Smellyhobbit said:

Scalpel handles and like 50-100 blades are dirt cheap.

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mist3rfortunate said:

I see, so my hobby knife is the problem. I need a real scalpel. Any recommendations or links to these ones yall are using?

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DERRAYLD said:

Yes but the scalpel handle won't heat up as fast from continued heating like the aluminum handle so the cooling of the aluminum only occurs once you finally stop heating it.

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Huskies said:

May I recommend zit popping tools! I pc those to sterilize them in pouches, 3 per pouch. They both have sides, so I can keep each plate a fresh tip

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KlarnEvil9 said:

Huskies said:

May I recommend zit popping tools! I pc those to sterilize them in pouches, 3 per pouch. They both have sides, so I can keep each plate a fresh tip

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I think I saw RevMyc using some in a thread and got a set. I use them like a noc loop for spreading spores around, works great and I have multiples. But I tear up the agar pretty bad most of the time.

I'm still trying to hone my scalpel skills, pretty sloppy overall. But hopefully improving.

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LadysKnight said:

ansr said:

ansr said:

This description matches what I got, from this thread https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/28834842#28834842

dream.culture said:

Hi sorry about reviving an old thread but I think I have the exact same problem going on with my agar plates. Never had it before but since the last six months it has been the same. A halo leading the mycelium eventually stopping it's growth. The halo looks like very fine rizhomorphic growth in under light. On the surface it appears very shiny and I have been thinking that it is bacteria. I changed pda to lme just to see if that was the problem but it didn't work. I also eliminated simple sugars like corn syrup just as an attempt to inhibit bacterial growth. I tried dipping transfer wedges in three percent hydrogen peroxide and another set of plates with antibiotic doxycycline 50mg/1 litre. Still am disappointed with the same shiny halo. I tried changing spores from 3 different sources and been paying all sorts of attention to sterile technique in my still air box. I'm completely lost here. My first grow as a complete noob back in 2017 went smoothly and I was able to isolate cube myc fairly quickly. But I have been dealing with this curse since more than a year and I am completely flabbergasted. Anyone here to help?

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So anyone know what this is? You can only see it when the light reflecting in it.

Looks fine but got this ring around it.

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I have also dealt with this monster. Those who have not may say it's just mycelium. While that may sometimes be the case, this one I came to call a white mold that starts as a clear halo in the margins of the culture. To prove it one way or another, isolate the halo culture on agar. Take transfers from the edge of the halo, try not to include anything else.

I also traced it back to 2 different spore prints. One I made, one came from elsewhere. Eventually I stopped doubting myself and finally got new prints. Meanwhile I cannot trust a halo.

ansr said:

Fuck.

So transfer the halo and then what? What to look for? Just more of it and then it's not cubensis mycelium?

Will these still make fruits?

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If you isolate the halo, and let it mature on the plate it will take away the mystery and you will get to know your enemy.

This culture is doomed. You cannot clean it. It will never fruit.

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Update on this from november 8: I transferred a tiny bit from the outermost part of the halo without any visible white mycelium. I'm no longer worried about these halos.