Argh! Grain mite infestation is driving me nuts!

[Tbanning]

Hi everyone,

I am not sure what to do! My crabs and their crabitat have been my pride and joy and most rewarding project. I have 3 small PP’s and 2 medium in a 20 gallon base tank with a 20 gallon topper. Initially, I had the three tiny ones in a 10 gallon, but when I learned I was obtaining two more medium, I upgraded my tank. In the old tank I had seen grain mites here and there but the population was always controlled. Now in this new set up, they are swarming!!! And it’s making my skin crawl! They are not only INFESTING the inside of the tank but I realized they are starting to crawl outside of it! I have temporarily sealed off the tank to prevent any more from coming out using scotch tape on the very slight crevasse openings near the front facing doors and am researching how to move forward. I have already done substrate changes. I am at a total loss. Please give any advice you can. How can I keep them at bay? What can I feed my crabs moving forward to discourage the grain mite population? Are there any grain mite traps you know of?

If they were just staying in the tank (and they weren’t such an infestation) it wouldn’t bother me so much as I know seeing them from time to time is a natural part of hermit crab ownership and they help eat food/waste to balance the internal ecosystem of the crabitat but I am not okay with the fact they are also swarming outside of the tank (which is located inside of my bedroom). I am completely disgusted. Can you please help?
Please see photo for reference (I have a lower amount of substrate than normal because I keep scooping the top layer off but I can’t remove it completely because I believe one of my crabs is molting).

How can I fix this with one crab under substrate molting? Please help! I love my hermit crabs and want to be their forever mom as I know they cannot be released back to the wild once captured and I don’t trust anyone else to provide them with the care they need but these mites are driving me insane!!


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[wodesorel]

Grain mites need two things for their population to explode - a steady food source, and humidity higher than 50%. Unfortunately so do hermit crabs. You can definitely battle against them and while it's almost never a clean sweep, numbers can be controlled.

Food sources - not just what the crabs are eating, they can subsist on coconut fiber and any natural materials in the tank. They've also been found to be able to eat mold. I would suggest a sand only substrate, initially moistened with saltwater which they don't like as much and which helps prevent mold growth. A bare tank will be boring bit will make it easier, and it doesn't have to be permanent. Getting the numbers down will help prevent them from building back up.

Humidity - I've done lower humidity tanks without hurting hermits, the crabs carry water with them and create mini greenhouses in their shells creating humidity levels around themselves. I realize how controversial that is though. At the very least, allowing the top of the substrate to dry a bit, and getting airflow through the tank, will definitely help prevent high humidity spots that allow for faster mite reproduction.

Competition - springtails and isopods may be more palatable tank companions and won't go wandering. They'll compete for food sources and the isopods can hunt mites as well.

Baiting - ita not completely effective, but once other food sources have been removed, feeding in one location and removing some of the substrate during food changes can help remove more mites. I know the mites LOVE fresh banana, it's the only time I ever see them in my tank. If you find something they like more than other foods, use that on the substrate and then remove it and some substrate from the area to pull out as many as possible.

Treating items - unfortunately nothing is really easy as the mites are pretty hardy. Things either need to be heated to 150 degrees for 15 minutes (all the way through, which means wood can take a while to fully warm up). Freezing may work as well but it takes extreme temps, a few days at -10F which not many freezers are set to. Even then, they're already in the environment, so sterilize a tank and they'll just recolonize in a few days. Management is a better plan than trying for extermination. Vinegar wipedowns of the tank will take care of strays and good cleaning of the area will help with any wanderers.

[KyMart]

Hi everyone,

I am not sure what to do! My crabs and their crabitat have been my pride and joy and most rewarding project. I have 3 small PP’s and 2 medium in a 20 gallon base tank with a 20 gallon topper. Initially, I had the three tiny ones in a 10 gallon, but when I learned I was obtaining two more medium, I upgraded my tank. In the old tank I had seen grain mites here and there but the population was always controlled. Now in this new set up, they are swarming!!! And it’s making my skin crawl! They are not only INFESTING the inside of the tank but I realized they are starting to crawl outside of it! I have temporarily sealed off the tank to prevent any more from coming out using scotch tape on the very slight crevasse openings near the front facing doors and am researching how to move forward. I have already done substrate changes. I am at a total loss. Please give any advice you can. How can I keep them at bay? What can I feed my crabs moving forward to discourage the grain mite population? Are there any grain mite traps you know of?

