Mites???

[Crabby7Crabber]

Since you've come to the emergency forum, we know you want a fast answer to your question. In order for us to figure out the problem as quickly as possible, we ask that you answer the following questions as best you can. Some of them may seem odd, but they're all designed to give us the information we need to give you a good solution for your problem. The things in the [ brackets ] are there to make this post easier to read once submitted. Thanks!


1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
Lowes Sand with Coconut Fibre, Aprox 6 inch.


2. Do you have gauges in the tank to measure temperature and humidity? If so, where are they located and what temperature and humidity do they usually read?
83 degrees and 78 for humidity.


3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
Yes, two side heaters (one on back, other on left side).


4. What types of water are available (fresh or salt) and how is the water treated (what brands of dechlorinator or salt mix and what ratio is used to mix it)?
I use a brand of aquamarine salt (forgot the name atm, but people on here use it as well) and mix it per gallon.


5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
I feed food from Etsy sellers (Hermie Grub, etc).

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
All of them are purple pinchers, and I've had them 1, 1 1/2 years.

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
All my crabs have molted at least twice in their time with me (so at least 6 molts for all of them).


8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
I have three med. sized pps (golf size) in a 20g with a glass top.


9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
(read above! )


10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
7-9, 9 currently.

11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
No.

12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
I spot clean, as I've read that's what some people do on here, but I am definitely going to clean it all out today.


13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
There are sponges for them to eat/pick at, but not to eat.

14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
No.

15. Is there any other information you would like to share that might be helpful (anything that is regularly part of your crab care, playtime, bathing, etc.)?
I don't usually take them out.

16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
Hey, this is Crabber7Crabber here! I'm writing because I picked up my beloved George Washington today to check him out, and when I put him down my thumb was crawling with small brown-- mites? I honestly don't know. I was diagnosed with an ED in April and had to go to residential for 6 weeks. I came back to their tank (we'd just upgraded to a 20g) and thought everything was going well. They were moving around and just being-- happy. I was happy, but began to notice my three babies would not hang out of their shell, but kind of sit up. I honestly have no idea what to do as this is the first time I'm seeing bugs in my 4 years of crabbing. Please guide me to make them happy again! After my babies pass, I cannot care for any more crabs, but that doesn't mean I don't want them to live a long prosperous life if I can help it! How should I clean the furniture? How do I bathe them to ensure no mites (or little brown buggies) are left? Thank you in advance for your words!


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[Crabby7Crabber]

On further expectation I see that there are little grey bugs in the sand, but besides the one crab (Jubali, I wrote George Washington on accident thinking of my Ec from a few years ago in my panic), the other two do not have any bugs (as far as I can tell). I am going to have the tank cleaned thoroughly by the end of the night, but I am still worried. Please assist me!

[Crabby7Crabber]

I got into my account! This is my post ) )

[curlysister]

Are you able to post a photo of the mites? Most mites in the tank are not harmful, so it would be helpful to see what they look like.

[Crabby7Crabber]

All of them seem to be clear of the little bugs. Just came back with new substrate so I am going to clean out the tank really well with MILD mild soap and water. Could you please give me instructions on boiling the furniture and bathing the crabs?

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[Crabby7Crabber]

My mother suggested from something she read that I should isolate them all in containers for a week. I have looked at multiple videos throughout the day, and from what it seems the bugs were some type of food mite? They were as big as a grain of sand, and when I bathed the crabs none came off into the water. I also inspected each of my crabs (haha, sounds funny) three times ; when I put them in a padded drawer while I was cleaning, after their bath, and before I put them back into a newly-substrate tank (playsand and coconut fibre mix). I don't want to risk allowing the bugs back, but I'm not sure if they're exactly harmful either. I watched a video explaining that food mites were inevitable-- that the crabs even ate them. But it still makes me uneasy, as I'm not sure if I'm doing it right. Is there a way to differentiate bad and good mites?

