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A word about Contams
    #1184892 -

After reviewing alot of posts i'm goign to make this sticky and ask others to add to it.
But lets try and make a list of tips and general advice that new growers tend to ask alot. This way if they have a question they can browse here first and and see if their question is answered.

The best part is because its sticky they don't have to search for it because it'll always be at the top. This is in no way meant to stop people from posting but just act like a quick reference.

Also Serious replys only please

The number one general rule of Contams:
If In Doubt Throw It Out - If your not sure if they are safe to eat why risk your health or your other cakes

2. If you think you spot a contam on a Cake remove it from the rest of your healthy cakes. Then decide if you want to try and save it or chuck it

3. Post pictures whenever possible - A picture says a thousand words but a thousand words may not help us picture your problem



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Re: A word about Contams [Re: WildCardsRevenge]
    #1210834 -

ok I'll add a few things here

If your in doubt throw them out, you can always grow more its really not that hard. (I know it refers back to my first "tip" but its the truth)

If you think you have green mold try taking a small cutting/scraping and see if its green underneath.....if it is THROW IT OUT, don't risk your other cakes with the green meanies!
Green mold often works from the inside out so if your seeing green mold chances are its been growing inside your cake for a while now

Always use Commen sense, if you see something nasty that you wouldn't eat on a plate of food then why would you risk eating it on a shroom? You can always grow more........again its not that hard.


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Re: A word about Contams [Re: WildCardsRevenge] * 1
    #1351201 -

Don't sniff the mold it could get you very sick


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This place is gayer than when the balls touch

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: WildCardsRevenge]
    #1459761 -

I have to agree 100% with WCR on this.  Now, much as I hate any sort of scare-tactics, I'd like to present some simple examples which will hopefully prove the point without causing any budding mycologists to abandon their hobby.

#
# start %rant_hash
#

Example 1:

Let us say you live in the South-Western portion of the US.  Presuming you do NOT have a facility which meets Biosafety Level 2 or 3, let us suppose that a single spore of the very common soil fungus which causes coccidioidomycosis (aka Valley Fever) has managed to make it into one of your neatly prepared PF jars.  Let as suppose that it manages to culture -- even a *little* bit -- unbeknownst to you, in direct competition with your mycelia of choice.  Noticing something is amiss in that jar, you open it to investigate.

Most people who contract coccidioidomycosis in nature usually receive a VERY small amount of spores.  Some never have anything beyond mild cold/flu-like symptoms (some never even have *any* symptoms).  Some react very poorly to this invader, and it goes systemic, invading their muscles, their nervous system, and other organs (these are in the minority percentage).  Coccidioides immitis (the fungus causing Valley Fever) is incredibly resistant to heat, cold, and dry, adverse conditions (we're talking about a desert fungus, here, folks...) and naturally grows in the soil *all over* the South-Western part of the US.

Taking even a WHIFF of a jar wherein one had inadvertently cultured Coccidioides immitis would be a guarantee of getting an UNHOLY dose of spores.  Primary route of infection for Valley Fever is, naturally, inhalation; inhaling a whiff of a PURE CULTURE of it would most likely assure you of getting it very VERY badly - perhaps badly enough for it to become systemic, requiring thousands of dollars in Rx bills, and a year or more of treatment.

One jar + substrate + an hour of sterilization IS NOT EQUAL TO thousands of $$$ and extensive medical care.  It JUST isn't worth it.

Example 2:

Penicillium, which is ubiquitous, and which by nature has incredibly tiny spores -- spores you need a 1000x microscope to see, and which an N-95 filter isn't generally adequate to keep out, and which even -- for many species -- manage to make it past HEPA filtration devices, is numbered in the thousands.  Species which produce serious toxins, and species which produce mere allergens (or things like penicillin), are virtually indistinguishable on a microscopic level, and are protean in color, depending on substrate.

It takes *expert* mycologists a lot of time and resources to distinguish one from the other, from my understanding, and while Penicillium is the most difficult to divide into subspecies categories, it is slightly less difficult to determine the difference between Trich and Aspergillus spp., all three of which are commonly mistaken for each other, with the latter also being protean in respects to different coloration on different substrates.  Unfortunately for the amateur and professional mycologist alike, the substrates we favor generally favor greenish to greenish-blue coloration among them all, making them all that much harder to tell apart.

No one should need anything said regarding the really evil mycotoxins produced by Aspergillus spp.; lest it need be mentioned, some of the thousands of Penicillium spp. do produce some whopping toxins of their own (doubt it?  Look it up!).

That said: 

See some green in there?  THROW IT OUT.  Unless you really *do* have access to at LEAST a BL2 facility which can properly preserve & contain samples, even OPENING that jar may unleash enough incredibly tiny spores that WILL make it through your filtration systems and into your prime edibles farm, thus setting up a veritable chain reaction of loss.  At worst, you could inhale a large enough dose of mycotoxin-laden spores to PEEL THE PAINT OFF YOUR SOUL, again resulting in hefty Rx bills & long treatment...

