HCA: Hermit Crab Association

We have put off getting a new Straw for various reasons to replace Strawberry Nana, but today was the day. Went OT Petco and my Daughter picked out the one she liked and very proudly and carefully carried the little box out of the store. (large emotional investment here) We got home and were doing are intro to the tank IO/declor bath when I noticed something small and white moving AGAINST the current . You guessed it...mites! Only four that I could see, but that enough for serious tank destruction! Proceeded to do two more baths until no more mites surfaced and got the ISO set up. Called the pet store to let them know they had problems and they were going to spray the remaining Straws with mite killer spray . Can you say arachnids! She was open to understanding that was not the best idea, and I talked her through the procedure. My main concern is my daughter . She was devastated when her other crab died, and even though it can happen to any new crab, we have never lost any of our other nine, so this will be tough if it happens again. Keep us in your good wishes...and maybe I'll spend the big bucks to get rid of the mites if the IO bath doesn't work. I hate to keep stressing out a crab with repeated baths, you know?

Julia_Crabs has a great idea. Predatory mites that kill off the mites that live on your crabs. Once they eat all those unwanted mites, theres nothing left for them to eat and they die off. That leaves your tank, mite free!

Contact her or do a search for it on here.

Yeah, I remember Christa ended up getting some of the gnat eating gnats - and had GREAT results! This was... um... two years ago, I believe?

Good luck with your new straw! I still have three of them, but I bite my nails any time any of them even show any sign of impending molt.

Laurie

I was just reading Julia Crabs procedure for the predatory mites, and I think I am going to do it. The Straws are so sensitive that I hate the idea of adding so much extra stress by bathing....especially since it often doesn't work. I read through carefully so I am not so freaked out by the idea of puposefully introducing bugs into my home, and it sounds like Julia solved a really big problem with these predatory buggers

Keep us updated! I know NarNar was trying that too....If you can take some pics when you get the predatory mites. I know alot of people would like to see that

Where the heck would a person buy predatory mites? I've never heard of them.

sophistic_chick wrote:Where the heck would a person buy predatory mites? I've never heard of them.

Where else? Online!
Hopefully someone can give more information? I remember reading the predatory mites article a while ago...

If you go to the crab care faqs, there is a section on mites. At the very bottom Julia Crab has added information and within her description is the website. I followed her directions and they were very easy to order. A little pricey, but our pets really become part of the family