If they were just staying in the tank (and they weren’t such an infestation) it wouldn’t bother me so much as I know seeing them from time to time is a natural part of hermit crab ownership and they help eat food/waste to balance the internal ecosystem of the crabitat but I am not okay with the fact they are also swarming outside of the tank (which is located inside of my bedroom). I am completely disgusted. Can you please help?
Please see photo for reference (I have a lower amount of substrate than normal because I keep scooping the top layer off but I can’t remove it completely because I believe one of my crabs is molting).

How can I fix this with one crab under substrate molting? Please help! I love my hermit crabs and want to be their forever mom as I know they cannot be released back to the wild once captured and I don’t trust anyone else to provide them with the care they need but these mites are driving me insane!!


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I know this is unrelated to what you are asking, but I feel that it is important for me to note. Most crabitats are the same weight as regular fish tanks full of water, if not more (depending on substrate used and how much substrate is in the tank). The thing your tank is currently on can not probably support your tank, and it could cause stress on the glass, it could cause the glass to break, and you crabs to possibly get injure, and if your tank breaks you have to buy a new one, which can be pricy. Aquariums need to have a solid structure under the entire base, it needs to be solid so it can hold the base, and to be under the entire base so there is no stress on the bottom glass. You don't have to do something about this now, you could just move ur tank onto the floor if needed, I just thought I should let you know that way your crabs are safe, and your tank is too. You can find tank stands on craigslist, at thrift stores (rare find I believe), neighborhood give away sites (I can't think of any specific ones right now), second sites (like craigslist, I know I already said that), or you can buy them new in stores, build your own if you have the means too (more expensive then thrifting one), or order a new online (more expensive then thrifting one). It's all up to you what you want to do, the floor will work as long as it doesn't have any major defects (like when the foundation breaks under kitchen floors and there is a bump down kind of thing). The link below is to a 20 gallon stand, it is the same brand as my 55/75 gallon tank stand which I am going to be using for my 40 gallon breeder (I got a bigger tank stand so when I upgraded I wouldn't have to buy another expensive stand, it was going to be about the same price anyways because I have a breeder and can't get a regular 40 gallon stand).

https://a.co/d/aYagCdD

[Tbanning]

I know this is unrelated to what you are asking, but I feel that it is important for me to note. Most crabitats are the same weight as regular fish tanks full of water, if not more (depending on substrate used and how much substrate is in the tank). The thing your tank is currently on can not probably support your tank, and it could cause stress on the glass, it could cause the glass to break, and you crabs to possibly get injure, and if your tank breaks you have to buy a new one, which can be pricy. Aquariums need to have a solid structure under the entire base, it needs to be solid so it can hold the base, and to be under the entire base so there is no stress on the bottom glass. You don't have to do something about this now, you could just move ur tank onto the floor if needed, I just thought I should let you know that way your crabs are safe, and your tank is too. You can find tank stands on craigslist, at thrift stores (rare find I believe), neighborhood give away sites (I can't think of any specific ones right now), second sites (like craigslist, I know I already said that), or you can buy them new in stores, build your own if you have the means too (more expensive then thrifting one), or order a new online (more expensive then thrifting one). It's all up to you what you want to do, the floor will work as long as it doesn't have any major defects (like when the foundation breaks under kitchen floors and there is a bump down kind of thing). The link below is to a 20 gallon stand, it is the same brand as my 55/75 gallon tank stand which I am going to be using for my 40 gallon breeder (I got a bigger tank stand so when I upgraded I wouldn't have to buy another expensive stand, it was going to be about the same price anyways because I have a breeder and can't get a regular 40 gallon stand).

https://a.co/d/aYagCdD

This is very helpful insight about supporting the glass in my tank! Thank you for sharing!