#
#  end %rant_hash
#

Ok, I confess that both of those scenarios *may* sound far-fetched.  Longshots?  Certainly.  Possible?  DEFINITELY.  Do *NOT* risk your health over something so minute.  Please.

And for those who would accuse me of hypocrisy (noting that I've posted microscopy pics in this forum, for example, which certainly presumes I opened up a contaminated jar), well, all I can say is that *I* am a professional idiot.  I also keep a small menagerie of venomous (and toxic...And yes, I know the difference) creatures, and have, as an occasional result, got nailed, to my own occasional detriment.  Also, in regards to what facilities I may -- or may not :wink: -- have access to regarding studying things like this, well, I'm not about to incriminate myself, obviously.  Suffice to say what facilities you may or may not have access to are probably quite different from those which I may have.  Kapeesh?

Please accept my apologies for the long-winded rant.  If at least ONE intelligent person here is averted from a course of minor or major disaster, it is worth it.


~YSJ~ 


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"There are no angels unless they are Angels of Death...And I would never again doubt my place among them or lose my resolve to serve in their wild ranks."         
                                                            -T. Ligotti

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: YSJ]
    #1460633 -

What are the concerns of mushrooms that dont have visible blemish type contaminants. like the growth of mushrooms. is there any contaminants that you can not detect through color or smell? like strange growth, or abnormalities. any kinds of THOSE contaminants that can hurt anyone? or are all the harmful ones the molds and bacteria that you can Obviously see?

btw i liked your post. :smile: . mucho informationo.


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What?

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: Zero7a1]
    #1620470 -

And what about green mold on the casing substrate, but not on the mushrooms? My cakes were fine, and in one case, I had some green mold that was right next to the mushroom cluster I just harvested, but nothing was growing on the mushrooms. Should I toss the harvest? What about the entire case -toss it?
-I hope not, cause it's the best crop yet!

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: Twelve_Nomads]
    #1639534 -

How come we don't have to worry about contaminated mushrooms in the wild, but I see everywhere everyone says that if you have a contaminated cake/casing to not eat any shrooms off it? If they are identified as the correct shrooms you are growing, why not eat em? I don't mean to sound rude, I just don't understand.


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There are things known, and there are things unknown, and in between are the doors - Morrison

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: neutralizer]
    #1639988 -

Hi all,
This is my first post so I hope itdoesn't violate any rules or etiquette. I have been working to cultivate for a few months and have harvested several times. I have pitched all cakes with obvious contamination but am uncertain about how to distinguish between contamination and bruising of the mycelium that seems to happen when I dunk a cake. Is it possible that dunking can cause contamination?
I ate 5 average sized shrooms 1 month ago and had a good buzz, but not the reaction I was hoping for. Last night I ate 10 and got there. But after about 3 hours, I started getting sick to my stomach. Within an hour I was doubled up on the floor. I spent most of the night lying awake in bed or on the john. Was still hallucinating mildly 8 hours after dosing but now I felt like shit. Was better this a.m. but still not 100%.
There seem to be so many places for contamination to occur in the process that I'm not sure where it went wrong. I'm using the method outlined in the MMGG here on the Shroomery. Most of my cakes are colonizing without obvious contamination so I believe they are getting contaminated in the growing chamber - styrofoam cooler with ultrasonic humidifier. But maybe they are getting contaminated in the jars and I just am not recognizing it. I don't know.
Anyway, am planning to pitch all shrooms I have grown to date and start all over. The thing is, they all looked healthy while growing so I didn't suspect a problem. Once a cake is fully colonized isn't it harder for it to become contaminated? i.e. doesn't most contamination occurr before the colonized cake is birthed? Don't want to stop cultivating, but after last night am very concerned. It was not a good time.
Sorry for the length of this post but am looking for help from all you experienced growers out there. Any responses would be appreciated.
Thanks

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: skyrider]
    #1845454 -

For the above post: i would of thought that contamination would of occured before birthing the cake, are you sure that all the white fuzzy stuff is mycelium. After your affects of the mushrooms i would scrap the method of growing you are using or make sure everything is sterilised and clean because the effects of being on the toilet and stuff shouldn't happen and you are poisoning yourself eating the mushrooms. Look inside the cakes aswell and check airflows in the room you are sterilising in. How new or old is the styrofaom cooler and is the water source that the ultra sonic humidifier uses sealed and replaced every so often stagnant water must be bad.

My friend grew some mushrooms in a grow kit but unfortunately contamination set in and he had 3 different types of mold. Purple,White and green where the colours. We did the stupid thing of eating the mushrooms afterwards as my friend did not have the heart to throw them away. Luckily we had no adverse affects apart from wretching every time we ate them which is considered normal however other mushrooms did not make us wretch in the past experiances. If contaminant spores are dangerous then if the spores are avoided then are the mushrooms grown edible as in the magic mushroom growers guide it states contaminants can be transported through the mycelium network is this true?