[CrabbyLover77]

If the mite isn't clinging to the crab (like in the joint areas), is not harmful. I find some in the water dishes sometimes, and they like to hang by the food dishes. I just let the food mites do their thing since they eat leftover food the crabbies have dragged around.

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[curlysister]

Have you had a look at the 'mites' care sheet? I have never had any (touch wood), but from my understanding, it is often hard to get rid of the harmless ones, and they often come back again. The care sheet also talks about how to clean things.

http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... 24&t=92530

[Crabby7Crabber]

" If you've had your hermit crabs for a while without having added any new crabs to your tanks and suddenly discover mites that weren't there before, it's very unlikely that they are hermit crab mites."
I feel like at this point all my suspicious points toward these mites that I encountered being harmless. None were attached to the crab as far as I could see (and I inspected thoroughly, haha), nor did any that could've been harmful come off during the bath (and that was a long bath I gave them). I feel as if I kind of freaked, not knowing what to do since this was my first bug encounter, when I didn't need to get as worried as I did. Thank you Curly and my fellow Crab Crabber (lol) for their advice

[CrabbyLover77]

Yw!

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[VickieG]

Another likely culprit could be springtails. If it isn't them now, you still may see them in the future. It's really difficult to keep them from getting into your tank, no matter how fastidious you are boiling, baking, freezing or whatever. I'm pretty sure I've brought them in on mosses, bark and even a couple of plants. They're very small and almost impossible to see until there's a bunch of them. Even then they look like sand until they start moving around. They're beneficial as a clean up crew esp since most crabs like to drag food away and even accidentally bury it along with their shells. I still dump as many out as I can, when I can, usually when they're in and under the food dishes and scoop them out of my fresh water.

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[Crabby7Crabber]

thank you, vicky!

UPDATE: Now I'm having trouble with flies, or little knat like things (black, darker colour) that I find in the tank (once in a while i'll also find them around my screen, so I assume they aren't predatory). But what do you all think? From what I've read and what you all are telling me, some bugs are unavoidable and I shouldn't worry too much. I just feel a little nervous. I've checked my crabs and from what I can tell they all seem very happy/healthy w/no bugs on them. I still am uneasy, if that's understandable. I also found a small little black bug (a knat size but without wings? i honestly don't know). I just want to make sure i know if I have any predatory/harmful bugs, and it's hard to get pictures. Any specific list other then the mite list I can use to inspect/determine? Thank you all for the help.

[Crabby7Crabber]

If the mite isn't clinging to the crab (like in the joint areas), is not harmful. I find some in the water dishes sometimes, and they like to hang by the food dishes. I just let the food mites do their thing since they eat leftover food the crabbies have dragged around.

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this is a SUPER old post! but i just realized the same tiny little buggies, more a tan colour but very tiny, were clinging to the clear water dish i have. would you consider them harmless? none at all are on my crabs, or from what i could see (i probably will change the substrate nevertheless in a week or so for brand new playsand they can all molt in)!!

[Crabby7Crabber]

Another likely culprit could be springtails. If it isn't them now, you still may see them in the future. It's really difficult to keep them from getting into your tank, no matter how fastidious you are boiling, baking, freezing or whatever. I'm pretty sure I've brought them in on mosses, bark and even a couple of plants. They're very small and almost impossible to see until there's a bunch of them. Even then they look like sand until they start moving around. They're beneficial as a clean up crew esp since most crabs like to drag food away and even accidentally bury it along with their shells. I still dump as many out as I can, when I can, usually when they're in and under the food dishes and scoop them out of my fresh water.

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I believe these critters are what I have?? Smaller or equal to a grain of sand and VERY pesky.

[CrabbyLover77]

I believe these critters are what I have?? Smaller or equal to a grain of sand and VERY pesky.

Hi!

It's sounds like they are harmless since they aren't attaching themselves to your crabs. Are you offering fresh foods? Maybe you could offer only dry foods to try and decrease the population a bit. Or put something fresh in the tank, wait til there's a bunch on the food piece, then throw them all out.

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