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Post by sparrow on Apr 7, 2015 16:07:51 GMT
Please see this thread for images Hoping someone can help identify whatever this is that spawned overnight in my moss terrarium. It's covering everything. Thanks. Sorry, late for an appointment and wanted to get this up quickly in case it's harmful. Snails are NOT in this tank. Strictly a terrarium. (Half open - 10 gallon glass tank)
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Post by Liguus on Apr 7, 2015 22:32:04 GMT
It looks like fungus to me, but I'm not sure what species it is or if it's harmful.
Strange how it seems to grow on the perlite.
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Post by sparrow on Apr 7, 2015 23:55:38 GMT
I agree it appears to be a fungus, but after searching all afternoon, still coming up empty. (Micro-mini mushrooms maybe??)
Someone suggested it may be a mold, but the growth is too clean cut for a mold. It loves the perlite, pebbles, soil and now found some growing on a pine branch that moss is growing on.
It's growing in round clusters on straight threadlike stems with a brown cap and a little dash of off-white protruding from the spore cap.
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Post by Liguus on Apr 8, 2015 1:51:09 GMT
Were there any new additions to the tank? If sticks, plants, etc. are not sterilized and added from outdoors they have the potential to bring in fungus, pests, etc. The soil also may have brought it in if it wasn't sterilized before packaging. I personally would probably do a deep clean and get rid of everything, although if the fungus is harmless I'd hate to recommend such a drastic measure lol.
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Post by sparrow on Apr 8, 2015 4:01:58 GMT
The only recent item is a small leafed crawler vine from a greenhouse and ivy from cuttings I rooted in water. I did add a few new bark lichens, but placed them on an existing piece of bark covered with moss. I never sterilize anything for the moss terrarium. Mosses and lichens are delicate and wouldn't tolerate harsh treatment. Some insects are always expected, but so far, nothing ever out of control. I won't dismantle this terrarium again unless of course, this turns out to be a fungus from hades and tries to take over everything. Had to do that once and it took 2 years to get it back. Emailed a bonsai expert I've dealt with for years and another company that offered advice on oddities found growing in vivariums. I keep thinking it is the soil itself because of the dispersal all over the tank, all at once. As long as these things don't find there way to Snaggle's tank, they can stay until they prove unwelcome. They go near Snaggle and the entire moss tank gets dumped! I do have my priorities set!  |
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taliz
Achatina fulica
Posts: 9 
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Post by taliz on Apr 14, 2015 22:01:51 GMT
It looks likes Myxomycete (slime mold) a type of macro fungus. It comes in a variety of colours and is non toxic, it feeds on bacteria so I assume there is some decaying matter in the terrarium. If it is Myxomycete it won't harm your snails, they might even eat it?? springtails would.
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taliz
Achatina fulica
Posts: 9
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Post by taliz on Apr 14, 2015 22:14:36 GMT
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Post by sparrow on Apr 14, 2015 22:26:30 GMT
Thank you so much. Yes, some lichens and some wild harvested moss is decaying, but I leave it alone and I think you may be correct. I found this one on Flickr that looks exactly like it. www.flickr.com/photos/myriorama/2149999907/in/photostream/This is not in my snail's tank, but in a moss / lichen / fern terrarium. I took some of it out and am leaving a little bit on a pine branch and in a couple naked spots. It's actually pretty, in its own way and happy to know it's not toxic. Seems pretty well behaved and although it popped up overnight, has not spread. I really appreciate your help!  |
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taliz
Achatina fulica
Posts: 9
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Post by taliz on Apr 14, 2015 22:47:10 GMT
Glad to help, that is a great flickr image.
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horrr0r
Achatina achatina
Posts: 75 
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Post by horrr0r on Sept 22, 2015 15:08:21 GMT
Is it hard and almost woody rather than quite soft like mushrooms?
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Post by sparrow on Sept 23, 2015 2:45:48 GMT
Is it hard and almost woody rather than quite soft like mushrooms? Well, they're all long gone now, but they were soft. Will likely return next Spring again. They didn't do any harm to anything and that was all I was concerned with.
Have a new little yellow mushroom sprouting all over the same terrarium now, but just letting them grow as they please. botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/feb2002.html They're harmless and add a nice splash of color to the various shades of green.
There's an old piece of bark in the terrarium, where most of the moss grows and as the wood breaks down, various fungi come and go. Getting used to the routine at this point.
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mangoandlemon
Achatina tincta
Animals are not a choice for me. They are a lifestyle!
Posts: 671
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Post by mangoandlemon on Sept 23, 2015 3:45:55 GMT
I love the idea of a moss terrarium, and I'm glad your figuring it out.
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