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who knows what it is to float in space, real space, the space of thought....

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: iopener]
    #1887203 -

While looking around for an strong ionizer at hydroasis.com I saw one of those ozone generators. Would any1 suggest one to reduce airborn contaminants? It says "Ozone kills all allergens and mold spores. VERY EFFECTIVE. No cleaning necessary." They're not very cheap though. "The Medium model handles 3,000 cubic feet" for $160.00.

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: spacedragon]
    #1998650 -

In response to why eating wild mushrooms if correctly identified is no worry...
IN the wild the mushrooms would have to fight against and have natural defenses to just about every type of contam, or at least all the major ones. Its the way nature works in order to survive something has to be able to defend it self.

Now when growing in a kit there is only the spore growing, nothing else. So the spore doesn't develop the same defences a wild one would have, so if a contam is introduced to a mushroom in a kit, the mushroom has no chance of defending it self. The contam is also giving perfect growing condiitions in a petri dish, where as in most everything would be able to kill off the contam before it got to be problematic.

I hope that clears things up a little, i didn't go into a great amount of detail but thats the jest of it


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Re: A word about Contams [Re: WildCardsRevenge]
    #1999413 -

Word.  :smile:

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: YSJ]
    #2020843 -

coccidioidomycosis-I do believe I had it. I could not stop coughing for 5 weeks. Fortunately, it didn't seem to affect my joints or organs. The good part is, once you've had it, you can't get it again. Your body creats the necessary antibodies to fight it.

I caught Lyme Disease when I was living back East. WTF? Well, spending lots of time outdoors puts you more at risk to those diseases.

Trust this guy on the Valley Fever. You do NOT want it! It's also prevelant in parts of Mexico and S. America.


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Facts do not cease to exist just because they are ignored.

Aldous Huxley

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: catalyst777]
    #2122313 -


I've been growing successfully for about a year now and I have encountered a green mold problem recently. I use a "the rich man's terrarium" and I am real careful about sanitary conditions. Careful enough that I get at least 2 flushes before all hell breaks loose. I keep them between 79-82 degrees and the humidity is high (about 95%). What am i missing? Is there a cycle to their growing. For instance, should there be a time when the humidity is higher or lower and the same for the temperature, is there a time when it should be colder or hotter. I really don't want to go back to the P.F. Tek, I like this casing stuff. Any insights?

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"Be kind to the people you meet on the way up, cause you're gonna meet the same people on the way down.........It happens to me every day in the sewer.
Ed Norton


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Check out my tunes. You will be better off for it.
www.myspace.com/beatlebangboy

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: beatlebangboy]
    #2180605 -

*This post has been edited*

Let's not discuss this type of thing here. It could be very dangerous.

-Karen

Edited by Karen (01/01/04 03:07 PM)

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: haz]
    #2192047 -

I too have eaten contaminated shrooms and had an interesting trip, mixed with some rather nasty histimine reactions.

Imagine eating 8-12 grams and triping like a wild man in the emergency room? Too many cops, and how would you explain it to the doctor? I would probably go SANE... : ) Its probably in the top 5 things that will get one busted also.

This is reason enough to throw out anything that looks contaminated.

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: haz]
    #2208938 -

I ate a mushroom I was unsure about.  I did not know how bad the effects could get.  Not sure what I had but I was losing liquid from all ends at the same time.  I threw myself in the shower thinking "I need water and skins the biggest organ..."  While I was there I could have swore the devil was standing behind me.  I'd say it was a reeeeaaaalllly WIERD "vacation".  This happened as everyone else was coming down (about 6 hrs later).  Nice to know my body won't let it happen again (if that's true) but I wouldn't chance it...EVER. :devil:

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: WildCardsRevenge]
    #2209055 -

I AM NOT RECOMMENDING EATING MUSHROOMS FROM CONTAMINATED CAKES>>>

However, Maybe I'm just lucky. But I have eaten shrooms from cakes that had green mold growing on the same cake on the other side and noticed NOTHING> in the trip. I don't know if this is true or a placebo people get when the trip goes "south" blame it on the green mold. IMO< I have eaten shrooms from very funky looking cakes and had no adverse reactions whatsoever. Do I just have a larger than normal LIVER or something I do however, throw out the ones that were contamed before birthing. THose definately are too nasty, bochulism possibility there. ???BTW>I DO NOT SUGGEST ANYONE EAT MUSHROOMS FROM CONTAMINATED CAKES>>>

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: medicinebag]
    #2213402 -

Medicine Bag,

It is true that you may not get sick from eating from contiminated cakes but that doesn't mean you won't.

The biggest problem with eating contaminated mushrooms is that it is nearly impossible to specifically identify the contam without microscopic and other research. Many contams look alike some are dangerous and others are not but you can't tell the difference between these with the naked eye.

You might think that you have identified your contam as something harmless but you are really ingesting something deadly.

Also once a cake has been comprimised it is susceptable to other contaminates that you may not see.

