Mites during a molt??

This forum is where you discuss issues relating to molting hermit crabs, including pre- and post-molting issues. If you are having a molting emergency please post in the Emergency Forum.
Post Reply
User avatar

Topic author
BlazeTheWeirdo
Posts: 95
Joined: Tue Jun 25, 2019 10:56 pm
Location: United States
Contact:

Mites during a molt??

Post by BlazeTheWeirdo » Sat Jul 13, 2019 4:48 pm

So I went to check on Jigsaw in my ISO tank this morning, and could almost swear I saw the slightest movement. Then again my eyes are bad. I decided to take a video of him, so I could zoom in and see if there in fact was movement. However I saw some tiny white dots crawling on him. Are these mites? Can they be treated while he's regrowing his exoskeleton?

https://www.dropbox.com/s/luzu2bhuu1uya ... 1.MOV?dl=0

User avatar

GotButterflies
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 7242
Joined: Wed Aug 10, 2016 6:56 pm
Location: Florida
Contact:

Re: Mites during a molt??

Post by GotButterflies » Sat Jul 13, 2019 10:52 pm

I honestly couldn't see anything, but then again, it's late - and my eyes are bugged out from looking at my zoeae. If they are white then they would be food mites. Is your crab alive?
Truly blessed to have incredible creatures, wonderful friends and my amazing family in my life!! I'm very thankful & grateful for all of them! www.thehealthyhermit.com

User avatar

Topic author
BlazeTheWeirdo
Posts: 95
Joined: Tue Jun 25, 2019 10:56 pm
Location: United States
Contact:

Re: Mites during a molt??

Post by BlazeTheWeirdo » Sat Jul 13, 2019 11:46 pm

GotButterflies wrote:
Sat Jul 13, 2019 10:52 pm
I honestly couldn't see anything, but then again, it's late - and my eyes are bugged out from looking at my zoeae. If they are white then they would be food mites. Is your crab alive?
I confirmed that they were food mites and I cleaned around as much as possibly;e. As far as being alive... that I don't know. I have a video clip showing how limp he is. He hasn't moved or done anything since day 8. There was a day where I thought he moved, but... I could be wrong. Here's the clip of me lifting him to check.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/qb2g6z3jypkkn ... 5.MOV?dl=0

User avatar

Topic author
BlazeTheWeirdo
Posts: 95
Joined: Tue Jun 25, 2019 10:56 pm
Location: United States
Contact:

Re: Mites during a molt??

Post by BlazeTheWeirdo » Sun Jul 14, 2019 12:13 am

If he's dead I can accept that. I just want to know for sure. He stopped being active or even moving since 7/08. He hasn't eaten since either. I realized this was a possibility when I brought him home. I just want to be absolutely sure before I make any hasty judgments. He smells pretty bad too. Not a rotting fish smell. That's the confusing part. It's hard to describe what it smells like. It's a terrible chemical/rotting smell. But it's also not strong enough to go throughout the kritter keeeper... which is also confusing. He's been immobile and inactive for a week. I just want to know for sure.


p2gg86
Posts: 110
Joined: Sat Jun 30, 2018 1:52 am
Location: Arizona

Re: Mites during a molt??

Post by p2gg86 » Sun Jul 14, 2019 1:33 am

Hi, I would wait a little more until the hermy falls off the shell. During a my first year of crabbing, I have 3 dead ones. 2 out of 3 are died because of PPS. One down for molting and never came up for over 8 months. If dead, they usually fall off the shell when being picked up.

Sent from my SM-G935T using Tapatalk


User avatar

Topic author
BlazeTheWeirdo
Posts: 95
Joined: Tue Jun 25, 2019 10:56 pm
Location: United States
Contact:

Re: Mites during a molt??

Post by BlazeTheWeirdo » Sun Jul 14, 2019 1:42 am

p2gg86 wrote:
Sun Jul 14, 2019 1:33 am
Hi, I would wait a little more until the hermy falls off the shell. During a my first year of crabbing, I have 3 dead ones. 2 out of 3 are died because of PPS. One down for molting and never came up for over 8 months. If dead, they usually fall off the shell when being picked up.

Sent from my SM-G935T using Tapatalk
Okay. I'll wait on it then and keep replacing the food and water just in case. I've cared for surface molts before, I'm just not used to something like this. And he's been like this for a week. So I guess I'm just worried.

Post Reply