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[Tbanning]

Grain mites need two things for their population to explode - a steady food source, and humidity higher than 50%. Unfortunately so do hermit crabs. You can definitely battle against them and while it's almost never a clean sweep, numbers can be controlled.

Food sources - not just what the crabs are eating, they can subsist on coconut fiber and any natural materials in the tank. They've also been found to be able to eat mold. I would suggest a sand only substrate, initially moistened with saltwater which they don't like as much and which helps prevent mold growth. A bare tank will be boring bit will make it easier, and it doesn't have to be permanent. Getting the numbers down will help prevent them from building back up.

Humidity - I've done lower humidity tanks without hurting hermits, the crabs carry water with them and create mini greenhouses in their shells creating humidity levels around themselves. I realize how controversial that is though. At the very least, allowing the top of the substrate to dry a bit, and getting airflow through the tank, will definitely help prevent high humidity spots that allow for faster mite reproduction.

Competition - springtails and isopods may be more palatable tank companions and won't go wandering. They'll compete for food sources and the isopods can hunt mites as well.

Baiting - ita not completely effective, but once other food sources have been removed, feeding in one location and removing some of the substrate during food changes can help remove more mites. I know the mites LOVE fresh banana, it's the only time I ever see them in my tank. If you find something they like more than other foods, use that on the substrate and then remove it and some substrate from the area to pull out as many as possible.

Treating items - unfortunately nothing is really easy as the mites are pretty hardy. Things either need to be heated to 150 degrees for 15 minutes (all the way through, which means wood can take a while to fully warm up). Freezing may work as well but it takes extreme temps, a few days at -10F which not many freezers are set to. Even then, they're already in the environment, so sterilize a tank and they'll just recolonize in a few days. Management is a better plan than trying for extermination. Vinegar wipedowns of the tank will take care of strays and good cleaning of the area will help with any wanderers.

Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a thorough response! I am going to start with the vinegar wipe downs, baiting, cleaning the top level of substrate. As for Springtails and isopods - I’ve heard of this method before very vaguely but cannot find much information in relationship to a crabitat. If I introduce once of these, does it create a possibility for a different type of infestation? Do you know of pros and cons to testing this method and where I could get springtails or isopods?

Thank you, thank you, thank you again!


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[KyMart]

This is very helpful insight about supporting the glass in my tank! Thank you for sharing!


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You're very welcome! When I bought my 40 gallon breeder (which I still haven't started setting up ), I had to look into proper support for it, because my current tank is a 10 gallon that fits in my desk and isn't heavy, and my desk is sturdy enough to hold it's weight. My 40 gallon breeder tank would never fit on my desk, and it probably couldn't hold it with the substrate it in, I had a 85 pound black lab, so I couldn't set it on the floor. That's why I know all of this stuff, and I figured I would share it with you so your tank doesn't break and risk hurting your crab(s) and your bank!

[KyMart]

Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a thorough response! I am going to start with the vinegar wipe downs, baiting, cleaning the top level of substrate. As for Springtails and isopods - I’ve heard of this method before very vaguely but cannot find much information in relationship to a crabitat. If I introduce once of these, does it create a possibility for a different type of infestation? Do you know of pros and cons to testing this method and where I could get springtails or isopods?

Thank you, thank you, thank you again!


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Here is a link to the HCA topic info sheet about Isopods! I hope this helps!
https://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/p ... hp?t=92538

[Tbanning]

Update!
The infestation seems to be under control. Sealing up the tank for two days helped stop them from coming OUTSIDE of the tank and I found a trick on YouTube - lining the outside of the crabitat tank entrances with Vaseline (I used aquaphor because that is what I had). The mites that try to exit get stuck in it and you can just wipe it away the next day and reapply. The mites are still in my tank but the numbers are not quite so apparent and alarming. Vinegar wipe downs of the tank walls helped as well and I have just been trying to feed dry foods temporarily. I have put a few pieces of fresh fruits / veggies in but am being careful to remove them quickly. Reading other forums I noticed you guys mention that the mites eat crab droppings. This makes me like them more! I just want them to stay INSIDE the tank lol.


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