8 replies to this topic

[FeedTheAnts]

My terrarium housing a Formica colony has recently been taken over by mold all over the surface of the dirt. There is no old food or anything that the mold is growing on, it just kinda covers the surface of the dirt. What should I do? There are already Millipedes, Snails, and Roly-Polys in the tank, but no springtails. Are they what I need? If so, how do I capture them effectively?

Thanks

[Hunter]

put salt on the mold and add slight water to it

[Hunter]

i do for every 2 tablespoons of salt 1 teaspoon of water

[Waganga]

If it won't hurt your ant species, I would dry out the terrarium a bit. You could try adding some cedar mulch to the surface, or you could try adding springtails or something else that would consume the mold. If it's still out of control, you might be wise to build a new, healthier terrarium to move the ant colony to. If you didn't include something to help regulate the water environment in the tank, like a variety of plants and/or an activated carbon layer, you'll probably keep struggling with molds or algaes. 

[YsTheAnt]

Springtails are a must for ant terrariums, I would suggest you add some in.

[FeedTheAnts]

Springtails are a must for ant terrariums, I would suggest you add some in.

How? I've set out some little cutouts of containers with a piece of apple and a little bit of wet oats and there are no springtails yet. I can't seem to find any anywhere and it isn't working yet to catch them.

[FeedTheAnts]

put salt on the mold and add slight water to it

Are you sure this wouldn't hurt the terrarium or the ants? I've never heard of anyone doing this before and it doesn't seem healthy for the tank and it's inhabitants.

Edited by TennesseeAnts, May 5 2018 - 4:21 AM.

[gcsnelling]

Short term addition of salt probably won't hurt but in the long term it is certainly going to poison it. I have never heard of this remedy. Just dry the thing out.

Edited by gcsnelling, May 5 2018 - 6:02 AM.

[FeedTheAnts]

Good news, I managed to find a lot of springtails in my front flower bed. I scooped up some dirt that was crawling with springtails and dumped it on a plate which I placed in the middle of the terrarium. Hopefully they'll move into the tank over the night. I might do a few more rounds of this springtail relocation. That along with drying the tank out like you all said will fix this problem I'm hoping.