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Mattisfat
Learning


Registered: 01/20/16
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Loc: Newcastle, England
Last seen: 3 years, 21 days
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Is my pink oyster spawn contaminated?
#23775951 - 10/27/16 08:54 AM (7 years, 3 months ago) |
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This is the first spawn jars i've ever made up and not sure if it looks right. The pic makes it look wet looking but it actually looks like regular tormentosegrowth in person - deffinitely not wet looking like most bacteria contams ive seen.
Mostly whispy growth with the odd bit where its much more consolidated. The jar is about 90% colonised
The agar wedge at the top concerns me as im not 100% sure if its myc or mould, the growth on it is still quite uniform but for some reason i have a bad feeling about it - it grew out quite quickly aswell.


Edited by Mattisfat (10/27/16 08:54 AM)
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Ferather
Mycological



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Re: Is my pink oyster spawn contaminated? [Re: Mattisfat]
#23775963 - 10/27/16 09:01 AM (7 years, 3 months ago) |
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Looks slimy and metabolic. Varied growth, some mycelium looking inhibited.
Quote:
Mattisfat said: The agar wedge at the top concerns me as im not 100% sure if its myc or mould, the growth on it is still quite uniform but for some reason i have a bad feeling about it - it grew out quite quickly aswell.
If that is normal agar, the rhizomorphs are due to bacterial avoidance.
Can also happen due to rich light or high zinc ratio.
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Mattisfat
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Re: Is my pink oyster spawn contaminated? [Re: Ferather]
#23776676 - 10/27/16 12:53 PM (7 years, 3 months ago) |
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its actually not metabolic - its just wbs pressing up against the side of the jar, also doesnt really look slimy to me i know the picture makes it look that way though. maybe this is the start of the slimy change though.
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Ferather
Mycological



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Re: Is my pink oyster spawn contaminated? [Re: Mattisfat]
#23776703 - 10/27/16 01:05 PM (7 years, 3 months ago) |
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Yes you are right, they look like remains of grain kernels. If you are worried then colonize at a colder temp.
Even a fridge, although it takes ages.
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katbusa
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Re: Is my pink oyster spawn contaminated? [Re: Ferather]
#23778272 - 10/27/16 08:28 PM (7 years, 3 months ago) |
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The top of the jar looks fine. It looks like it has a couple different types of mycelium growth going on. Maybe tormentose mixed in with the start of rhizomorphic growth.
What has me a little concerned is the definitive line in the upper fluffy part and the bottom which looks very thin and whispy.
Is the bottom part of the jar covered in very thin and whispy mucelium?
If it is there might be a chance that it could be a contaminate. Ive always had consistant growth from top to bottom when using wedges to inoculate unless I have shaken the jar up.
Also do you have anything in between the polyfill and the grain? If you do not I highly suggest to use some tyvek. You can even use tyvek to cover the top as well which can help to prevent contamination while allowing for gas exchange.
You have the best set in the house so use your best judgement.
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Mattisfat
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Re: Is my pink oyster spawn contaminated? [Re: katbusa]
#23779066 - 10/28/16 02:32 AM (7 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
Ferather said: Yes you are right, they look like remains of grain kernels. If you are worried then colonize at a colder temp.
Even a fridge, although it takes ages.
Doesnt pink cultures die off under 10c?
Quote:
katbusa said: The top of the jar looks fine. It looks like it has a couple different types of mycelium growth going on. Maybe tormentose mixed in with the start of rhizomorphic growth.
What has me a little concerned is the definitive line in the upper fluffy part and the bottom which looks very thin and whispy.
Is the bottom part of the jar covered in very thin and whispy mucelium?
If it is there might be a chance that it could be a contaminate. Ive always had consistant growth from top to bottom when using wedges to inoculate unless I have shaken the jar up.
Also do you have anything in between the polyfill and the grain? If you do not I highly suggest to use some tyvek. You can even use tyvek to cover the top as well which can help to prevent contamination while allowing for gas exchange.
You have the best set in the house so use your best judgement.
I've never heard this way of doing it before - do you have it loose in the jar or attached to the lid somehow? Does it get in the way when doing G2G?
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katbusa
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Re: Is my pink oyster spawn contaminated? [Re: Mattisfat]
#23780298 - 10/28/16 02:57 PM (7 years, 3 months ago) |
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It doesnt really get in the way from doing g2g its just another piece you need to pay attention to. You dont want to contaminate the inner side of the tyvek that can come in contact with the grain.
Tyvek is autoclavable. Has micron pore sizes, water proof, and breathable. I use a single sheet of 4x4inch tyvek under the lid of my spawn jars (70mm mason jar mouths. I dont use wide mouth). I then cover the top of the jars with two coffee filters secured by a rubber band. The coffee filters act as a dust sheild and allows for gas exchange.
Here is s short walk through.
You can get tyvek for free from the USPS website. Its the tyvek priority mail envelope. Since you are in the UK you can find tyvek in rolls at your local home improvement store. They wrap houses in tyvek before installing the siding. There are also tyvek painters suits and insultaion suits to protect from fiberglass insulatuon.

