HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I brought home two new large PPs today, and unfortunately the store that they came from had a fly infestation in their crab tank. The crabs seem healthy -- I can hear them bumping around in their towel-covered iso tank. I'm wondering if there are any precautions I need to take in case they brought some fly larvae with them. I haven't bathed them or anything at this point, and they are in their own tank (though regrettably it's just a XL KK, which is all I had free). Anyone else had a case like this? Is there anything I should do? Any idea how long before it's safe to certify them fly-free?They are both lovely crabs -- large and dark maroon. I hope things turn out okay for them!EDIT: Okay, now that I've read more posts, I see that I'm not the only one with bug problems. I think that what I was would fall into the category of "other flies". There was at least one dead crab in the tank that the flies seemed very interested in, not so much the living crabs. So I am probably safe from my own local infestation?

There's a good chance that the flies were black fungus gnats, which are often found in herp tanks (and potted plants). They breed in the substrate. So I guess you are safe from fly larvae, but I'd ISO the crabs for two weeks. Most small flies will hatch from their eggs and at least appear as larvae, if not as adult insect, during this time.

And covering the tank with a white towel is smart. You will be able to see any flies on the towel.Keep a close eye on them for the two weeks, to see if there were any eggs in the crab shells.

Keep an eye out for eggs, too. Fly eggs look like grains of rice. I have bathed new arrivals from fly-infested tanks and seen the eggs float out. Make sure they get a thorough immersion bath, and pour the bath water off them, just in case.A saltwater bath might also be a good pre-emptive measure. The good news is that crabs from a dirty tank are not always doomed. I have some from my largest pet store rescue in July 2000 that are still with me today! hc!Christa