It is just not safe practice to eat mushrooms from contaminated cakes. It is a risk that one should not take.

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: Karen]
    #2225103 -

last time i sniff funky cakes to see how funky it is

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: littlegnome]
    #2234115 -

good call. curiousity killed the cat, after all.

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: Dobie]
    #2554425 -

yeh, wut Dobie said, DO NOT SNIFF THE MOLDS OR ANYTHING THAT IS CONTAMINATED!!!! i didnt believe anyone when they told me, i sniffed, and immediately it tingled the hell outta my nose and i knew i was gonna get sick, i was sick for 7 days STRAIGHT and i never, i mean NEVER get sick, maybe once every 3 years i get sick, but i got sick from sniffing the green nasties... PLEASE HOLD YURSELF BACK NO MATTER WHAT TEMPTATION!!!!!!!! just a warning to all newbs!!! cuz i too, am a newb

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: TripleB]
    #2573252 -

I think the first thing they teach you in chemistry class is to never directly smell anything, always waft the fumes towards your nose, still not wise if it's mold that's in the air, but a lot safer than just sniffing it straight up

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: WildCardsRevenge] * 1
    #2736385 -

I'm confused... there can be white contamination?!?!?!
Ok so just to be sure... how do I know if the stuff growing in my jars is what it is supposed to be and not something that I don't want there?!?!?

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: WildCardsRevenge]
    #2816329 -

Best tip about contams. Do a good job on your innoculation so you dont end up with any :smile: Very good tips besides that on this post.

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: littlegnome]
    #2881838 -

I would never eat a mushroom from a contaminated cake...nothing ruins a trip like thinking you're dying.

Speaking of DYING, can anyone point me to a PICTURE of the purple/pink contam that causes meningitis?

thanks!
xoxo

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: WildCardsRevenge]
    #3079080 -

I realize that a lot of people love to rail on and on about this subject... and it's been going on since the beginning...

But has there ever been a single confirmed case?

I have a friend that told me that prisoners horde their bread until it goes mouldy, then they eat it as medicine! Supposedly they swear by it, and nobody has gotten sick from it.

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: fastfred]
    #3147317 -

could you get just as sick opening a dumpster or dumping at the city dump they both smell rotten and have many different molds? There are other unavoidable times you smell something rotten,is this the same as jars. I never seen a contam just slow growth with sour smell and the growth will still finish so i wonder about them, and the people that dont sniff slow jars and eventually fruit them if there realy ok or have a invisible contam? is this even possible invisible contam at birth and you cant smell it over the reguler shroomy stink?

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: fastfred]
    #3183792 -

Yes, after all, penicillin (sp) is mold too. That's what you're referring to I think.

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: theriddler]
    #3277568 -

Also just because you do not feel sick from eating contaminated shrooms doesn't mean that your not consuming carcinogens that could have a cumulative effect and give you problems down the road.

Edited by Scooby_Snacks (10/25/04 11:07 PM)

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: Scooby_Snacks]
    #3329278 -

Contams suck....nuf said? nope, never is. stay safe and most of all....clean and CONTAM. FREE


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For the sake of those seeking knowledge.
I've provided some in my signature.
Double Tek Pictorial
Getting the most out of your casings!, A pinning strategy.
Soaking wbs - The Final Answer by Agar
50/50 Coco Coir versus 50/50 Peat Moss.

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: WildCardsRevenge]
    #3851656 -

I would sticky this in the cultivation forum because many newbies may not bother coming here in the first place. When I was much younger and stronger I disposed of some contaminated grain jars. I was aware that they could be dangerous and was careful most of the time but being young and invincible I did smell a couple of jars. I came down with pneumonia and it was the sickest I have ever been by far. I couldn't get out of bed for 3 weeks (literally couldn't walk except to pee). Was on a couple of rounds of antibiotics.
As I said I was physically strong and eating a good diet so I would hate to think what shape I would of been in if I was a couch-potato when I got sick.

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: illeagle]
    #4055272 -

After seeing that X-Files episode from years ago with the mushrooms that grow in volcanoes and can grow inside your throat and kill you, i think i'd rather err on the side of caution once i start trying to grow
I know it's made up, but even before reading this thread I was aware there are many different moulds, and the effects on humans can vary from nothing to...well, to death, and once you take things out of their natural setting, you should really take extra special care. Effectively, you take the place of nature, except all your defense mechanisms are manual, whereas nature's tend to be automatic, over time.

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: newjon]
    #4349692 -

i read this somewhere and wanted a second opinion on this method... i read on the mushroom travel agent site that contaminations can be kept in check by mixing 1 tablespoon of 3% hydrogen peroxide and 1 cup of water into a spray bottle and mist it over your contaminated areas. he says that it will kill the contaminates but will not harm or effect the growth of the mycelium. has anyone heard of or tired this before?

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: diabla]
    #4469908 -

yeah it can but A lot of molds grow from the inside out. Thats the problem unless its only growing on top.

