HELP! Mites on crab

[charmed1212]

I just noticed small microscopic white things crawling on my hermit crab's legs. It's acting normal, has been very active and is currently eating. I have no idea what kind of mite it is and don't know what to do. I'm nervous because I currently have one crab molting. Can anyone help?

[soilentgringa]

Sounds like food mites. There is a sticky in this subforum called "What's That Bug in the Crabitat?" that helps I.D. insects commonly found in crab tanks.

Food mites are harmless.

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[charmed1212]

Thanks for the reply!! I looked in that section, but it didn't seem to help me distinguish between food mites and the harmful crab mites. Currently the only place I see them is on the crab.

[charmed1212]

Trying to piggy back off this topic since it has been active. I noticed some practically microscopic white things crawling on the leg of my crab. Only like two or three that are smaller than a grain of sand. I haven't seen them anywhere else. I don't currently have an ISO to put him in and can't deep clean as my other crabbie is down molting. I gave him a bath hoping to knock some off, but figure it might not do so well since I had to put him back in the normal tank. Question is, I can't seem to distinguish if they are the harmless or harmful ones. How can I tell?

[soilentgringa]

Trying to piggy back off this topic since it has been active. I noticed some practically microscopic white things crawling on the leg of my crab. Only like two or three that are smaller than a grain of sand. I haven't seen them anywhere else. I don't currently have an ISO to put him in and can't deep clean as my other crabbie is down molting. I gave him a bath hoping to knock some off, but figure it might not do so well since I had to put him back in the normal tank. Question is, I can't seem to distinguish if they are the harmless or harmful ones. How can I tell?

This will be moved to your OP. The mites you have sound like food mites. Harmful mites are reddish/brown in color and are stuck to the joints, antennae, eyestalks, and other soft parts of the crab.

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[soilentgringa]

If you can get pics, that would be very helpful in ID'ng.

[charmed1212]

Thank you. I will try and see if I can get some pictures. They are so small and I've only seen a few.

[PTCrabs]

If you can get pics, that would be very helpful in ID'ng.

I posted a pic with the original post....


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[PTCrabs]

If you can get pics, that would be very helpful in ID'ng.

I posted a pic with the original post....


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I'm sorry, just now seeing that someone else posted...guess your req was to her NM


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