how about eucalyptus for mites

HERMEZ · Post by **HERMEZ** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 6:09 am

OK the worst thing has happened (in my eyes) I found a bug, a single bug in my tank, after hours and hours of studying everything including the crabs I see no more. I will continue to study tank for three days. Reading that Eucalyptus is very effective on mites (pretty sure that is what it was-mite) so I ask (and I checked Julia's list not there) can I put the leaves or stalks in the tank. Maybe the smell of it will deter. I can tell you I am fanatical in maintaining everything and dust with moistened clothes all around the tank several times a week. Maybe E oil on cotton balls on top of the tank?

Where do you see the mites the most? since they arent on the crabs, do they go to food dishes? Do they stay on top of the sand? I have three down right now and am paranoid about them.

I always spray the tank down with 2x IO - basically I have read this forum front and back and have taken all the precautions I possibly can since I am a freak with this stuff.

I am really looking for another way other than buy the mite eaters for a long term deterant as I am sure most of you are! With the mite eaters I just seeing that being something you will always have to buy because once you deep clean they are all gone anyway right?

Please if you know anything on the Eucalyptus let me know or anything else

And also is there a "season" for them cause to me there is always dust present

Jedediah · Post by **Jedediah** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 8:04 am

Are you sure they are mites? But whatever they are, since they don't sit on the crabs they are most likey not harmful to them and will feed on the crab's food, the substrate or even the rab's poop. They do not come from dust around the crabitat. They might have wandered in from flower pots, with the food or just from outside.
I wouldn't use eucalyptus. It's probably toxic if the crabs nibble the leaves and the smell is so strong, I'm sure the crab would be bothered by it. Since you only saw one bug, I'd just wait and if any more turn up, do a deep clean ect.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 9:13 am

And I'll add eucalyptus AND tea tree to the Inedible list --sorry, it's a work in progress, and isn't near finished yet.

Edit -- silly! Eucalyptus was already on the inedible list, but now tea tree has been added.

HERMEZ · Post by **HERMEZ** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 9:30 am

Jedediah wrote:Are you sure they are mites? .

well here is a question now that I have spent all morning on the net. WHAT TYPE OF MITE is on the crabs when you see it, if its not a dust mite? And in answer to your question, when I was an ignornat crabber long ago, it was the same bug that was all over the dead (if I remember right) body. It is visible, not very big say the size of a very small ant and tan-ish in color.
I have to find a natural long term solution.

I love Tea tree, bummer

HERMEZ · Post by **HERMEZ** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 9:31 am

Julia_Crab wrote:And I'll add eucalyptus AND tea tree to the Inedible list --sorry, it's a work in progress, and isn't near finished yet.

Edit -- silly! Eucalyptus was already on the inedible list, but now tea tree has been added.

Thanks Julia I must have not gone down far enough

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 10:06 am

There are about 30,000 identified types of mite, and those are just the ones that have been named (parasitic, dust mites, crop mites) - the kind that would bother your crabs are the parasitic mites that feed on blood. The easiest way to decide whether something is a definite 'get-rid-of-it' emergency is to try and have a very close look at it under a magnifying glass or microscope - if it has eight legs, its an arachnid and probably a mite (they are all arachnids). If it has 6 legs, its an insect and therefore not a mite. Springtails for instance are insects and will live in your tank eating debris and the kind of waste that attracts mites; they can be really beneficial.

Generally, if you see a number of bugs of any kind in your tank, particularly if they appear to be hitching a ride on your crabs, then do a deep clean and take precautionary measures such as isolating 'infected' crabs and giving them strong salt water baths, just to be on the safe side.

HERMEZ · Post by **HERMEZ** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 10:17 am

Goblin_Queen wrote:There are about 30,000 identified types of mite, and those are just the ones that have been named (parasitic, dust mites, crop mites) - the kind that would bother your crabs are the parasitic mites that feed on blood. The easiest way to decide whether something is a definite 'get-rid-of-it' emergency is to try and have a very close look at it under a magnifying glass or microscope - if it has eight legs, its an arachnid and probably a mite (they are all arachnids). If it has 6 legs, its an insect and therefore not a mite. Springtails for instance are insects and will live in your tank eating debris and the kind of waste that attracts mites; they can be really beneficial.

Generally, if you see a number of bugs of any kind in your tank, particularly if they appear to be hitching a ride on your crabs, then do a deep clean and take precautionary measures such as isolating 'infected' crabs and giving them strong salt water baths, just to be on the safe side.

THANSK so much for your reply, does anybody have an actual picture of one????????

BTW I have no plants in the room except one-just thought i'd throw that it and its not near the tank.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 10:27 am

Pics of mites

They can be bought into a tank in a number of ways; on new equipment, in dried food ingredients, on fresh food or in substrate if its been incorrectly stored... They breed by laying eggs so its possible to import the eggs into the tank without realising it...

HERMEZ · Post by **HERMEZ** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 10:50 am

hmmm might be a spider mite, I have been looking at all these pics and most have 6 legs. We have had alot of spiders in the house this year. I guess spider mites wont hurt the crabs?
I am not entirely ruling out the other kind to which I need a specfic picture not a rash of pictures like I have been looking at-driving myself crazy over.

I am beginning to forget what the actual bug looked like the more pictures I scan LOL

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 11:53 am

I suggest doing what Jedediah said. Find the bug, get a magnifying glass and see how many legs it has. Then you know what to do.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 12:46 pm

LOL spider mites are plant pests and are called spider mites because they spin webs like spiders, not because they come with spiders.

If there are spider mites in your tank, they'll soon be dead, because there are no live plants to eat.

HERMEZ · Post by **HERMEZ** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 1:02 pm

Julia_Crab wrote:LOL spider mites are plant pests and are called spider mites because they spin webs like spiders, not because they come with spiders.

If there are spider mites in your tank, they'll soon be dead, because there are no live plants to eat.

oh I was going by the picture and what it said, sorta looked like it and it said it was a spider mite. My tank is simply designed so other than the moss, crabs and food, dont know what else it is interested again. Well lets hope I dont see another one.
I am still not gonna give up looking for something to deter those pests

Julia one thing.........when you got rid of your mites with the other Mite eater do you continue to get them to be proactive?