Ok I have a question about smelling jars. I have smelled a number of weird jars but my lids have polyfil filters for air exchange. wouldnt that stop spores so that I would just smell the jar?


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First Grow No more carpet tek

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: JSshroom]
    #4615348 -

js not nessicarily, spores are very small and can pass through poly fill like nothing, it would reduce the concentration but it could still potentialy be dangerous. myself i am in a region were vally feaver is a problem im just geting ready to start my first mycellum cultures and im certinly not taking any chances with the.


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All statments, Imagery, and Ideas contained therin any postings are meerly retold sotrys of fictional acts created by a figmant of the universe imagination.

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: ssjwizard]
    #5748813 -

Yep, better safe than sorry. Also be careful not to take any deep breaths outside. It's always best to be insanely paranoid and only breathe shallowly into a paper bag whenever you're not in a level 3 biofacility. You never know when some extremely dangerous spore might be wafting down from the stratosphere near you. Because their rarity is only exceeded by their danger and mystery.


-FF


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It drinks the alcohol and abstains from the weed or else it gets the hose again. -Chemy

The difference between the substances doesn't matter. This is a war on consciousness, on our right to the very essence of what we are. With no control over that, we have no need to speak of freedom or a free society. -fireseed

"If we are going to have a war on marijuana, the least we can do is pull the sick and the dying off the battlefield." -Neal Levine (MPP)

I find the whole "my drug should be legal but yours should be illegal" mindset disgusting and hypocritical. It's what George Bush and company do when they drink a cocktail and debate the best way to imprison marijuana users. -Diploid

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: fastfred]
    #5750329 -

fastfred said:
Yep, better safe than sorry.  Also be careful not to take any deep breaths outside.  It's always best to be insanely paranoid and only breathe shallowly into a paper bag whenever you're not in a level 3 biofacility.  You never know when some extremely dangerous spore might be wafting down from the stratosphere near you.  Because their rarity is only exceeded by their danger and mystery.


-FF


:rofl:

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: WildCardsRevenge]
    #6132184 -

WildCardsRevenge said:
After reviewing alot of posts i'm goign to make this sticky and ask others to add to it.
But lets try and make a list of tips and general advice that new growers tend to ask alot. This way if they have a question they can browse here first and and see if their question is answered.

The best part is because its sticky they don't have to search for it because it'll always be at the top. This is in no way meant to stop people from posting but just act like a quick reference.

Also Serious replys only please

The number one general rule of Contams:
If In Doubt Throw It Out - If your not sure if they are safe to eat why risk your health or your other cakes

2. If you think you spot a contam on a Cake remove it from the rest of your healthy cakes. Then decide if you want to try and save it or chuck it

3. Post pictures whenever possible - A picture says a thousand words but a thousand words may not help us picture your problem




A lot is two words.

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: WildCardsRevenge]
    #7155530 -

I thought I had a cold. turned out I just needed to move my terrarium out of my bedroom.


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I can't tell you how many ways that I have sat and viewed my life today but I can tell you I don't think that I could find an easier way. So if I see you walking hand in hand in hand with the three armed man, you know i'll understand. -Blind Melon

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: ildanach]
    #7156467 -

sounds like you have a general allergy to fungus. To bad for you its the psilly kind


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First Grow No more carpet tek

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: strawberryscoop]
    #8466809 -

strawberryscoop said:
I would never eat a mushroom from a contaminated cake...nothing ruins a trip like thinking you're dying.

Speaking of DYING, can anyone point me to a PICTURE of the purple/pink contam that causes meningitis?

thanks!
xoxo


Ditto ftw. Reading this thread just makes me wonder sometimes.....


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~~~ Your question was probably answered below ~~~
Rye Spawning
50/50+ Casing and Casing
Monotub OR Monotub
When I say *I* in a post, it is simply for ease of posting. I am always, of course, referring to a friend of mine from highschool whom I haven't seen in 15 years.

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: Karen]
    #10150852 -

This read was a great wake up for myself not to lead anyone to strange ideas but I suffered a CNS Lesion and lost my memory, I ASSURE U All that this was not self induced by any way, I won't get into detail.

I am having great Dreams and hopes of Success once I pick up a Pressure Cooker and some Spores;  G and I are gonna do the year round thing; and involving one of the Hallucinogens I Cherish; I live in the Centre of the 'Land', so Psilocybe Shrooms around here are very rare in nature.  I DON'T Want to brew up any Botulism or AIDS (hehe)..just kidding

Thanks for bringing up the SO MOST Important Topic! When I tryed at 17 It never dawned on me what I could end up producing, so this time I'm hoping P. Cubensis under the Bed ALL THE WAY!

Thanks to the P.C. God, for through my fears directing me through life safely. 



*Never Cook Acid with Morning Glory* ~ A word from a good Friend Luke

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: Dr.Feild Monkey]
    #10297368 -

Shit, this is one of the most interesting and probably important mushroom threads Ive found so far personally...

