine trees which is a no-no for crabs.

[krackersmom2]

Mold for sure...just use a big spoon and scoop up the substrate under and around it. Sometimes food gets hidden and molds.