Thick white substance on tree stick

[cortezknight]

This slimy white stuff keeps appearing on the stick in my turtle tank, can anyone help me identify it and is it harmful to my turtle or fish?

 

[rolley]

I think that the stick is going to rot..change the stick with the stick of some other plant that can stay long underwater...

 

[Yvonne G]

Looks like some sort of mold/algae. I agree with rolley's assessment - get rid of that stick and replace it with something else.

 

[crimson_lotus]

I've had this problem in the past- white film encased one of the mopani driftwood branches I purchased for my water turtle. If this is the same thing, it is caused by bacteria, it is harmless, and if left alone will go away in time. You can try boiling it or drying it out again, but this is very common with new wood introduced into a tank.

 

[cdmay]

I've had this problem in the past- white film encased one of the mopani driftwood branches I purchased for my water turtle. If this is the same thing, it is caused by bacteria, it is harmless, and if left alone will go away in time. You can try boiling it or drying it out again, but this is very common with new wood introduced into a tank.

Completely right. I get the same aquatic 'snot' on all of my driftwood--except cypress. I have buttonwood, seagrape and some other, unidentified wood I collected on the beach and all of them develop this stuff. For whatever reason though, my cypress pieces don't get it.
To get rid of it I simply take the wood out the tank and give it a good scrubbing with a stiff plastic bristle brush.