SWIM just had to throw out TWELVE JARS that all had mycelium showing because of a grey nasty smelling mold.  I think it may have been "cobweb mold" but it was SWIMs first attempt at spawning mushrooms, so thats just my guess at what it was.

Anyways I was dumping SWIM's jars in the trash a couple days ago and stupidly took a few big inhales close to it, and all of these jars had to be like around 75% colonized with the gray shit.  Now, I realize this was a retarded move.  I had a dirty chest cough the rest of the day and was like coughing my fucking lungs out right after I did it.  Now its mostly gone away, its just like a small phlemy cough, but its definitly going away.  Thank fucking god it wasnt a worse kind of mold, i am relieved.  I was thinking about going to a doctor... I still might if it doesnt go away or gets bad again.  Ill just tell the doc I was cleaning a moldy fridge, that sounds believable lol

I like this thread tho... interesting stuff on here


--------------------
If a firefighters business can go up in smoke, and a plumbers business can go down the drain, can a hooker get layed off?

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: MrHankyTheXmsPoo]
    #10411085 -

Funny, while reading this thread SWIM had to throw out a jar because a slimey grey & red mass that was taking over its own little corner of the glass.  Before that SWIM's last casualty was to the black mold of doom.

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: Alpheus]
    #10795939 -

quick question. im a newbie on mushroom growing and i couldnt find anything about this topic.

what if i boiled a contaminated mushrooms and make a tea out of it? is that gonna kill any harmful bacterias / molds?

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: jinzakk]
    #10798974 -

Maybe, maybe not.

The thing is that it doesn't really matter if they are live or dead. The spores that some people are allergic to will still cause a reaction weather they're live or dead. Some of the toxins that might be present will be destroyed by heat, but some won't.

You'd be taking your chances the same as if you ate some moldy bread. 99.999% of the time you'd be fine, but you can never tell if some sort of rare bacteria or mold was present. It's extremely rare, but it's possible.

As far as is known there's never been a verified case here of medical problems from contaminated substrate or mushrooms.


-FF

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: littlegnome]
    #10938697 -

Hi everyone, I am very interested in growing magic mushrooms and my roommate told me that it would be a very bad idea because the spores can get into the ceiling and walls and create toxic mold which then can get the house condemned. Is this true? and if so can i just put a air filter beside my terrarium?

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: Chrismcd13]
    #10940598 -

That is untrue. The mushroom spores will only produce mushroom mycelium, which will only produce mushroom fruits, which drop mushroom spores.

However, it is a valid concern, because growing mushrooms needs a humid environment. This humid environment benefits the mushrooms AND foreign mold (which is floating around everywhere). So you might experience contaminated substrate

Most home air filters will do nothing but catch large particles such as dust and dirt; they will not filter spores from the air.

I recommend this video series:
http://www.mushroomvideos.com/BRF-Pf-Tek

Also, don't grow if your roommate disagrees

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: WildCardsRevenge]
    #11046293 -

I have jars that have been colonizing for about 2 weeks now and a couple of them are developing faint yellow on the oustide of the cake. i'm just wondering if this is normal or if i should just chuck them and try again. or if it's possible to do a transfer with an uncontaminated piece of cake to transfer to a sterile one to start over. thanks a lot for your help.


--------------------


"He who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man"
                                                                            - Hunter S. Thompson.

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: rosco420i]
    #11065294 -

You're better off starting a new thread and posting a picture of your jar. Yellow could mean metabolites, but it could also mean mold.

There's no way to transfer it reliably. If you have a sterile jar, just inoculate it with spores

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: rosco420i]
    #11100965 -

rosco420i said:
I have jars that have been colonizing for about 2 weeks now and a couple of them are developing faint yellow on the oustide of the cake. i'm just wondering if this is normal or if i should just chuck them and try again. or if it's possible to do a transfer with an uncontaminated piece of cake to transfer to a sterile one to start over. thanks a lot for your help.


I had a jar that I forgot about on my computer desk,I found it the other day and it had some yellow in it, but it was full of shrooms. I picked the mushrooms from the healthy mycelium and let them dry, now I'm debating on whether to eat them or not.

I won't be gettin my hands on any shrooms for a while, should I eat these? Are there any serious health risks? Sorry no pics.

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: Chad_7]
    #11107987 -

how old are they? the yellow is likely to be metabolites

don't eat the mushrooms if they are rotting or stink of bacteria

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: ABC]
    #11967304 -

This was much needed - Thanks.

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: neutralizer]
    #12966842 -

>How come we don't have to worry about contaminated mushrooms in the wild

because contaminated mushrooms in the wild RARELY if ever survive long enough. They die pretty fast in nature, it's our man made perfect conditions that can have two things growing beside each other while eventually coming to a balance. The more vectors you introduce, the less likely a mushroom becomes to survive contamination.

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: rave420]
    #13926616 -

Good question. I guess mother nature is the best mycologist around...