Fill your spawn jars with grain. Then cut a 4x4 inch piece of tyvek.

Place the cut piece of tyvek over the mouth of the jar. Try to center it as best as you can.

Place the lid on the jar and press down and tighten the lid. This will press and form the tyvek. Then back the lid off a bit. Cover the jar in aluminum foil starting with the top then the bottom. The aluminum foil creates another barrier of protection for the jar to be handled after the autoclave process. I did not cover my example jar. Didn't want to waste any foil.

PC or autoclave the jars how you would normally. Then once they have cooled remove all of the foil and add the agar wedges to inoculate. Screw the lid back on and cover with the coffee filters. Put the jars in a low traffic area to incubate.

If you were thorough in your processes and the jars were seterilzed correctly. The above method will drastically improve your success rate. If you notice that the jars are drying out too fast add a second sheet of tyvek to future jars. You should be good to go with only one sheet though.
Edited by katbusa (10/28/16 03:05 PM)
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Mattisfat
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Re: Is my pink oyster spawn contaminated? [Re: katbusa]
#23780448 - 10/28/16 03:50 PM (7 years, 3 months ago) |
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Looking back at my jars today it seems the more consolidated areas are now looking more bacterial. I think my agar needed cleaning up so done a couple transfers this morning. Hopefully next jars will be clean.
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Mattisfat
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Re: Is my pink oyster spawn contaminated? [Re: Mattisfat]
#23780454 - 10/28/16 03:51 PM (7 years, 3 months ago) |
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Thanks for the writeup katbusa
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katbusa
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Re: Is my pink oyster spawn contaminated? [Re: Mattisfat]
#23781102 - 10/28/16 07:59 PM (7 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
Mattisfat said: Thanks for the writeup katbusa
Not a problem at all. I hope this can help you enjoy the hobby even more.
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Ferather
Mycological



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Re: Is my pink oyster spawn contaminated? [Re: katbusa]
#23782223 - 10/29/16 09:57 AM (7 years, 3 months ago) |
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Take notice of the rhizomorphic growth, either rich light, high zinc ratio, or bacteria. In this case it was due to bacteria, here is an image of rhizomorphic growth.
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Mattisfat
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Re: Is my pink oyster spawn contaminated? [Re: Ferather]
#23847543 - 11/19/16 05:34 AM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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So i decided to try and fruit this jar for shits and giggles - Look at all these pins on the bottom! i dont want to smash the jar so unfortunately these will all be aborts. or deformed.

Luckily i have a few pins towards the top

Do they look like healthy pins?
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Mycolorado
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Registered: 07/23/16
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Re: Is my pink oyster spawn contaminated? [Re: Mattisfat]
#23847635 - 11/19/16 07:41 AM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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Hey Matt, pinks tend to have very fine/wispy mycelium...sometimes the sub doesn't even look colonized when it starts fruiting. The last pics look pretty consolidated which makes me think that's an older jar? Also, you probably have some bac in there, otherwise there wouldn't be that wet looking uncolonized bit at top. They'll pin like a mofo invitro and typically fruit around 9-10 days after spawning to straw. What doing with the spawn?
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Mattisfat
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Re: Is my pink oyster spawn contaminated? [Re: Mycolorado]
#23847697 - 11/19/16 08:15 AM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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Ive been spraying the top with water - it was colonised until i started doing that. The reason i was fruiting the jar of WBS is because the jar was definitely bacterial and i thought going to straw would be a waste of time. The bottom of the jar is dry verm.
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Mycolorado
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Re: Is my pink oyster spawn contaminated? [Re: Mattisfat]
#23847726 - 11/19/16 08:24 AM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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Gotcha. There's no need for verm. When you get them fruiting be sure to provide tons of FAE. Keep us posted!
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Mattisfat
Learning


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Re: Is my pink oyster spawn contaminated? [Re: Mycolorado]
#23847736 - 11/19/16 08:27 AM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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It was the first time id ever made up WBS and i heard of a few people who use it to make sure water doesnt pool at the bottom - it seemed to do the job well - some of the verm actually colonised as obviously it took away some of the excess moisture.
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Ferather
Mycological



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Re: Is my pink oyster spawn contaminated? [Re: Mattisfat]
#23848050 - 11/19/16 10:25 AM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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Thats actually not a bad idea using the verm as a sponge. Wouldn't do it myself, but good for a beginner.
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Mattisfat
Learning


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Re: Is my pink oyster spawn contaminated? [Re: Ferather]
#23859523 - 11/23/16 05:05 AM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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 Looking nice now
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Mycolorado
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Re: Is my pink oyster spawn contaminated? [Re: Mattisfat]
#23859712 - 11/23/16 07:19 AM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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Pretty cool!
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Mattisfat
Learning


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Re: Is my pink oyster spawn contaminated? [Re: Mycolorado]
#23865837 - 11/25/16 11:43 AM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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Are these guys ready now? I cant tell if they need to grow more
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