Crabs hiding from bugs?

[TXcrabby022]

A few months ago I switched from a screened lid to a folding glass aquarium lid, so that the crabitat would stay humid enough while we were away (I'd normally mist it a few times a day). After a while I noticed lots of fast-moving little white insects, especially around the food. I read the info on here and decided they seemed harmless, but my two crabs have been spending lots more time buried since they appeared. Last time they emerged, two months ago, they were each up for a day or two before digging back in. Last night one came up and ate, then buried himself again. Could the bugs be driving them under? And if so, how do I deal with them when the crabs are buried?

[Kermie16]

Sound like food mites. We have had some issues with them in the past. They are harmless. Have ur hermies molted or do u think they may be coming on molting? Mine tend to bury and dig a lot when they are getting closer to molt. With our food mites, I just try to take out fresh food every morning and any tid bits they have pulled onto the sub. I took a ziplock bag and a plastic spoon and just cleaned off the very surface of the sub layer and tossed it out. They will also most likely be on nearby wood structures. With our mobani, I dunked it in MSW (marine salt water) for a couple of hours then baked it on low heat 250 degrees for about 90 minutes then let it cool and placed back into tat:) Not sure if u really have to go that far but that's what we did to rid of the mites. We also added isopods which help with general tank maintenance and they eat the mites:)


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[TXcrabby022]

Thanks, Kermie! Good to have confirmation that they're probably food mites. I will try your ideas. Going to see how I can get some isopods...

[TXcrabby022]

P.S. They've been buried for a couple of months at least, after a previous month or more (I was starting to worry). I expect they'll be on the surface for a while now. Kinda wondering about the other guy, though, since it looks like the one who came up is wearing his shell. Or maybe he's just darkened in color (he was more orange-red before the molt).

[Kermie16]

Our last hermie was down 11.5 weeks. Thought something had happened to him but just left him alone and then one morning he just popped up:) Good luck!


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