How common are the bug problems?!?!?

Jemcas29 · Post by **Jemcas29** » Sat Dec 31, 2016 12:15 am

Well I just read the full post on the "what bug is that" and I am freaking out a bit! How often do people have trouble with bugs in the tanks? Our tank is in our daughters room, she is the one who has begged for the crabs, and it is next to her bed so I am now super worried. Anything I can do to prevent unwanted bugs even if they aren't harmful? Should I move the habitat out of her room or away from the bed at a minimum? Bugs FREAK me out!

GabyRaven · Post by **GabyRaven** » Sat Dec 31, 2016 9:48 am

Also concerned about bugs, ants have been flooding my tank to get the food, crabs are unharmed but the ants man, they are ravenous. Awaiting a reply from someone who can help us

YouTube · Post by **GotButterflies** » Sat Dec 31, 2016 11:55 am

I have had my crabs for almost 6 years now. I owned them as a teenager as well. I personally don't have an issue with bugs. Everything tends to maintain itself in the crabitat. You are going to have bugs. It's normal - but they are teeny tiny bugs. They like the food. Occasionally I will get a gnat - that is annoying.

I did have a problem with ants once. It was horrible. My crabitat is by a window, and those little buggers came in though the window and into my crabitat. Luckily they were very tiny black ants, I sealed up the outside of the window and problem was gone.

YouTube · Post by **GotButterflies** » Sat Dec 31, 2016 11:58 am

Jemcas29 wrote:Well I just read the full post on the "what bug is that" and I am freaking out a bit! How often do people have trouble with bugs in the tanks? Our tank is in our daughters room, she is the one who has begged for the crabs, and it is next to her bed so I am now super worried. Anything I can do to prevent unwanted bugs even if they aren't harmful? Should I move the habitat out of her room or away from the bed at a minimum? Bugs FREAK me out!

The bugs will stay in the crabitat. They really don't come out of it. If anything, the crabs are nocturnal, so being next to her bed could wake her up. If you are really concerned about the bus, I recommend a glass lid if you don't have one. Those work the best imho. Change the food more frequently, and it shouldn't be an issue.

YouTube · Post by **GotButterflies** » Sat Dec 31, 2016 12:00 pm

GabyRaven wrote:Also concerned about bugs, ants have been flooding my tank to get the food, crabs are unharmed but the ants man, they are ravenous. Awaiting a reply from someone who can help us

Do you know where the ants are coming from? If they are living in your tank they can overcome the tank quickly. The ants I had only came in for food and trailed out. They lived on Oak trees. If you truly have an issue with ants, then you might need to bake everything to kill eggs and ants. Try to figure out where they are coming from and if they set up residency in your tank.

GabyRaven · Post by **GabyRaven** » Sat Dec 31, 2016 12:22 pm

GotButterflies wrote:
GabyRaven wrote:Also concerned about bugs, ants have been flooding my tank to get the food, crabs are unharmed but the ants man, they are ravenous. Awaiting a reply from someone who can help us
Do you know where the ants are coming from? If they are living in your tank they can overcome the tank quickly. The ants I had only came in for food and trailed out. They lived on Oak trees. If you truly have an issue with ants, then you might need to bake everything to kill eggs and ants. Try to figure out where they are coming from and if they set up residency in your tank.

I'm not sure if they're living in my tank but I put Vaseline all around the edges to seal it up kind of, and it worked for a while but now they're back

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YouTube · Post by **GotButterflies** » Sat Dec 31, 2016 12:29 pm

Vaseline doesn't work. I had tried that too. Try moving things around in your tank and see if they are living anywhere. Check shells, under plants, etc. If they are, you might need to boil/bake things. Be prepared to grab things out in a hurry, they will move fast.

GabyRaven · Post by **GabyRaven** » Sat Dec 31, 2016 6:10 pm

Do I do a deep clean if they've set up shop? Replace sub and all that? The problem is that I have two molters down right now :/

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Post by **aussieJJDude** » Sat Dec 31, 2016 8:10 pm

I would, ants can/will harm a moulting (defenceless) crab if they come across it while building their nest.

GabyRaven · Post by **GabyRaven** » Sun Jan 01, 2017 1:28 am

How do I do that? Do I dig up the molters??

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Post by **aussieJJDude** » Sun Jan 01, 2017 4:15 am

A dig of the moulters - have a couple of ISO's on standby just in case - and if necessary, a complete removal of substrate. (good clean of decor and shells would be helpful, such as baking or boiling.) If you want, you could reuse the substrate by baking it on your lowest setting in the oven - spread thin over a tray - for 30 mins or just completely replace.

GabyRaven · Post by **GabyRaven** » Sun Jan 01, 2017 9:16 am

aussieJJDude wrote:A dig of the moulters - have a couple of ISO's on standby just in case - and if necessary, a complete removal of substrate. (good clean of decor and shells would be helpful, such as baking or boiling.) If you want, you could reuse the substrate by baking it on your lowest setting in the oven - spread thin over a tray - for 30 mins or just completely replace.

So yes dig them up?

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Post by **aussieJJDude** » Tue Jan 03, 2017 1:12 am

If you have ants setting up home in your tank, then I would dig.

Buts thats me.

GabyRaven · Post by **GabyRaven** » Tue Jan 03, 2017 7:53 am

Alright I'll dig as soon as I get home I'm in NC right now

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LadyJinglyJones · Post by **LadyJinglyJones** » Wed Jan 04, 2017 11:56 am

I'd just add the suggestion that before you dig, do try to make sure the ants are residents & not tourists.

HCA: Hermit Crab Association