r/terrariums • u/SelkirkSweetie • 14h ago
Plant Help/Question So this happened.
It just showed up over night? Is it aliens?
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u/krrbystorm 14h ago
Mushroom! Signs of a good ecosystem in your terrarium.
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u/SelkirkSweetie 14h ago
I have springtails and isopods, the internet was a little conflicting. Will they be safe with the mushroom?
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u/Eiroth 14h ago
yes
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u/SelkirkSweetie 14h ago
I teach sometimes and a science teacher gave me baby isopods and I carried them in a little jar all day and had my students address them as my children. I’m a little attached lol
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u/Eiroth 14h ago
Revising my confident yes to a more informed one: the most common species of Leucocoprinus found in plant pots has by some been reported as "potentially mildly toxic to humans". However, given lack of evidence and diffuse/low severity it's more likely that they are merely somewhat hard to digest and may cause some GI upset.
Here's someone who tried some for themselves and didn't experience any particular bad effects: https://www.reddit.com/r/mycology/s/X1w7pCzskf
Now, this may all be irrelevant as I don't know if isopods react completely differently, but I would be severely surprised given how common members of this genus are and the resilience of isopods!
TL;DR: I would personally not worry at all, but I sadly cannot point you to a scientific study specifically proving them to be safe for isopods.
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u/Alef1234567 12h ago
There aren't studies like that becouse that would not be funded. There are environmental toxicology studies using isopods.
But isopods are extremely hardy. Everything once decomposes and then isopods could eat it.3
u/krrbystorm 13h ago
Should be fine, mine love to eat them as soon as they start to die. I’ve only had inkcap mushrooms though, so ymmv.
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u/Fabulous-Accident689 13h ago
Just wanna let you know this is not a suitable long term enclosure for isopods at all.
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u/SelkirkSweetie 13h ago
I’ve been taking off the top weekly for air flow. I’ll definitely do some more research though.
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u/ClerkZealousideal779 13h ago
Not enough decay? Like wood and such?
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u/Fabulous-Accident689 12h ago
Please do research before acquiring an animal even bugs, isopods are terrestrial crustaceans and need to be able to have a proper moisture gradient or they will suffocate/have trouble breathing. There needs to be a wet side and a dry side and enough space in the enclosure for it to actually be proper. Isopods cannot be kept in jars for this reason. They also need leaf litter to live in and other needs.
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u/SelkirkSweetie 12h ago
Thank you so much, I’ll do some more reading.
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u/Fabulous-Accident689 9h ago
Of course, I appreciate your receptiveness. I just care about the well-being of the animals.
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u/SelkirkSweetie 9h ago
I don’t want to ever cause suffering to any living creature. The isopods and springtails were not originally part of the build, I had a group of hitchhikers on some plants I bought and they were suggested. I definitely want to properly care for them.
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u/Love21bby 8h ago
Looks like a classic case of dog vomit slime mold taking over your glass. It won't hurt your plants but it definitely means you have plenty of moisture in there.
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u/Elevatormusicexpert 3h ago
Leucocoprinus birnbaumii it's warm and moist in there springtails can eat it up )
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u/Essence_Bessence 3m ago
I love when I see the mushrooms. It means your terrarium is healthy. Also they grow so quickly lol 😂
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