Mites...

This is where you discuss the conditions of your crabitat -- temperature, humidity, substrate, decorating, etc.
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LindaLou
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Mites...

Post by LindaLou » Sun Dec 12, 2021 10:40 pm

So I never noticed them before. I ordered some cholla wood food bowls ,from a shop on Etsy. I soaked them in salt water, then baked them at 325° for 15 mins. They have been in my tank for about a week now. I went to change out their food and seen these little mite things crawling on the wood. I took it out and knocked some into a glass jar to get a better look. If anyone has any idea what they are and if they will harm my crabbies please let me know.
Please inform me on what to do.
I've already looked on the mite page and didn't see them in any of the pictures. But here are some pics of the wood I bought and some up close picture I got of the mites. I just really need to know what they are and if they will hurt my babies! ImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImage

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curlysister
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Re: Mites...

Post by curlysister » Sun Dec 12, 2021 11:22 pm

There really are very few bugs that end up in our tanks that are harmful to the crabs.
Have you checked the 'bugs' care sheet, to see if they are on there, rather than mites?

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wodesorel
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Re: Mites...

Post by wodesorel » Mon Dec 13, 2021 5:07 am

These are springtails, not mites! They're likely flocking to the wood to eat the mold that always grows on newly wet/humid organic items. Springtails are a welcome addition to enclosures because they help to control all the unwanted growths that go along with super humid setups.
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LindaLou
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Re: Mites...

Post by LindaLou » Wed Dec 22, 2021 6:03 pm

Is it normal to get them in wooden things u order?

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CrabbyLover77
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Re: Mites...

Post by CrabbyLover77 » Wed Dec 22, 2021 9:06 pm

LindaLou wrote:Is it normal to get them in wooden things u order?

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They were likely already in your tank, and like Wodes said, they were attracted to the new wood item. Image

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wodesorel
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Re: Mites...

Post by wodesorel » Wed Dec 22, 2021 10:12 pm

They can come in on natural items, but if it's been dried out for a while then they don't survive. They're pretty much everywhere, including in moist areas in our homes (bathrooms, basements), but they really like the heat and humidity and food that crabitats provide.
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LindaLou
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Re: Mites...

Post by LindaLou » Thu Feb 17, 2022 7:43 pm

I had never noticed them in any of my tanks until I put the wooden feeding bowl I ordered in there. Now I see them everywhere in the tank. Is there anyway to get rid of some of them without having yo redo my tank? I have 10-12" of subtrate in a 40 gallon breeder...... that's alot of sand and ee to replace, not to mention all the wood...ImageImageImage

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