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: littlegnome]
    #15314388 -

littlegnome said:
last time i sniff funky cakes to see how funky it is


same lulz

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: kaskade]
    #15521895 -

Wanted to gratefully thank you for this thread and the posts of YSJ.  I know I will be far less tempted to "go in unmasked" for a save on my contams on agar now. I am embarrassed, in regard to my 3 decade expertise in aquaculture, that I did not fundamentally grasp the exponentially  greater spore ratio in a cultured mold...of any species vrs. naturally occouring , or dispersed ammounts in a non-cultured environment.
Quite and eye-opener , and again : Thanks Shroomery

Archo

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: WildCardsRevenge]
    #15680402 -

good info in here thx

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: blazedmonkey]
    #16954819 -

one potato, two potato three potato, four

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: Crumpet]
    #18160360 -

Some say you should smell your cake to see if it has that "Fresh Mushroom Smell". Would you guys still recommend this, even if things seem perfect visibly?


--------------------
Hippies and Liberals love Pope Francis, so why dont I quote him for you guys. "There is NO SALVATION outside the Catholic Church" :morningtoke:

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: TripleB]
    #18160390 -

TripleB said:
yeh, wut Dobie said, DO NOT SNIFF THE MOLDS OR ANYTHING THAT IS CONTAMINATED!!!!  i didnt believe anyone when they told me, i sniffed, and immediately it tingled the hell outta my nose and i knew i was gonna get sick, i was sick for 7 days STRAIGHT and i never, i mean NEVER get sick, maybe once every 3 years i get sick, but i got sick from sniffing the green nasties... PLEASE HOLD YURSELF BACK NO MATTER WHAT TEMPTATION!!!!!!!! just a warning to all newbs!!! cuz i too, am a newb


I sniffed a moldy birthed cake as I wasn't sure if it was bruising
It smelled sour+moldy
Was sick for 1-2 weeks, throat pain, ears stuffed, couldn't swallow or breathe too good
Got sick from the shrooms as well, high fewer, many stomach problems for 1-2 days, very watery eyes, trouble breathing in the trip(like being strangled)

the trouble breathing lasted 2-3 weeks, and the stuffed nose,ears,throat too

NEVER sniff cakes, except when taking them out of the jars and they look 100% colonized, but even therre it can be a risk (bacteria  can be in even if 100% colonized sometimes, or inside can be moldy)

* maybe my drying method wasn't right.... had stored them wet in the fridge for some days, and probably hadn't washed hands when picking them, so I guess it is my own fault, got pretty damn sick
now I should start wearing gloves always

I got sick each time from those cakes(also when drying the fruits)... never before
and they smelled moldy/sour, the whole sgfc smelled sour/moldy , but the cakes looked 100% colonized

tossed them, I think it was bacteria, because they were 100% colonized
just smelled sour when opening the jars (thought it was the honey LC)

Edited by lessismore (04/24/13 10:54 AM)

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: lessismore]
    #18160445 -

My nose did hurt after sniffing the sour cakes as well right after opening the jars

And it lasted a while, but I still sniff them

Now I just take precautions with antibiotic agar to make sure the stuff is clean of contams (can never know with biopsy -> LC , only with agar -> LC)

Biopsy in theory transfers bacteria into the LC if present, I think?

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: lessismore]
    #18164240 -

Smelling your cultures is standard practice in microbiology, unless you're working with pathogenic species.

Bacteria that grow at room temp on BFR or rye do NOT grow in the human body and the odds of them being pathogenic are way to remote to worry about.

Quote:
I sniffed a moldy birthed cake as I wasn't sure if it was bruising
It smelled sour+moldy
Was sick for 1-2 weeks, throat pain, ears stuffed, couldn't swallow or breathe too good
Got sick from the shrooms as well, high fewer, many stomach problems for 1-2 days, very watery eyes, trouble breathing in the trip(like being strangled)


You are a very suggestible individual then.

It's important to avoid giving reports like this more credit than they deserve.  About 5% of the population are clinical hypochondriacs.  And somewhere between 30-70% of docotors visits are caused by psychosomatic (all in your head) illnesses.

I'm not saying you're are a full blown hypochondriac, but given the placebo effect (about 35%), the large number of psychosomatic illnesses (20-70%), all combined with the very real effects of an unpleasant smell... and you have a very potent combination for developing symptoms that are almost certainly unrelated to the exposure.


