Crazy stupid grain/food mite population explosion! Help!

[joewats00]

Crazy stupid grain/food mite population explosion - how the heck do I get a handle on or just exterminate a population this big???

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[JoeHermits]

They live in our homes so they tend to come and go. Reducing the amount of fresh food you offer and removing within twenty-four hours will help reduce their food supply.

I think you posted in our Facebook group as well? Using fruit or veggie slices to attract and remove them does work.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[HermitCrabCHICA]

I suggest a full tank clean it is what I am going to do those stupid mites gross me out.

[aussieJJDude]

I suggest a full tank clean it is what I am going to do those stupid mites gross me out.

They may be gross, but not harmful so it be incredibly disruptive to preform a full clean when they naturally occur in our homes... so in a couple of days they'll be back again. Rendering it moot.

[HermitCrabCHICA]

How can I get rid of them so they would be gone forever? And one question. I use a blanket for the tank lid it has some mites on it so I need to wash it somehow. Would the washing machine kill them or would they infest the washer? If they don't die in the washer I think I am going to throw the blanket away.

[joewats00]

Update for others dealing with the same issue... TLDR, predatory mites are the way to go. I ordered some up, got em, and dumped like a quarter of the container into my tank in various places. Also switched the food out fresh at that time. Since then, I haven't touched anything, and in the last couple days the grain mite population has vanished. I picked up the food dishes and poked around for a moment and - tada! A few predatory mites meandering about and that's it. Now, I'm gonna change food every day for a week or two, but also gonna be sure to leave some areas where I've seen predatory mites untouched as to not disturb their population. I've also re-introduced isopods into my tank. Should be problem solved!

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[HermitCrabCHICA]

I can't and won't get predatory mites does anyone know a way to get rid of mites forever? Anyone?

[joewats00]

I can't and won't get predatory mites does anyone know a way to get rid of mites forever? Anyone?

Lil bugs and stuff are definitely something that we gotta deal with having a subtropical tank pet. For me, in the past rather than predatory mites, I've changed food daily, and introduced rollie pollies. The downside to this approach is that it's less certain, and may take much longer to curb the population. What you have to keep in mind is that these grain mites are at worst an annoyance to your crabs. Honestly, depending on your situation's severity, pred mites might be the way to go, even though you'd rather not. You never even have to see em or touch em. But yeah, I would also get some isopods and start changing the food daily. It'll feel wasteful, but that's a big factor in lessening the pop.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[HermitCrabCHICA]

But if I am trying to get rid of mites getting predatory mites just gets rid of one kind of mites but gives me another kind.

[joewats00]

But if I am trying to get rid of mites getting predatory mites just gets rid of one kind of mites but gives me another kind.

A little bit! The preds won't boom nearly as much population-wise, and they'll just hang around the food dishes and such where they're most likely to find the grain mites (at least in my experience). Plus, once they've eaten all the grain mites they can find, they'll start to eat each other until you're mite-less! This is why they're so great

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[HermitCrabCHICA]

It's just I am already spending so much on my little hermit crabs and buying mites? Ew

[joewats00]

It's just I am already spending so much on my little hermit crabs and my family probably won't like the idea of buying mites on purpose.

Fair enough, sounds like daily food changes and rollie pollies are the way to go

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[HermitCrabCHICA]

Okay thankyou for helping me out!