Mold, Mildew, Fungus

[Cmirbach]

Does anyone know of a safe method for removing mold and fungus from a vivarium that does not harm plants, fish or herps (right now my vivarium is housing a python, no amphibians)
I dont yet have a problem with this but i keep the humidity as high as 95% round the clock, so i know its comming. Im expecting plenty of responses like, just clean it up, rip it out, scrub it down, etc. so you can save yourself the effort. Im looking for a product that i can add to the water and soil of my vivarium that will kill mold etc. but not harm the plants or my python. information about alternative methods, such as whether there are any plants with antifungal traits available on the market, or small insects that feed on mold or something of that sort would be appreciated as well.
any knowledge?

[Frogtofall]

Your best bet would be to clean it up, rip it out or scrub it down...

:mrgreen:


...b/c in all honesty, thats really the only SAFE thing I know of. Springtails would help but unless you have a decent substrate for them to live in, they probably wouldn't last long.

Good luck.

[mattmcdole]

hmm... What kind of python are you keeping like this?

[41714049]

Isopods (woodlice) might also help.

[Cmirbach]

Springtails and woodlice, ill have to look into those... thank you. To answer your question i am keeping a ball python in this habitat. My tank is a 50 gallon breeder with a false bottom, waterfall, drip system, small river feature in the middle of the tank, a watertight cave fashioned from tuperwear and pvc plumbing that sinks to the glass below the water level, heaters beneath it keep the temp in the "cave" at about 78 to 80 degrees all night while temp outside cave ranges from 65 at night to 85 during the day. im growing bromiliads, moss, java moss, some epiphites and a few other assorted tropical plants under 110 watts of PC flourescents. im still trying to get the humidity to stay at around 90% by adding and removing saran wrap from screen top. the python will be moving to a 125 in year or so and this tank will be for small frogs, havent decided what kind yet (most likely dendrobates auratus and pumilios) but for now she is the resident. do you have any advise? the way you worded your question made me think you had doubts about housing a python in this sort of environment.

[bluedart]

Hate to tell ya, but you're not going to want to put frogs into that tank after your python until you've ripped it apart, sterilized it, and started completely over. There are too many bacterial and parasitic concerns from the python that could effect your frogs.

[mattmcdole]

do you have any advise? the way you worded your question made me think you had doubts about housing a python in this sort of environment.

Yea, be careful with the moisture and humidity levels. Ball Pythons aren't tropical animals and you may run the risk of scale rot and respiratory infection if the animal doesn't have the opportunity to dry out regularly.

On the other hand, I'm sure you haven't had any dry or stuck shed issues with her in this enclosure.

[Cmirbach]

1/2 of their natural range in Africa does include rain forest. Ghana is almost completely rain forest and they live there fine. Secondly you are definetly right about having dry out periods, and since i have just bought a good digital thermometer/ humistat i can now watch the rise and fall of the humidity. I noticed that with the drip system and waterfall on, the humidity remains around 90%, with drip system off 82-85%, with both drip and waterfall off 70-75%. I feel that 70% humitidy once in a while should suffice for a short dry out period. I dont think that the humidity ever needs to fall much below that. Do you agree? If not please let me know, the more information i get from other people the more knowledge i have to draw from when making care decisions, and i dont have another person in my circle of friends who shares this interest, you guys are the only people i have to bounce ideas off of, so... THANK YOU!