-FF


--------------------
It drinks the alcohol and abstains from the weed or else it gets the hose again. -Chemy

The difference between the substances doesn't matter. This is a war on consciousness, on our right to the very essence of what we are. With no control over that, we have no need to speak of freedom or a free society. -fireseed

"If we are going to have a war on marijuana, the least we can do is pull the sick and the dying off the battlefield." -Neal Levine (MPP)

I find the whole "my drug should be legal but yours should be illegal" mindset disgusting and hypocritical. It's what George Bush and company do when they drink a cocktail and debate the best way to imprison marijuana users. -Diploid

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: fastfred]
    #18165285 -

Well I wasn't really sick after it, I just felt kinda sick for a while after it, my throat, nose and ears were stuffed for a while (couldn't swallow too good)... (no problem before that)

Got very sick in the trip though each time with those shrooms from those cakes

But didn't dry properly and didn't store them properly (stored for too long in refridgerator/improper handling)

Trust me, you know when you get really sick from food poisoning or whatever it was (got high fewer and trouble breathing + diarria for a day etc)

It could probably have been avoided, shouldn't be possible if drying 100%
but I ate them fresh (after them having layed around for a while)
(and the other time I didn't get them cracker-dry as mentioned)

Then there is also the method of consumption, shrooms don't agree with me when eating them raw sometimes, get pretty sick (very watery eyes,gas,trouble beathing,nausea,very dizzy etc)
but no sickness/dizzyness when eating them as chocolates
So impossible to know what is psychiologically and physical when tripping.. :smile:

Now I am being careful with possibly contamed cakes, those cakes smelled sour all of them(but 100% colonized)
I don't have much understanding of biology, but my guess would be it was bacteria in it somehow? (used biopsy -> honey LC -> pftek cakes , used plenty of inoculate , so that could probably smell sweet/sour too?)

The whole SGFC smelled sour+moldy , even though the cakes looked 100% colonized,and the shrooms smelled bad too
They only flushed once too, and didn't produce many mushrooms (had RH drop.. so that could explain it!)
When I crumbled the cakes I couldn't see any contams... looked 100% colonized
but smelled bad, my nose hurt after smelling it again

Some of the jars smelled so sour(almost rotten) that it could be smelled a few feet away from the jars (the large jars), but they still colonized

Got very sick from just 2grams of those shrooms dry (but apparently not cracker dry)

My understanding is that bacteria is only a problem if mishandling the mushrooms/improper drying , which I did

Edited by lessismore (04/25/13 09:20 AM)

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: lessismore]
    #18165410 -

Did a lot of things wrong that one time as you can see .. (#1 mistake in mycology, hurrying / being impatient ...)

So can only blame myself, but wouldn't use biopsy -> honey LC again
only agar

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: WildCardsRevenge]
    #18915726 -

Thanks such nice discuss with me. I hope other post same topic to be relevant of that thread.


--------------------
Best On Hold Marketing Company

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: Steellayes]
    #18946891 -

are this cakes contaminated








this are two cakes 3 pics of each cake

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: beatlebangboy]
    #19274703 -

Ha I must learn from you. I as well am using a larger more expensive causing Tek. And also encountered contamination

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: WildCardsRevenge]
    #19678043 -

Please help!! So have had a cake fully colonized in fruit chamber. The cake was fruiting nice.. 5 days after pins an booms growin.. seen green contaminate. The cake has like 35 booms on it.. idk what to do.. just noticed..  any suggestions greatly appreciated. . I cut out contaminate with sterile knife..  wasn't contaminated inside just little on edge.. All cut off tho.. u think I'm OK? Or threw away?

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: tmoney420]
    #19680664 -

Quote:
I cut out contaminate with sterile knife..  wasn't contaminated inside just little on edge.


Assuming it was actually mold you scraped off the spores, which only form on the surface of the mold. The mold is still there. Best thing you can do if want that cake to keep fruiting is bury it outside and keep an eye out for mushrooms where you buried it in the future.

Much of this thread is loaded with BS but this part is definitely true "Green mold often works from the inside out so if your seeing green mold chances are its been growing inside your cake for a while now"


--------------------

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: Kizzle]
    #19680709 -

toss any cakes that have mold in them, that is the general recommendation

the biggest risk is spread of spores inside when fanning and misting... get them out of the house

when you got a big bucket of cakes, go and bury them in a forest or such
they will probably do best if you shred them a bit over the place so they can spread, and if you add earth on top (so you don't get insects in them, insects/snails love eating pfcake nutrients..)

3-4 weeks or so later there should be shrooms if you bury outside in a shady spot, maybe earlier


cakes who are contamed rarely fruit, fruit early, if bacteria they fruit very little usually - and often weak fruits as the mycellium has tried to outgrow the bacteria or such(one hypothesis says), they have been weaker for me each time..
not worth birthing contamed cakes ever IMO, making cakes is so easy, takes 5mins

if you want to make cakes faster, make a LC, then it takes 14 days to colonize a pfcake or so, maybe even a little less (and only a week for a grain jar)

Edited by lessismore (03/11/14 01:12 PM)

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: WildCardsRevenge]
    #20768476 -

  so this is my first crop and I was wondering..this is the blotch mold right? These are no good?

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: shroomship]
    #20774140 -

shroomship said:
  so this is my first crop and I was wondering..this is the blotch mold right? These are no good?


I don't see anything wrong there.

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: Shu]
    #20774467 -

Just looks like spores that has been messed around with to me :shrug:

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Re: A word about Contams [Re: Yerow]
    #20792951 -

looks like spores


--------------------
:jazzman:

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